Take control of your nonprofit finances

Our expert-led trainings help you master accounting, financial compliance, and board responsibilities so you can operate with confidence and transparency. Coming later 2026: Lifeboat's Online Course Catalog!

Courses

Executive Director Finance Course

It's been a while since we ran our finance course for E.D's. It's also a great way to hear what others are doing. This is a four week, one hour weekly course for E.D's who want to expand their financial knowledge.

Schedule

• Thursdays 1:00 PM
• September 10th-Oct 1st

Course Topics

Week 1: How to Read Financial Statements

Week 2: Working with Your Board: What Boards Need to Know

Week 3: Understanding How To Read Form 990 and Using It as a Donor Development Tool

Week 4: How To Prepare Organizational and Grant Budgets

Cost

Current Lifeboat bookkeeping and 990 clients: FREE

All others: $75

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

2️⃣ June Roundtable:

Retirement for Nonprofits with Quang

Presenter: Quang

📅 August 12th

🕒 1:00 PM EST

💲 Free

Join us for an informative discussion with Quang Nguyen, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, as he shares insights on establishing, managing, and evaluating retirement plans designed specifically for nonprofit organizations.

📧

Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

3️⃣ Federal Grant Requirements & Accounting Course

Learn more than you ever thought possible about 2 CFR Part 200 and federal grant compliance.

📅 Sept18, 2026

🕙 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST

💲 $100

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

4️⃣ Strangebirds Consulting & Lifeboat Accounting Present: Development Systems Bootcamp

Presented by: Robin and Amity

Learn from from the duo of Robin and Amity! Together, they've helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations improve and streamline development and finance systems.

📅 September 15, 2026

🕙 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

💲 $100

Topics Include:

• Choosing the right development platform
• Required books and records for finance and IRS compliance
• Automating and streamlining finance and development functions
• Accounting lingo and Transactions for Grants vs. Gifts & Restricted vs. Unrestricted
• What an effective development system looks like
• Cleaning up messy donor databases

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

5️⃣ Lifeboat's 8-Week Nonprofit Bookkeeping & QuickBooks Online Course

💲 $225

Managing your organization finances doesn’t have to be a struggle .Whether you’re handling accounts directly or supporting your team, this 8-week course will give you the knowledge and tools to manage bookkeeping with clarity and confidence.

Designed for small businesses and nonprofits, this structured, hands-on course covers essential QuickBooks Online principles, helping you keep finances organized and make informed decisions.

What You’ll Learn (Week by Week)

📆Dates: Tuesays 11am EST Sept 29th-Nov 17th
📍Live on Zoom
👩‍🏫Facilitator: Amity Ollis, CPA & Captain of Lifeboat Accounting PLLC

✅Week 1: Introduction to Bookkeeping
✅Week 2: Chart of Accounts
✅Week 3: Introduction to Accounting and Recording Transactions
✅Week 4: Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
✅Week 5: Bank Reconciliations
✅Week 6: Payroll and Paying Contractors
✅Week 7: Financial Statements
✅Week 8: Budgeting and Forecasting

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

6️⃣ November Roundtable - Telling Your Mission & Impact Through Visual Media

Featuring Samantha Davidson of Junction Arts & Media

📅 November 17, 2026

🕚 11:00 AM EST

💲 Free

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

💡Bonus Session
Nonprofit Accounting Deep-Dive: A special 4-hour session covering:

- Grant Accounting: Properly track and manage grant funds
- Deferred Revenue: Understand when to recognize revenue
- Functional Expenses: Allocate costs correctly Nonprofit-Specific
- Strategies: Compliance and best practices

📆Wednesday March 11th 1:00PM-5:00 PM. $100
📧To register: Surgeon@lifeboataccounting.com

Seminars

Host a Training for your board, staff, or organization. Available upon request

So You’re on the Board of a Nonprofit… Now what? (1 hour)

A must-attend introduction for board members covering:
- Non-profit Lifecycle: How it impacts board responsibilities
- Key Challenges & Opportunities: What every non-profit should know
- Roles & Best Practices: Board responsibilities simplified - Q&A Session: Ask your toughest questions!

Compliance Check: Must-Have Policies & Best Practices for NFPs (1.5 hours)

- Audit Your Policies: Identify gaps in your organization's procedures
- Best Practices: Learn essential policies every nonprofit should have
- Resources & Templates: Get tools to implement better governance

Charitable Solicitations, Donor Acknowledgements & Fundraising Pitfalls (1 hour)

- Donation Compliance: IRS rules for fundraising & in-kind gifts
- Acknowledgement Best Practices: Ensure legal donor recognition
- Fundraising Red Flags: Avoid common mistakes in nonprofit development
- Finance Committee & Board Best Practices (1 hour)
- Onboarding & Training: Equip new board and finance committee members
- Effective Communication: Improve leadership and financial oversight
- Checklist for Success: Stay compliant and efficient

How to Read IRS Form 990 (1 hour)

- Beyond Tax Filling: Form 990 as a compliance and donor tool
- Key Sections Explained: What funders and stakeholders look for
- Practical Insights: Improve your organization’s public financial image

Introduction to Unrelated Business Income Tax [UBIT] (1 hour)

- Revenue Diversification: When nonprofit activities become taxable
- IRS Compliance Rules: Avoid risks in alternative funding strategies
- Smart Financial Planning: Grow revenue while staying tax-exempt

Accounting for Nonprofits (8 hours)

A step-by-step guide to nonprofit financial management

Designed for nonprofit bookkeepers, board members, and management, this course consists of 8 one-hour sessions covering:

- How to Read Financial Statements: Understand Nonprofit
- Specific Accounting
- QuickBooks Online for Nonprofits: Essential functions and reporting
- Recording Donations Correctly: Gift acknowledgements and restrictions
- Grant & Designated Fund Tracking: Compliance with donor intent
- Essential Financial Policies: Governance and Internal Controls