About this Event
The charitable sector spends enormous energy raising money, and rightly so. Far less attention is paid to the financial resources organizations already have. Across the sector, substantial resources are held in cash and short-term investments—often by default rather than design. Some of that money needs to be there, but how much and for how long? This Summit invites nonprofit leaders to explore why financial stewardship may be one of the most important governance conversations facing the sector today.
What to Expect
This invitation-only Summit brings together charitable CEOs, executive directors, CFOs and finance leaders for a day of learning, discussion and practical workshops.
Toronto Foundation's recent listening tour uncovered a surprising reality: many of the sector's most important financial conversations aren't really about investments. They're about governance and decision-making. How much is enough in reserve? Are our policies serving today's realities? What would it take to think longer-term?
Through expert insights, peer discussion and hands-on workshops, participants will explore these questions together and leave better equipped to lead these conversations within their own organizations.
Good financial stewardship starts with understanding what your money is for and making intentional choices about what it should do. No investment expertise or large investment portfolio required to attend; the goal of the day is to make these conversations more accessible.
Why Attend
Participants will:
- Understand what inflation, liquidity, risk, time horizon and opportunity cost mean for charitable and nonprofit organizations.
- Explore how financial planning, reserves and investment strategies connect to mission and why financial stewardship is emerging as an important governance conversation across the charitable sector.
- Examine when “playing it safe” may create risks of its own.
- Learn from peers that are rethinking how reserves, investments and other assets support mission.
- Discuss real-world governance challenges with peers facing similar questions.
- Leave with practical frameworks and questions to bring back to their board or finance committee.
Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for:
- Nonprofit and charity CEOs and executive directors
- Nonprofit and charity CFOs and finance leaders
We strongly encourage CEOs and CFOs to attend together so these conversations can continue after the Summit ends.
You do not need significant assets to participate. For organizations earlier in their financial journey, this is an opportunity to build the planning, policies and governance practices that will help you steward future resources well.
Agenda
Throughout the day, participants will move between keynote-style sessions, role-specific learning tracks, practical workshops and peer discussion.
Topics may include:
- Is Your Money Working Hard Enough?
- How Much Cash Do You Actually Need?
- What Does Good Financial Governance Look Like?
- Build the Five-Year Financial Plan Your Organization Needs
- Taking Financial Stewardship Back to Your Board
- Plus, practical exercises designed to help your organization identify its next stewardship conversation.
Participants will join sessions tailored to their role as a CEO/executive director or CFO/finance leader, then reconvene with peers and colleagues to apply those insights to their own organization's circumstances. Through facilitated workshops and discussion, attendees will begin identifying concrete questions, priorities and next steps to bring back to future board and leadership conversations.
Full agenda and speaker details coming soon.
Event venue & nearby stays
CSI Toronto, 192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Canada
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