Leadership meets lived experience as Eric Wilson, Director at YPTC, unpacks the long-standing tension between nonprofit finance and programming. With warmth, wit, and real-world clarity, Eric takes us into the heart of the issue—how two departments with the same mission often work in silos, risking confusion, inefficiency, and financial misalignment.
From discussing budget misunderstandings to the implications of restricted funds, this episode challenges nonprofit leaders to ask themselves: “Are we communicating with intention—or just reacting when problems arise?”
Eric shares, “You don’t want people afraid to bring you a problem… I’d rather have a small problem early than a big problem later.” That mindset—proactive, people-first, and rooted in accountability—is the call to action for every executive, finance officer, and program manager tuning in.
Get ready to explore:
· Why many nonprofit staff don’t fully understand the true cost of programs
· How miscommunication around restricted funding can sabotage outcomes
· Why monthly check-ins between finance and programming are more than a best practice—they’re essential
· How fear creates silence and silence breeds mistakes
· What emotional intelligence and mutual education mean for modern nonprofit culture
Why Nonprofit’s Finance and Program Teams Clash—and How to Fix It! from American Nonprofit Academy
