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

1️⃣ 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 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

3️⃣ Federal Grant Requirements & Accounting Course

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

📅 September 18, 2026

🕙 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM EST

💲 $100

📧 Register: engineer@lifeboataccounting.com

4️⃣ 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

5️⃣ 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

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

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