Propel Nonprofits

Helps nonprofits understand their financial health, strengthen financial leadership, and make informed decisions with confidence.

Provides eligible nonprofits with tailored capital and technical assistance to manage cash flow, expand programs, and acquire or improve community facilities.

Helps nonprofits align around a shared future, navigate change, strengthen governance, and turn mission-focused strategy into practical action.

Helps nonprofit leaders develop leadership strengths, work through challenges, test ideas, and build productive relationships with peers and a trained coach.

Get expert guidance, identify next steps, and find resources to help your nonprofit move forward on challenges and opportunities.

Build practical nonprofit finance, governance, and strategic planning skills through expert-led trainings and peer learning.

Find free, practical resources to support nonprofit financial management, governance, planning, and organizational needs.

Accounting & finance services

Propel Nonprofits offers consulting, coaching, tools, and technical assistance that help nonprofits use accounting and financial information to understand their financial health and make decisions with confidence. Services include a 12-month Financial Insights Coaching partnership, QuickBooks Online setup tailored to nonprofit needs, budgeting and cash flow support, scenario planning, dashboards, true program cost analysis, and a free accounting helpline. Support aims to strengthen financial leadership, skills, efficiencies, and confidence within nonprofit organizations.

• Make Confident Financial Decisions
  Use financial tools and insights to understand organizational financial health and support informed decisions.
• Build Financial Skills And Confidence
  Develop organizational skills and confidence in using accounting and financial tools while strengthening financial processes.
• Improve Financial Reporting Over A Full Fiscal Cycle
  Work with an accounting specialist across a full fiscal cycle to review reports, address questions, support accurate records, and make financial tools more useful.
• Configure QuickBooks Online For Nonprofit Needs
  Adapt QuickBooks Online to nonprofit accounting needs, including restricted revenue tracking and funder reporting.
• Align Budgets With Organizational Priorities
  Develop a repeatable budgeting process that connects finances with programs, mission, priorities, and decisions.
• Plan Cash Use And Protect Core Programs
  Understand the timing and availability of cash to support management decisions, plan for changing needs, and protect core programs.
• Prepare For Possible Financial Outcomes
  Explore potential financial paths and outline actions to take when changing conditions require a decision.
• Understand The Full Cost Of Programs
  Clarify program costs to support decisions about fundraising, impact, contract terms or pricing, and unrestricted revenue.
• Get Expert Help With Accounting Questions
  Speak with a nonprofit accounting and finance consultant about practical accounting challenges and questions at no cost.
• Develop Financial Dashboards
  Use dashboards as part of a set of financial tools intended to help organizations stay on track and support their impact and effectiveness.

Lending

Propel Nonprofits provides loans and tailored technical assistance to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Native nations sharing this geography. Financing can support working capital, program expansion, cash flow needs, and community facility acquisition, improvement, or construction. Loan structures, interest rates, collateral, and repayment plans are customized to an organization’s business model, cash flow, and project plans. Options include working capital loans, microloans, and community facility loans. The Community Asset Builder Program helps eligible BIPOC-led nonprofits acquire or renovate facilities, with project-finance guidance, technical assistance, and possible feasibility grants.

• Match Financing To Nonprofit Needs
  Discuss financing shaped around an organization’s business model, cash flow, and project plans rather than a single standard loan structure.
• Manage Cash Flow And Support Growth
  Address timing gaps in receipts and payments, support reimbursing contracts, and finance program expansion or other business model changes.
• Access Smaller-Scale Financing
  Consider a defined financing option for smaller or emerging nonprofits and organizations navigating leadership change or recovery from financial challenges.
• Acquire And Improve Community Facilities
  Finance facility projects, from repairs and equipment purchases to building acquisition, major renovations, and construction.
• Build Long-Term Community Facility Stability
  Combine facility financing and planning support to help eligible BIPOC-led nonprofits acquire or renovate facilities and provide stable community services.
• Get Guidance Alongside Capital
  Receive tailored assistance from a lending team that understands nonprofit business models and works with borrowers to address challenges.
• Finance Facility Projects
  Support facility acquisition, repair, renovation, construction, expansion, equipment purchases, and capital campaign funding gaps.
• Apply From Eligible Service Areas
  Access financing if the organization is a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Minnesota, its adjacent states, or a Native nation sharing this geography.
• Check Eligibility And Support Project Planning
  Confirm program requirements and explore feasibility grants that may support planning for an eligible facility project.

Strategic Consulting

Propel Nonprofits’ strategic consulting helps nonprofits develop a shared vision and create strategies suited to their current and future needs. Consultants work with organizations of all budget and staff sizes on strategic development, board development, leadership transitions, and organizational impact. Engagements range from a one-day strategy retreat or strategic plan refresh to a full planning process, with approaches adapted to each organization. Support can include financial and business model analysis, environmental scans, board assessments and development, leadership transition planning, and business, financial, capacity, organizational, and work planning.

Category: Business Strategy Consulting

• Create A Practical Strategic Roadmap
  Clarify organizational direction and develop strategies and goals connected to mission, vision, and values.
• Ground Strategy In Financial Insight
  Use financial review and business model analysis to connect strategic direction with financial realities and the operating model.
• Set New Leaders Up For Success
  Use structured onboarding and facilitated conversations to align the new executive and organization on roles and expectations.
• Choose A Process That Fits Your Needs
  Select a level of strategic development suited to organizational needs, from a focused retreat to a full planning process.
• Strengthen Board Governance And Teamwork
  Clarify responsibilities, improve engagement, strengthen board relationships and board-executive partnerships, and develop governance practices that fit organizational values and vision.
• Prepare Leaders And Boards For Transitions
  Plan for leadership changes, clarify expectations, support the search process, and help a new executive and board establish roles and working relationships.
• Assess Board Needs And Create Action Plans
  Use board feedback to identify strengths, priorities, and improvement areas, then develop practical actions to help the board move forward.
• Clarify Board Roles And Governance
  Help board members understand their responsibilities and establish governance structures, practices, and agreements suited to the organization.
• Assess Readiness And Reduce Disruption
  Identify transition priorities and plan to minimize operating and financial disruption.
• Prepare Boards And Teams For Searches
  Clarify search expectations, board responsibilities, desired leadership qualities, team roles, and transition processes.
• Identify Insights And Opportunities
  Surface important organizational insights and opportunities to inform strategic direction and planning.
• Align People Around Future Priorities
  Support shared understanding and alignment around organizational direction through strategic conversations.
• Adapt Plans As Needs Change
  Use a framework that can be revised as circumstances, needs, and opportunities change.
• Turn Impact Goals Into Practical Steps
  Identify practical work related to the organization’s business model, finances, capacity, needs, and priorities.
• Recruit And Guide Board Members
  Identify needed board skills and perspectives and receive coaching for recruiting, onboarding, or offboarding members.
• Strengthen Board Relationships
  Build stronger working relationships and use group norms and tools to help boards navigate conflict and work together.
• Connect Leaders With Transition Support
  Provide peer coaching, trained coaching, training, and technical assistance to address leadership transition needs.
• Plan Organizational Priorities
  Get consulting support to assess organizational needs and plan practical work related to impact goals.

Leaders Circles®

Leaders Circles® is a leadership development program for emerging and experienced leaders, including executive directors, CEOs, and managers. Participants join a group of five to seven leaders at similar points in their leadership journeys for a one-year commitment. Each circle meets monthly for up to 2.5 hours with a trained, experienced coach, virtually or in person. Participants can confidentially discuss challenges and ideas, test ideas before sharing them publicly, identify solutions, and connect with peers facing similar issues. Circle options include groups for executive directors and CEOs, managers, and People of Color and Indigenous leaders.

• Develop Leadership Strengths
  Develop leadership strengths through a year-long circle experience designed for emerging and experienced leaders.
• Discuss Challenges With Trusted Peers
  Share challenges and ideas with peers who understand similar leadership situations.
• Meet Monthly With An Experienced Coach
  A trained, experienced coach works with each group during monthly meetings of up to 2.5 hours.
• Test Ideas Before Sharing Them
  Explore and workshop ideas with the circle before taking them public or putting them into action.
• Identify Solutions To Difficult Situations
  Consider challenging situations and identify possible solutions with support from peers and a trained coach.
• Build Relationships With Fellow Leaders
  Connect with leaders facing similar issues and build productive relationships through the circle.
• Join A Small, Year-Long Circle
  Join five to seven leaders at a similar point in their leadership journey for a one-year commitment.
• Choose Virtual Or In-Person Meetings
  Join circles that meet virtually or in person.
• Find A Circle For Your Leadership Role
  Choose from circles for executive directors and CEOs or managers, including options specifically for People of Color and Indigenous leaders.

Nonprofit office hours

Free, 45-minute virtual conversations for nonprofit leaders and boards at any stage of their organization’s journey. Propel staff provide thought partnership and guidance on challenges and opportunities involving finance, governance, and strategy. Conversations may include recommendations and resources, referrals to Propel services or experts in other fields, and help identifying action items. Appointments are offered daily and are available to nonprofits and nonprofit leaders in Minnesota, surrounding states, and Native Nations that share this geography; participants do not need to be Propel clients.

• Explore Finance, Governance, And Strategy Questions
  Discuss financial planning, business models, scenario planning, board governance, and preparation for borrowing.
• Get Free Guidance Without Being A Client
  Access Propel’s guidance without being an existing client or paying for office hours, subject to regional eligibility.
• Identify Next Steps And Useful Resources
  Leave the discussion with relevant recommendations and resources, including referrals to Propel services or other experts when appropriate.
• Choose A Convenient Virtual Appointment
  Daily availability and virtual meetings provide a flexible way to connect. Appointments last 45 minutes and follow the stated booking window.

Trainings

Trainings for nonprofit staff, leaders, and board members include public workshops and webinars, cohort learning programs, and contract training tailored to an organization’s audience. The curriculum covers financial management, board governance, and nonprofit best practices. Participants develop practical skills, engage in strategic thinking, and build management capabilities. Propel can adapt existing trainings or work with an organization to create customized finance or board governance training.

• Strengthen Finance And Governance Skills
  Explore finance and governance topics relevant to nonprofit staff, leaders, and board members.
• Choose A Workshop Or Webinar
  Attend public workshops or webinars covering nonprofit finance, governance, budgeting, and planning.
• Tailor Training To Your Organization
  Arrange an organizational training or webinar adapted to its audience, including customized finance or board governance topics.
• Apply Skills To Nonprofit Work
  Develop practical skills and management capabilities while considering how mission, money, planning, strategy, and sustainability relate to nonprofit work.
• Assess Financial Health And Plan Ahead
  Use a framework, tools, examples, and templates to evaluate financial health, understand trends, plan for uncertainty, and support decisions.
• Build Confidence In Board Service
  Learn about board roles, responsibilities, authority, and relationships, with a governance workbook to support participation.
• Learn And Connect With Peers
  Learn alongside nonprofit peers and expert facilitators, share experiences, and build connections that can continue beyond the program.
• Turn Priorities Into Practical Plans
  Understand how strategic planning can support an organization, align people and resources, and inform decisions and action.

Nonprofit resource library

A free online library of nonprofit resources from Propel Nonprofits. Resources include documents, spreadsheets, and videos covering finance, board governance, strategy and planning, fiscal sponsorship, and social enterprise. The library groups resources by topic, format, and audience, with collections for needs such as starting a nonprofit, financial leadership, strategic planning, and navigating organizational crisis. Nonprofits can contact Propel for help locating or using a resource and be connected with someone who has expertise in the relevant content area.

• Access Free Nonprofit Resources
  Use Propel’s online resource library at no cost.
• Address Nonprofit Organizational Needs
  Use collections organized around nonprofit needs, from establishing an organization and strengthening governance to planning finances and responding to crisis.
• Use Practical Tools And Guidance
  Access materials such as a budgeting checklist, cash flow template, balance sheet guidance, and board governance resources to inform planning and management.
• Find Resources By Topic And Audience
  Browse by topic, format, and audience to locate materials relevant to a nonprofit’s work or role.
• Choose From Multiple Formats
  Find guidance in documents, spreadsheets, and videos to suit different resource needs.
• Connect With A Content Expert
  Get help finding or using a library resource by requesting a connection with someone knowledgeable in its subject area.