About the Program
Next program coming in fall 2023!
Class descriptions below
From budgeting basics to HST, this program uses theory and practical tools to teach the fundamentals of financial management for creatives. Over 14 hours of training with Generator, you’ll develop skills in financial planning and basic project accounting, build a financial system specific to your capacity and needs, and gain the confidence to expand those systems as your career grows over time.
The program will be taught by Generator’s Financial Literacy Consultants Kristina Lemieux and Audrey Quinn, and Natasha Mytnowych. Instructors will be available for thirty minutes before each class to answer any questions. In addition, all participants will have access to four hours of one-on-one financial coaching, and bookable Financial Joy office hours (October-June).
Financial Literacy will be delivered over Zoom in 2022/23 and is open to participants Canada-wide.
The program is designed for synchronous learning and is highly participatory. We strongly recommend that participants attend each session at the designated dates/times. While recordings of select sessions may be available upon request, we do not typically share recordings without consent from all participants, due to the nature of the sensitive information shared in program sessions.
Access to Google Sheets and/or Microsoft Excel is required. Generator is also offering a stream of the Financial Literacy program for Independent Artists (winter 2023). Find testimonials from past participants here.
Questions? Email kristina@generatorto.com.
Class Descriptions
Excelerate Your Projects
You’ve got the basics, but you get Excel-envy when you see other people’s pretty spreadsheets. Excelerate your way to beautiful reports and data tables that can help you with everything from cash flow to scheduling and box office management. This class will go beyond the basics and get into charts, pivot tables, text-based and date functions. (You’re welcome to use Google Sheets instead, it just doesn’t have the EXCELlent pun potential.)
*this class is optional—if you’re already well-versed in Excel, feel free to skip it
Keep Track of That Cash
When’s that grant money coming in? What’s the best way to organize my payables and receivables? This is a crash course in accounting basics for non-profit management, including budgets and cash flow. Through templates and worksheets, you’ll learn project accounting essentials and how to work with a bookkeeper. We’ll also cover what you need to consider when it comes to internal controls and fraud, and how to prepare for an audit.
The Registration Causation
To incorporate or not to incorporate: that is the question. Curious about what it means to be a sole proprietor, incorporate a non-profit, or become a charity? Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each incorporation type, the responsibilities of each status, and the steps to get things going. We’ll also cover how funders interact with each incorporation type and what it means to have a board of directors.
Relationship Goals—The Government + You
Running a non-profit means working with the government, but we got you. Learn which government agencies you need to be reporting to, and with what information. We’ll go over GST/HST and tax filing deadlines. From tax forms to key terms, this workshop will ensure you’re comfortable with the compliance requirements of running a non-profit.
T4 You or T4 Me?
Learn the differences between employees and contractors, and the different payroll expectations for each. We’ll also cover different types of agreements, payroll deductions and remittances, T4/T4A/T5 creation, and CAEA bonds. We’ll use example scenarios and simple worksheets to help you navigate the responsibilities of hiring people and paying them correctly.
Putting it into Practice
Apply real-life examples from your non-profit to different templates and reporting models. Whether you’re creating reports for your manager, your board, or CADAC, practice using Google Sheets (or Excel) to arrange data in different formats. We’ll discuss financial statements and reports for audits, looking at how data can be used to tell a story for the various audiences you’re reporting to.