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.

The course is divided into four weekly segments, each accompanied by an online lesson, forum, chat, and assignment:

• Week One: Introduction to financial terminology and reporting systems
• Week Two: Understanding earned, contributed, and investment income; UBIT
• Week Three: Understanding expenses, cost projections and analysis
• Week Four: The relationship between finance and mission relevance; financial health

Texts used:
Financial Fundamentals for Historic House Museums , by Rebekah Beaulieu, 2017. (Texts are NOT INCLUDED with your registration. You must order the book separately from the book seller of your choice. A discount code is provided after registration.) Students should bring real-life financial information to the course to be used in course assignments to create a budget. Students should also have access to and basic knowledge of 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. 

For more information visit the AASLH website online courses page or contact Alex Collins AASLH, Education and Service Coordinator, at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.