Too many nonprofit leaders quietly avoid their own finances, trusting that a clean audit or a capable CPA means everything is handled, and that blind spot can put a mission at real risk. In this episode, Patton talks with Sean Hale, founder of Nonprofit CFOs, who busts five money myths that hold organizations back: that the audit has them covered, that finance is the CPA’s job, that nonprofits aren’t supposed to make a profit, that confusing financial reports are just part of the territory, and that you say yes to whatever a funder asks.

For years, nonprofit Executive Directors have chased a myth: the rockstar employee.

You know the profile. It’s the mythical Senior Accountant or Finance Director who lives on coffee, works 60 hours a week, and single-handedly carries the entire weight of your organization's compliance on their back. They are the first to arrive, the last to leave, and they possess an almost supernatural tolerance for messy data, convoluted federal grant tracking, and ever-shifting board requirements.

In this episode of Let's Talk Wilco, we're joined by Sam Smith, Executive Director of the Georgetown Neighborhood Food Project, and Sean Hale, Nonprofit Finance Consultant with Nonprofit CFO, for a candid conversation about what actually belongs in an ED's lane, and what doesn't.

It feels like a classic binary choice. But after watching a lot of nonprofits navigate this transition, I’ve noticed that rushing to either extreme tends to create the exact problems organizations are trying to avoid.

If you’re trying to decide which route to take, here what I’ve seen actually happens behind the scenes with both models, the middle ground a lot of folks overlook, and how to protect your organization no matter which path you choose.

We get told that the best leaders are those who keep their doors open and expect their staff—including the entire finance and accounting team—to be available for drop-in meetings and "quick syncs" at all hours of the day. This is a misconception.

Nonprofits are having a hard time hiring accountants these days. Here are the reasons why.

As a CFO who has his career in the nonprofit trenches, I am officially declaring a moratorium on the "Overhead Apology." We have spent decades conditioned by watchdog groups and well-meaning but misguided donors to believe that the "best" nonprofits are the ones that starve their own infrastructure.

We’ve been told that every dollar spent on a high-quality accountant, a modern CRM, or an HR professional is a dollar "taken away" from the mission.

I’m here to tell you the opposite.

Join JBL Strategies for a conversation with Sean Hale, founder and lead consultant of Austin, Texas-based Nonprofit CFOs. In this interview, Sean shares key insights on how nonprofits can build habits that support long-term financial resilience and navigate finances in the age of AI.

In this episode of Driven By Cause, Sean Hale discusses the financial challenges many nonprofits face and how stronger financial leadership can help organizations grow and sustain their impact with better financial management.

Discover essential strategies for financial resilience and the pitfalls of the overhead myth, as Sean Hale unpacks decades of wisdom. Plus, learn how embracing financial literacy can empower your organization's success. Listen for revelations that can reshape your nonprofit's fiscal approach.

Wondering if your nonprofit has outgrown Quickbooks? Here’s our take on that perennial question.

A rant about grant makers who make tiny grants, that can only be used for programs, and also want an audit on top of that. Our founder, Sean Hale, gives his thoughts on this phenomenon and why nonprofits should just say no to these kinds of grants.

Get our take on budgeting, who needs to understand the finances, and more in this podcast.

Nonprofits with revenue and expenses that change every month risk running out of cash with little notice. A cash flow projection reduces the risk and help you see cash shortfalls months earlier, when a small corrective action can still avert a big disaster.

Join us on YouTube for a conversation about strategic budgeting, audits, leadership, and more!

We’re not pulling your leg. Don’t let anyone tell you that a nonprofit shouldn’t make a profit!

If you let a financial crisis sneak up on your nonprofit, that spells trouble for you and the mission. A graphic financial dashboard can help you spot danger before it becomes a problem.

You and your nonprofit deserve better. Here’s why.

Really! Generosity and trust can improve your nonprofit’s bottom line. Check out this quick interview featuring Penny Armbruster to learn how.

When it’s time for your nonprofit’s financial reports, does your board check out or engage? Let’s discuss the causes, and a solution, to this problem that impacts too many nonprofits!