SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
Neil Shah, Serial Interim CFO for Non-Profits
Connect with Neill on LinkedIn
Website:
EPISODE SUMMARY
Financials aren’t just numbers—they tell a story. In this episode, Neil Shah, a seasoned CFO for nonprofits, joins Daniel Casselli to break down the power of financial storytelling and why it’s essential for charter school leaders. From understanding financial data to using it to make strategic decisions, Neil shares practical insights on how to translate financial reports into compelling narratives that drive action. Whether you’re navigating budgeting, forecasting, or fundraising, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help you become a better financial storyteller.
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
RESOURCES
Web Site: https://cfogroups.com/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Neil Shah's Journey in Nonprofit and Charter Schools
05:50 Understanding Financial Storytelling
12:49 The Importance of Educating Through Finance
18:48 Steps to Effective Financial Storytelling
19:09 Understanding Financial Analysis and Storytelling
20:14 The People Side of Financial Analysis
23:19 Engaging Non-Financial Stakeholders
25:16 The Importance of Financial Education
30:03 Crafting the Financial Narrative
35:03 Simplifying Financial Communication
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Neil Shah has spent the past two decades serving as an outsourced or in-house Chief Financial Officer for non-profit organizations across the United States, organizations with annual budgets ranging from a few million dollars to almost half a billion dollars in annual government and philanthropic revenue.
He has implemented audit/fraud-proof accounting and budgeting processes and procedures, upgraded new financial software systems that reduced manual workloads, and brought boards along the financial roadmap of the organization through education and storytelling.
He is a partner with leadership teams and is able to provide the financial perspective of an issue while helping those teams understand the non-financial aspects of a situation, helping to find common ground while still ensuring financial sustainability.
Neil received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
ABOUT OUR HOST
Daniel Casselli is a life-long learner whose passion for education has driven his professional endeavors. He is a former classroom teacher and youth ministry director whose entrepreneurial spirit landed him in the world of education technology. At EVERFI Inc., Daniel helped run the business development efforts for EVERFI’s Financial Education Program and the company was eventually sold to Blackbaud for $750M in 2021. Shortly before EVERFI’s acquisition, Daniel joined Class Technologies as one of the earliest sales hires and went on to lead K12 Enterprise Sales and helped the company land its first 100+ K12 customers across public, charter, and private schools. Daniel brings his unique experiences to BuyQ where he is focused on growth, operational excellence, business strategy, and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Grove City College where he studied Religion and History.
You can listen to Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators on your favorite podcasting platform...