WFPageOverview ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Budgeting​ ​ A budget is your organization’s strategy expressed in dollars.​ A strategic and collaborative budget process is essential to ensure that resources are being used most effectively to meet your mission and that your organization remains sustainable and accountable to its stakeholders.​​ The tools and guidance on this page can help get you started. Set Up the Budget Process ​​​​ Download the PDF This presentation describes a team-based approach to budget development for nonprofit financial management, including goals, personnel and process​.​​Download the presentation and watch the 30-minute webinar for step-by-step guidance.​ Video Guidance Compile Your Budget ​​ ​​​​The Finance Department’s primary tool for developing an organization-wide budget is the Nonprofit Budge​t T​emplate, a template for budgeting expenses and revenues by program/activity area.​ Download the TEMPLATE Supporting Documents For more ideas, browse and download related guidance, tools, tip sheets, and samples Tool - Program Expense Budget Template This tool can be used to create an expense budget for an individual program according to key areas of expense. It can be used by program managers to calculate budgets for individual line-items and consolidate them into an overall program budget. Program Expense Budget Template (.xlsx) Tool - Nonprofit Budget Template These two documents include an overview, FAQ and an instructional video to guide you through compiling your budget. Overview (.pdf) Nonprofit Budget Template FAQ (.pdf) Instructional Video Plan for Different Revenue Scenarios ​​​​​If you have uncertainty about how much income you can expect for the year, the Revenue Scen​ario Planning Tool will allow you to calculate and plan for best, moderate and worst case scenarios. Download the Template Related Resources For more ideas, browse and download related guidance, tools, tip sheets, and samples What If? The Art of Scenario Thinking for Nonprofits This downloadable book outlines an approach to scenario thinking and planning for nonprofit organizations, including a definition of scenario thinking, examples of scenario thinking in practice and stories and lessons from the field. Download (.pdf) Example Milestones for Budgeting Q1 Provide ongoing budget-to-actual reports to management, board and program managers​ Q2 Prepare mid-year budget revision​ Q3 Begin next fiscal year budget process with fiscal and program personnel Q4 Send budget package to Board of Directors​ ​Incorporate next FY board-approved budget into accounting system​ Next Step: Cash Flow ​​​Our recommended best practice is to base a cash flow projection on your program budgets. If you’ve completed the above, you’re ready to work on Cash Flow​. See All Budgeting Resources SEE ALL TOOLKIT RESOURCES Explore the Toolkit by Topic Budgeting ​Develop a team-based budget to ensure resources are used effectively Cash Flow ​Track where your money is coming in and going out Operations Maintain accurate, up-to-date records and shore up your finance office Data and Analysis ​Make strategic decisions based on key performance indicators Audit Readiness ​Learn how to prepare for an audit and keep track of capital and restricted assets Governance & Strategy ​Design the right model for your business plan, finance strategy and board​ It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Back to Top