Blackbaud

MARCH 20, 2025

But when your organization faces funding uncertainty, strong cash flow planning can help you make data-driven decisions that provide a clear perspective and breathing room. In a Q&A conversation with consultant and nonprofit CFO Andrew Horrow , many people asked about ways to understand cash flow when funding sources were fluctuating.

Management 102

Management Finance Budget Nonprofit 102

Blackbaud

APRIL 7, 2025

Like your K12 private school budget. A well-crafted budget is essential for aligning financial resources with the strategic goals of your private school, and with the right processes and tools, it doesnt have to be stressful. Your school may have multiple budgets, each with a different purpose.

Budget 59

Budget Strategic Plan Template Conference 59

Blackbaud

JANUARY 9, 2025

Find the Right Number for Your Nonprofit Operating Reserves The Nonprofit Operating Reserves Initiative (NORI) Workgroup suggests that the minimum operating reserve ratio at the lowest point during the year should be 25 percent, or about three months of the annual operating expense budget. However, this is not a universal benchmark.

Contract 104

Contract Contracts Budget Nonprofit 104

Blackbaud

DECEMBER 23, 2024

When your nonprofit is just getting started, your budget for an accounting system is likely very close to $0. Those low-cost tools can be a great way to launch and gain momentum, but there comes a point for every nonprofit when the time it takes to manage your fund accounting workarounds outweighs the cost of upgrading your system.

Finance 105

Finance Organizational Budget Budget Nonprofit 105

Blackbaud

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Maintaining compliance can protect existing funding, as well. The Importance of Accurate Time Allocation for Nonprofits Accurate time allocation is a cornerstone for nonprofit organizations, especially those with grant funding. Grants often come with specific stipulations on how funds should be allocated and reported.

Grants 104

Grants Grant Indirect Cost Budget 104

Blackbaud

JUNE 12, 2025

Many nonprofits rely heavily on grants to fund their missions, but successfully securing and managing grants requires a clear understanding of the grant lifecycle. The grant lifecycle refers to the full process a grant goes through from identifying opportunities and applying to implementing funded projects and reporting outcomes.

Grants 71

Grants Grant Grant Management Award 71

Blackbaud

MAY 6, 2024

Like a good recipe, your nonprofit budget requires high-quality ingredients, easy-to-follow steps, and a knowledgeable cook or two to put it together. Here are a few simple steps to help you create a solid budget that helps your organization allocate resources effectively and makes your budgeting process easier.

Budget 119

Budget Strategic Plan Finance Insurance 119

Blackbaud

FEBRUARY 14, 2025

Its hard to choose to put funds into operating reserves when that could help one more person transition out of homelessness. By tapping into operating reserves, organizations can bridge temporary gaps in funding without compromising their immediate operations.

Management 104

Management Policies Policy Budget 104

Blackbaud

MARCH 7, 2025

We build a budget that is fair, balanced, and built on evidential history, but flexible ready for whatever hiccups and bumps come along. Im sure everyone is mildly familiar with budgeting. Meetings, approvals, and publication of the finalized budget are involved. How do you communicate the change in your plans, your budget?

Budget 81

Budget Management Finance Utilities 81

Candid

DECEMBER 20, 2023

After all, the only way you can fulfill your organization’s mission is if you can bring in the funding you need to support your programs and initiatives. You should also have a plan for how to effectively manage your funding, which is where your financial strategy comes into play.

Budget 108

Budget Strategic Plan Nonprofit Goals 108

Blackbaud

JANUARY 13, 2025

Why Organizations Should Experiment with Revenue Diversity Even when your revenue channels are strong, nonprofits should always be experimenting with their funding models. Factor in all costs, including staff time, and forecast different scenariosbest case, worst case, and most likelyto understand the impact on your budget.

Finance 105

Finance Strategic Plan Consultant Consulting 105

Blackbaud

OCTOBER 28, 2024

As the Center for Disaster Philanthropy notes in their tips for disaster giving, funders should be patient in planning their disaster funding, because the impact of the disaster will unfold over time. Your community will need flexible funding throughout the recovery period.

Policies 93

Policies Policy Funding Readiness 93

Blackbaud

JUNE 4, 2025

Without proper controls, the organization may inadvertently misuse funds, jeopardizing both its grant eligibility and reputation. These policies help track funds accurately, ensuring compliance with donor restrictions and legal requirements. Consider a small community nonprofit that receives a grant for the first time.

Policies 98

Policies Policy Finance Training 98

Millionaire Grant Lady

MAY 5, 2025

Its two weeks before a federal grant deadline , and you just learned about the opportunity and that you are eligible to apply for grant funding. Before you know it, its been months since anyone has applied for any funding. When new funding opportunities come along, they often dont have the additional bandwidth to pursue them.

Grant Writing 130

Grant Writing Grants Grant Consulting 130

Greater Giving

JULY 23, 2024

This blog post will equip you with ten creative live auction ideas perfect for small nonprofits. Pro Tips for Live Auction Success on a Budget Storytelling is Key: Craft a compelling narrative for each item, highlighting the unique experience it offers. But for smaller nonprofits, securing high-priced items can feel daunting.

Budget 100

Budget Pass-Through Transportation Nonprofit 100

AmpliFund

MARCH 13, 2024

In our recent webinar, I detailed ways to improve grant budgeting and ease financial reporting. Key considerations for your budget planning process: Strong financial planning in the early grant stages sets the stage for successful program implementation and reporting.

Budget 103

Budget Amplifund Grants Grant 103

Blackbaud

APRIL 16, 2025

The finance team shoulders immense responsibility to make sure funds are well-stewarded, often while being understaffed and under-resourced. A well-thought-out system can do the following automatically: Track Funding Sources Nonprofits often receive funding from diverse sources , such as grants, donations, sponsorships, and events.

Finance 93

Finance Budget Nonprofit Management 93

Blackbaud

MARCH 10, 2025

Show You Have Nothing to Hide in Allocation of Funds Blackbaud Institute research found 76% of donors are concerned about what portion of their donation goes to overhead. Or, if a donor wants to know where their funds are going, pull up an accountability summary of the gift. This is how you maintain trust.

Finance 96

Finance Fundraising Software Budget 96

Blackbaud

MARCH 3, 2025

But how do you justify spending money on a budgeting tool instead of supplies for an after-school program? Would this investment speed up budgeting, provide more accurate data, or mitigate risk? Limited funds and time often mean that investing in technology can take away from program activities. Be sure to clearly lay that out.

Finance 88

Finance Strategic Plan Proposal Goals 88

Blackbaud

APRIL 2, 2024

To meet those requirements, you’ll need to be able to successfully track and manage your grants and effectively report on how you allocated these funds. If you are a grant-funded organization, it will be important to manage spending restrictions and meet reporting requirements. Tracking: Cut Out the Spreadsheets!

Indirect Cost 115

Indirect Cost Indirect Software Funding 115

Blackbaud

MAY 3, 2024

With multiple points of accountability and dynamic funding sources, accounting professionals in community health centers face complex challenges. And with that form of funding comes significant compliance requirements. With fund accounting software, you get an extra level of control over grant expense tracking and reporting.

Funding 105

Funding Budget Software Grants 105

Blackbaud

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Nonprofit organizations need funding and support, whether through in-kind contributions, skilled volunteers, or monetary donations. An advantage of participating in disaster response appeals is that companies stepping up gain positive recognition and stakeholders can trust that their funds are going to a reputable organization.

Donation 98

Donation Training Funding Budget 98

Blackbaud

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

To produce meaningful reports to help you do this, you must track all financial activity and ideally compare it to your budget, or your financial representation of what you think you’ll pursue during the year. If you are using fund accounting software built for nonprofits, these reports will be native in your system.

Liability 111

Liability Finance Template Budget 111

Candid

DECEMBER 19, 2023

To celebrate you, our amazing community of readers, we look back at the Candid blogs that resonated the most with you this year. We hope you enjoy rediscovering and reflecting on the 10 most-read Candid blogs of 2023. If you want to boost your nonprofit’s discoverability online, this blog on Google Ad Grants is a worthwhile read.

Burnout 105

Burnout Letter Of Inquiry Proposal Grants 105

Blackbaud

APRIL 8, 2024

All in unrestricted funds with no reporting necessary. While nonprofits will hopefully see an increase in unrestricted funds—and a decrease in burdensome reporting requirements—as part of this and other movements, good nonprofit accounting principles still apply. What Are Restricted Funds? What are Unrestricted Funds?

Funding 111

Funding Indirect Cost Pass-Through Donation 111

Blackbaud

MAY 2, 2025

Many nonprofits are feeling the strain from a pause in federal grant funding and are working to shift their programs to align with the changes in government priorities. Grantees facing increased demand may require additional funding, but its vital to assess whether your foundation can provide more without compromising long-term goals.

Government 81

Government CRM Application Applicant 81

Blackbaud

MARCH 24, 2025

And with the potential for reduced government funding, CHWs play a critical role in advancing health equity. Their work ensures that patients transition smoothly from hospital to community care, which is vital when hospital resources are strained due to budget cuts. What does a Community Health Worker Do?

Transportation 90

Transportation Government Policies Policy 90

Blackbaud

MAY 27, 2024

It’s budget season, and the spreadsheet chaos has begun. You want to document your process to save yourself valuable time next budget season. You want to be able to easily report on budgets in a variety of accurate, clear ways without too much fuss, and know what was approved versus what’s been modified. What if it raises more?

Budget 59

Budget Software Funding Utilities 59

Blackbaud

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Your food bank needs accounting software that can help you manage a variety of funding sources while also helping you make strategic, data-driven decisions based on inventory and forecasted community demand. Provide clear stewardship for restricted funds. Improve transparency by communicating the status of your restricted fund balance.

Funding 98

Funding Award Budget Pass-Through 98

Greater Giving

OCTOBER 15, 2024

However, effective procurement requires a strategic approach so you can use your nonprofit’s resources wisely and maximize the amount of event funding you can put toward your mission. The post 5 Tips for Securing Appealing Nonprofit Auction Items appeared first on Greater Giving Blog. Let’s dive in! Happy fundraising!

Procurement 103

Procurement Nonprofit Budget Donation 103

Blackbaud

JANUARY 23, 2025

Those who have discovered and leveraged it are successfully unlocking new opportunities by maximizing their complimentary ad budget to drive donor engagement, increase event attendance, and raise awareness of their programs and initiatives. Campaigns must maintain a minimum 5% click-through rate (CTR).

Grants 104

Grants Grant Utilities Nonprofit 104

Assel Grant Services

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Grants are part of the revenue mix for many nonprofit organizations, providing a source of funding for various projects. However, grant recipients need to have a clear understanding of what grants can and cannot pay for as they build this revenue into their budgets. Let us explore the possibilities and limitations of grant funding.

GPC 52

GPC Grants Grant Grant Management 52

Think and Ink Grants

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

Grant writing is a vital skill for local nonprofits seeking funding to support their missions. This blog will explore key strategies and tips to enhance your grant writing skills, helping your organization to secure the funding it deserves. Moreover, understanding the vision and mission of the funding organization is pivotal.

Grant Writing 52

Grant Writing Grants Grant Proposal 52

Blackbaud

APRIL 10, 2024

You know how important it is to manage your funds according to their purpose and source. Or do you have to rely on manual workarounds, spreadsheets, and guesswork to track and report on your restricted funds? Without fund accounting software, tracking at that level of detail must be done manually outside the system.

Funding 111

Funding Management Software Finance 111

Think and Ink Grants

DECEMBER 2, 2024

Grant writing is a vital skill for nonprofits, artists, and educators in Atlanta, aimed at securing funding to enhance community projects and initiatives. This blog delves into the nuances of grant writing, exploring best practices, resources, and success stories from the heart of Georgia. Networking opportunities abound as well.

Grant Writing 52

Grant Writing Grants Grant Proposal 52

Blackbaud

JANUARY 9, 2025

These are funds set aside by the Board for a future special designated use, such as supporting the purchase of a headquarters building, acquiring a program from another organization, or funding a one-time future project, for example, a rebranding or a special event like a 100 th anniversary celebration.

Policies 98

Policies Policy Budget Management 98

Strategic Grants

MAY 18, 2025

If youre wondering how to incorporate the justification in the budget of your grant application, you can include something like These in-kind figures are based on wage rates as calculated by The Centre for Volunteering cost of volunteering calculator: [link].

Strategic Plan 59

Strategic Plan Budget Application Applicant 59