People

Patricia Doon

Interim Chief Financial/Operations Officer

Interim Executive Solutions

Trish Doon has spent seven years as an interim CFO and CFOO at three independent schools and several nonprofits, following an earlier career spanning Fortune 100 finance, financial services, public higher education, and six independent schools. She has built her practice around the space between leadership transitions and what a school is becoming. She is also an executive coach, based in Boston and Monterey.

Online Courses

Budget Meets Mission: School Finance for Non-Business Leaders

Understand the independent school business model, learn to be a good steward of your school's financial resources and work more collaboratively around financial issues.
Building Sustainable Hiring Systems

Discover school-specific strategies that will attract and retain faculty and staff who galvanize your school’s mission.
Engaging in Difficult Conversations with Employees

Learn to engage with employees in an empathetic manner while still clearly conveying important information and safeguarding your school from liability.
Enterprise Risk Management for Independent Schools

This course will provide the frameworks, tools, and strategies needed to identify, prioritize, and mitigate risks while strengthening decision-making, resilience, and mission-focused leadership.
Human Resources Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Learn how to address day-to-day human resources challenges such as evaluation and termination, FMLA, the ADA and employee classification.
Measuring Financial Health with the Composite Financial Index

Calculate your school's Composite Financial Index (CFI) score — a tool trusted in higher education for decades — and learn how you can use the score and its 4 underlying ratios to think strategically about your school's financial strengths and weaknesses.
Nonprofit Accounting Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Learn the fundamentals of nonprofit accounting and reporting by exploring governance structures, internal control strategies, financial statements and compliance essentials.
Payroll Fundamentals

Learn about best practices related to payroll including employee classification and overtime pay, deductions and taxability and the complexity of calculating a faculty member’s final paycheck when they leave mid-year.
Stewarding Donor Dollars: Financial Principles for Contributions

Learn best practices related to gift reporting, compliance and donor stewardship, as well as how to develop a successful and strategic partnership between the financial and development functions at your school.
The Business and Art of Financial Aid

Learn tactical best practices related to the financial aid process to enhance the strategic partnership between the business and admissions offices and ensure long-term success.

Past Webinars

Grants Management for Independent Schools This item is protected

May 26, 2026

Designed for business officers who manage or oversee grants, this webinar provides actionable tools and templates to strengthen financial stewardship and enhance mission impact through effective grants administration.
Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

May 8, 2026

This webinar presents a strategic approach to enrollment forecasting that blends the enrollment team’s relational insights with financial analysis and data modeling. Learn how to strengthen projections using internal data alongside external signals.
There's More Room for Change Than You Think This item is protected

April 24, 2026

To stay competitive in today’s educational landscape, independent schools should modernize spaces by aligning with evolving pedagogical trends and technology advancements. Learn how existing spaces can be transformed to better serve a campus community.
Effortless Efficiency: Payroll to Performance This item is protected

April 13, 2026

Efficiency is paramount through the entire Human Resources function. In this webinar, HR leaders and business officers will explore how to streamline workforce management from payroll processing to performance evaluation.
Mission (and Margin) Possible: Leveraging Campus Assets This item is protected

March 30, 2026

From summer programs and rentals to strategic partnerships, schools can unlock new income streams. This webinar explores practical strategies to maximize underutilized assets, assess operational readiness, and design sustainable initiatives.

Net Assets Articles

Dolly Parton’s Business Savvy and the Business of Schools

September 1, 2026

Dolly Parton’s decorated life has inspired lessons for leaders in a cause dear to her heart, education.
Your AI Questions, Answered: Insights from the Byte-Size AI Series

August 31, 2026

How independent school business leaders are experimenting with AI to save time, strengthen operations and rethink what’s possible.
Reading the Room: What an Interim CFO Brings to a School

August 24, 2026

An interim CFO isn’t an argument against a permanent hire. Instead, the role can create space for positive change before a new hire settles in.
PPRRSM Wasn’t Designed for Extreme Weather This item is protected

August 20, 2026

In the age of climate change, traditional calculations warrant new considerations.
Unsung Hero: Lori Weiland, All Saints Day School

August 20, 2026

Whether developing forecasting tools or helping families navigate sensitive situations, Weiland brings a thoughtful approach to financial leadership.

FEATURED

Benchmark Against National KPIs with the Latest Financial State of the Industry Report

A research report analyzing trends across 18 key financial and operational indicators over five years. Use this report to benchmark performance, stress-test assumptions and make informed decisions, as external forces continue to challenge long-term financial sustainability.

RECENT DISCUSSIONS

NBOA CAREERS

HVAC Maintenance and Technology Technician

The Hun School of Princeton
Admissions Associate

The Hewitt School
Head Varsity Fencing Coach

The Hun School of Princeton

VISIT CAREERS

Ask Bo

Patricia Doon

Online Courses

Budget Meets Mission: School Finance for Non-Business Leaders

Building Sustainable Hiring Systems

Engaging in Difficult Conversations with Employees

Enterprise Risk Management for Independent Schools

Human Resources Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Measuring Financial Health with the Composite Financial Index

Nonprofit Accounting Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Payroll Fundamentals

Stewarding Donor Dollars: Financial Principles for Contributions

The Business and Art of Financial Aid

Past Webinars

Grants Management for Independent Schools This item is protected

Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

There's More Room for Change Than You Think This item is protected

Effortless Efficiency: Payroll to Performance This item is protected

Mission (and Margin) Possible: Leveraging Campus Assets This item is protected

Net Assets Articles

Dolly Parton’s Business Savvy and the Business of Schools

Your AI Questions, Answered: Insights from the Byte-Size AI Series

Reading the Room: What an Interim CFO Brings to a School

PPRRSM Wasn’t Designed for Extreme Weather This item is protected

Unsung Hero: Lori Weiland, All Saints Day School

FEATURED

Benchmark Against National KPIs with the Latest Financial State of the Industry Report

RECENT DISCUSSIONS

NBOA CAREERS

HVAC Maintenance and Technology Technician

Admissions Associate

Head Varsity Fencing Coach

Become an NBOA Member