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Finance Systems for Nonprofit Leaders: Building Resilience Through People, Process, and Technology


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In today’s complex nonprofit environment, finance leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges—from funding instability and workforce shortages to outdated systems and increasing compliance demands.


Our recent webinar, Finance Systems for Nonprofit Leaders, brought together Lisa Toback, Kiwi’s Head of Consulting services and Kate Koraia, Sr. Director, to explore how aligning people, process, and technology can help nonprofit finance teams build resilience and drive sustainable impact.


This article serves as your comprehensive guide to the webinar’s key insights, with links to deeper-dive articles and real-world case studies that show how nonprofits are transforming their operations.


Whether you're facing funding challenges, staff turnover, or outdated systems, you're not alone. This content series is designed to support you with practical strategies and tools to move forward.


What We Covered in the Webinar

The webinar explored how nonprofit finance teams can become more resilient by:


  • Engaging people:

    Adoption matters even more when resources are tight. Investing time in training and communication ensures your staff feel confident and supported. Studies show 70–80% of systems fail due to poor user adoption.


  • Reviewing and refining processes: 

    Even small adjustments can unlock big efficiencies. New systems require updated workflows. If workflows stay the same, new tools may not deliver their full value. 

“If you invest in a new finance system, it’s crucial that your process is effective and aligned,” Lisa emphasized.

  • Selecting the right technology:

    Choose technology that fits your mission: Look for solutions that integrate with what you already use, meet compliance needs, and scale as your programs grow.

  

What Nonprofit Leaders Are Saying

During the webinar, we asked attendees to share their biggest challenges. Here’s what they told us:

  • Funding and revenue diversification – 33%

  • Processes and workflows – 25%

  • Change management – 16%

  • Staffing, compliance, and technology – Remaining responses


These results align with a June 2025 survey by Nonprofit New York, which identified similar pain points among 278 nonprofit leaders and community members.


The Finance Systems for Nonprofit Leaders Series

To help you take action, we’ve developed a series of focused articles that expand on the webinar’s key themes:


  • Driving System Adoption Through Change Management – Why staff buy-in is essential and how to build a culture of adoption. (Now available)

  • How to Select the Right System for Your Nonprofit – A framework to evaluate and choose technology that aligns with your mission. (Coming soon)

  • Best Practices After You Go Live – What to do after implementation to maintain momentum. (Coming soon)

  • How Nonprofits Can Use AI to Save Time – Practical AI prompts and tools to streamline finance tasks like payroll allocation and scenario planning. (Coming soon)


Case Studies: Real Results from Real Nonprofits (Coming Soon)

We’ll soon share detailed stories from nonprofits that have transformed their finance operations:


  • Achieving Financial Accuracy with Strategic ERP Training – How a national nonprofit improved reporting and compliance through targeted training. (Coming soon)

  • Global Nonprofit Cuts Invoice Approval Time by 85% – A change management success story that improved efficiency and compliance. (Coming soon)

  • From Burnout to Breakthrough: A CFO’s Journey to Strategic Growth – How automating processes helped one leader reduce a 70-hour workweek and focus on impact. (Coming soon)


Free Tools and Resources

We’ve also created practical tools to help you take action:


Resilience isn’t built overnight—but with the right strategy, tools, and support, it’s absolutely within reach. Whether you're just starting your transformation or refining your systems post-go-live, Kiwi Partners can help guide you. Contact us.

 
 
 

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