Online Course: Introduction to Financial Management (Fall 2019)

An AASLH Small Museum Pro! Online Course

Course Description 

Designed for staff and volunteers of all abilities and organizations of all sizes, this four-week course provides an accessible, clear, and even fun introduction to financial concepts. From understanding expenses and income to how to establish an endowment, this course will equip you with a toolkit to engage with finance on your terms and to your ability.   

Over the four weeks, students will participate in dynamic discussions, review relevant and timely case studies and readings, and ultimately build a real, usable budget tailored to their organization’s needs.  

Participant Outcomes 

At the end of this course you will:  

• Understand processes related to budgets and basic financial systems in accordance with best practices  
• Understand institutional financial planning, goal-setting, and analysis  
• Bridge mission- and non-mission-based activities with financial outcomes 
• Feel more comfortable and better equipped to create operational and special project budgets 

Sample Curriculum

• Week 1: Course overview, introduction to financial terms and definitions, explanation of income and expenses
• Week 2: Overview of budgets including maintenance and evaluation, financial systems and structures
• Week 3: The relationship between financial systems and mission, UBIT, and introduction to restricted and unrestricted funds
• Week 4: Next steps for budgets, the right financial questions to ask and when to ask them

Texts Used 

Required: Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums, Rebekah Beaulieu, 2017

Texts are NOT INCLUDED with your registration. You must order the book separately from the book seller of your choice.

Details

COURSE DATES: September 30 - October 27, 2019

COST: $150 Members / $250 Nonmembers

OPEN REGISTRATION: May 1 - September 25, 2019; 20 participant limit

Course Logistics

FORMAT: Online, weekly-paced course 

LENGTH: 4 weeks 

PARTICIPATION STYLE: Weekly real-time online chats (schedule to be determined based on student availability); weekly assignments; final course assignment; Students should expect to spend 2-5 hours per week on the course. 

MATERIALS: One recommended text; students should bring real-life financial information to the course to be used in course assignments to create a budget. Students should also have Microsoft Excel or a similar spreadsheet program as it will be used extensively to complete assignments. Note: all institutional financial information will be kept confidential and shared only with the instructor. 

CREDIT:Successful completion of this course (80% or higher) will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.

Who Should Take This Course 

Whether you have financial responsibilities at your organization, wish to build a skill set for a leadership position in the future, or simply want to better comprehend and contribute to financial decision-making, this course is for you.  

Instructor

Rebekah Beaulieu, Ph.D. is the Director of the Florence Griswold Museum, an art museum, National Landmark historic house, and 13-acres of gardens and grounds in Old Lyme, Connecticut. She serves on the faculty of AASLH’s History Leadership >span class="TextRun SCXW175450672 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US"> is a member of the Association’s Finance Committee. Becky is also a board member of the New England Museum Association and Connecticut Humanities, and was recently appointed an AAM Accreditation Commissioner.   

Becky is the author of Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017). She holds an M.A in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and in Arts Administration from Columbia University; she earned her Ph.D. in American and New England Studies at Boston University.