Informing the Context for Philanthropic Work
The PNY Core: Financial Series is a set of perennial programs at Philanthropy New York that help funders understand how to assess organizational health through financial analysis. These interactive offerings help funders build their skills to analyze grantee financial documents. What’s more, they help funders consider the role of financial review in the grantmaking process, and how to make that most useful to their funding institutions, as well as to their grantees.
Join us this February and March to explore how grantees assemble their financial statements and the stories they tell. You’ll engage in discussions on revising the language, practice, and purpose of financial due diligence to better reflect your organization’s values and foster a more trust-based, grantee-centered approach. Gain practical insights on incorporating equity into your financial review process, strengthen communication with grantees, and align your grantmaking with your core values.
Who should attend?
Funders with less than two years of experience in the field – program-officers, CEOs, and other staff, as well as trustees. It is also recommended for experienced grantmakers seeking a refresher or a more values-aligned approach to assessing nonprofit financial due diligence.
2026 Fundamentals to Financials
- Intro to Financial Statements: A Hands-On Guide to Understanding Nonprofit Financial Health and Reporting (virtual) - February 26, 2026
In this interactive primer to the Financial Series, participants will get a peek into how a grantee assembles the financial statements and the stories they tell. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, attendees will be equipped to interpret the key elements of a grantee's audited financial statements and the financial story they convey.
- Beyond the Balance Sheet: Gathering Essential Financial Information Without Overburdening Grantees (virtual) - March 12, 2026
This session moves beyond compliance to focus on practical, equitable approaches: how to request financial information that is meaningful, complementary, and reduces unnecessary burden. Through case studies and peer discussions, you’ll learn strategies to ensure your financial reporting requirements align with your foundation’s overall approach to grantee partnership.
- Reframing Financial Due Diligence (in-person) - March 17, 2026
More info to come
For any questions, comments, and/or recommendations, please contact Jelena Kostadinovic, Senior Manager of Learning Team.