At the heart of any successful nonprofit organization lies a strong commitment to capacity strengthening and continuous learning. The I61 Foundation, based in Mauritius, took part in Humentum’s Finance DPro course to strengthen its financial management skills and better support its nonprofit partners. This training has equipped I61 Foundation with practical tools to improve financial management, streamline operations, and build long-term sustainability. To better understand how Finance DPro has impacted I61 Foundation, we spoke with two of their team members, Tam Geldenhuys and Amelia Beguinot. Here’s their story.
Q: Can you tell us about I61 Foundation and your mission?
T: We are a nonprofit organization that helps funders find good nonprofit projects, and nonprofits find funders to support their projects. When partnering with organizations, we also support the compliance process, ensuring that due diligence is thoroughly completed on both sides. Additionally, we oversee the monitoring and evaluation of projects as they run and assist with reporting.
I61 Foundation supports projects focusing on fighting against poverty, and for education, social justice, and communities in times of crisis. We look for sustainable projects—where we can partner with funders and nonprofits in a long-term relationship, encouraging ongoing support rather than just one-time engagements.
Q: Why did I61 Foundation decide to participate in Humentum’s Finance DPro course?
T: Both Amelia and I do not come from a finance background, especially not a nonprofit finance background. Realizing that there’s a significant difference, we needed a solid foundation to understand finance and financial management.
We also support our nonprofit partners in managing their finances, encouraging them to put systems in place for financial reporting. So, it was important for us to not only improve our internal understanding but also to offer sound advice to other nonprofits.
So, Humentum’s Finance DPro stood out as the ideal training to meet these needs.
Q: What were some of the most helpful elements of the Finance DPro course?
A: On my part, it would be the case studies. They helped me apply the knowledge we learned to practical and realistic situations, which made it easier to understand.
T: For me, it was the templates. I found them incredibly helpful. As we worked through each section of the course, I was able to immediately implement the templates in our organization. I would finish a section and then directly work to apply what I learned. The course clarified the different types of financial sheets and statements we should have in place. It was helpful for us in setting up those systems.
Q: How has the course changed the way I61 Foundation operates?
A: It helped us learn about cost centers and how to better categorize our budgets. The biggest feedback we’ve received has been from our board, particularly from our accountant members. They’ve been very pleased with the structures we’ve put in place and are happy with the improvements.