Ann Green's Nonprofit

MAY 5, 2025

With all the economic uncertainty right now, you may be worried about your nonprofits finances. Dont skimp on your communications budget. Maybe you need to reallocate your budget to cover some of these expenses. Maybe your giving has gone down and youve cut back on some expenses. It may be something you should be investing in.

CRM

Blackbaud

MARCH 3, 2025

But how do you justify spending money on a budgeting tool instead of supplies for an after-school program? Here are a few considerations when advocating for technology investments in your accounting and finance departments. Would this investment speed up budgeting, provide more accurate data, or mitigate risk?

Finance

Blackbaud

MARCH 20, 2025

While you may already have an annual budget and are reporting against it, the question remains: are you planning for cash? Begin by taking your monthly budget and assuming you pay everything on the first of the month. Scenario Planning Create a budget that zeroes out any government funding and make a plan from there.

Management

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 9, 2025

Your heart is racing, your inbox is a graveyard of unanswered pleas, and youre still waiting on a budget breakdown, an updated program description, and that one elusive staff bio written in something resembling human English. Picture this: the grant deadline is in 48 hours. Sound familiar? Its systemicand surprisingly fixable. Or skeptical.

Grant Writing

Blackbaud

JANUARY 13, 2025

Ask the finance team. Finance teams can help their nonprofit organizations evaluate new revenue streams, enhancing the organizations stability and mitigating risk while intentionally experimenting with varied income sources. Even your IT team suggested selling the research tool they built to other organizations.

Finance

Blackbaud

JUNE 16, 2025

For finance teams in donor-focused and grant-funded organizations, working hand-in-hand with fundraising partners is critical to crafting reports that truly engage and tell a story. For finance teams, grant reporting involves aligning financial data with program-specific outcomes.

Finance

Blackbaud

JUNE 4, 2025

For example, a newly hired finance manager is stepping into a nonprofit with no formalized internal control policy. Finance Teams: Handle the nuts and boltsdocumenting procedures, conducting reconciliations, and overseeing daily transactions. Personnel Controls Require background checks for new hires in finance-related roles.

Policy

Grant Professionals Association

MAY 1, 2025

For larger organizations, this could include staff from Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, etc. Finance: Review the project budget and possibly compare with your organizations financial reports of actual versus budgeted expenses, offering time for team member education. depending on the nature of the grant.

GPC

Ann Green's Nonprofit

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

In it, include guidance on gift acceptance, conflicts of interest, expense reimbursement, and staff compensation, among other aspects of nonprofit finance. According to Jitasa , most nonprofits start out using the cash accounting method to track their finances—i.e., Methodology. Chief financial officer (CFO).

Finance

Grant Professionals Association

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Although inflation has cooled, balancing budgets hasnt necessarily become easier. Dive Deep into Your Budget Cost-cutting isnt just a once-a-year task during the annual budget season. Dive Deep into Your Budget Cost-cutting isnt just a once-a-year task during the annual budget season.

Budget

Blackbaud

JUNE 12, 2025

Engage program managers and finance teams to ensure the project is feasible and aligns with organizational goals. Important activities: Gather necessary documents, develop narratives, build budgets, and secure internal approvals. Objective: Monitor grant progress, manage budgets, and ensure compliance throughout the grant period.

Grant

GrantNews

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Private foundations Community foundations Corporations State Government Local Government Federal Government Pro Tip: If your organization is small (budget under $1 million), new (in existence for less than five years), or has never received a grant larger than $45,000, smaller foundations will be your best funding sources.

Grant

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Provide a Budget : Include a detailed budget that outlines how grant money will be used. Detailed Budget Shows understanding of costs and financial planning. Prepare Required Documents : Common documents include project proposals, budgets, resumes, and letters of support. Below is a sample budget template.

Grant

Blackbaud

JULY 18, 2025

This guide covers the fundamentals that your finance team needs to know during every stage of the grant so you can handle it confidently from award to closeout. Understanding the Grant Lifecycle for the Finance Office Government grants follow a predictable journey, and the finance team plays a mission-critical role at each stage.

Government

Blackbaud

MARCH 31, 2025

These can include disbursement timelines, budget allocation, and project progress. For instance, you could share budgeting templates, provide a referral to a financial advisor, or recommend attending a workshop on managing large-scale funding. Consider creating reporting dashboards that clearly display key metrics.

Grant

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

DoJiggy

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Best Free Giving Platforms for Churches Finding a cost-effective solution is crucial for churches mindful of their budgets (and who isn’t?). Pros : Donorbox’s low transaction fees and customizable options make it a great option for churches on a budget. One of the best free options is DoJiggy.

Donation

Grant Professionals Association

JULY 29, 2025

Often, the finance department handles the process, leaving grant managers unaware until after the fact. Does it clearly explain why each budget item is necessary? Make sure finance, program staff, and leadership all understand the proposal and budget inside and out.

IT

Blackbaud

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

As a nonprofit finance professional, you want all your data to be accurate. Discrepancies and Budget Overruns Manual time tracking and payroll allocation can result in discrepancies between recorded time and payroll provider data. These discrepancies can lead to budget overruns and difficulties in managing funds effectively.

Grant

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.

Contracts

Blackbaud

APRIL 16, 2025

The finance team shoulders immense responsibility to make sure funds are well-stewarded, often while being understaffed and under-resourced. One of the most important places for alignment is between development and finance to make sure expenses abide by funder restrictions.

Finance

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Businesses Small businesses and startups can obtain grants to finance new projects, conduct research, or expand operations, often helping them gain a competitive edge in the market. This includes evaluating the merit of the proposal, budget, and overall alignment with the funding source’s objectives.

Grant Writing

Blackbaud

JANUARY 14, 2025

At some point, you will realize that more staff and more budget can take you only so far. You Need to Customize Your Workflows and Integrate Systems Growing fundraising teams typically want to leverage custom workflows and integrate with related software systems like those used by finance and digital marketing.

CRM

Candid

MAY 14, 2025

Thats because the financing of new or preserved affordable homes is something like a Jenga tower. But when you pull out one financing tile, you have to make up for that money in some other way, either through loans, additional debt, or other cost savings.

Finance

Blackbaud

DECEMBER 23, 2024

When your nonprofit is just getting started, your budget for an accounting system is likely very close to $0. And this data rolls up into your organizational budget to give you a holistic view of your finances. It may be time to look for a fund accounting system with subfund capabilities when you notice these three signs.

Finance

Assel Grant Services

DECEMBER 8, 2024

While board members play an important role in assuring agency finances and grant funds are treated ethically, they are also partially responsible for resource development that is, ensuring their organization has the resources needed to fulfill its mission. Understand the issues that could impact their nonprofit agencys finances (e.g.,

GPC

Blackbaud

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Coffman stated in their GuideStar article : Theres no question that nonprofit organizations have an obligation to manage their finances responsibly. Unfortunately, philanthropies are typically (and problematically) judged by the first two criteria. As Chuck McLean and Suzanne E.

Metrics

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Well-articulated grant proposals demonstrate an applicant’s understanding of the project’s goals, budget implications, and anticipated impact. Detailed Budget Proposal A comprehensive budget proposal is essential in demonstrating the financial viability of a project.

Grant Writing

The Fundraising Coach

JANUARY 17, 2025

From tight budgets to limited staffing, these hurdles can make even the simplest event feel overwhelming. Budget Constraints Tight finances can make it difficult to secure venues, hire vendors, and provide high-quality experiences for attendees. Group discounts can also inspire more people to attend.

Budget

Wild Apricot

JUNE 16, 2025

Disbursing payments : They pay vendors, staff or reimburse expenses according to your project’s budget. The agent handles the finances but doesn’t control your work. You’re looking for basic help with finance and compliance. You’re seeking help beyond finances, like HR, liability coverage or insurance.

Logic Model

Grant Professionals Association

JUNE 27, 2025

Organizations often view post-award management as the responsibility of finance or program teams. Grant professionals who understand these dynamics are better positioned to advise their organizations and protect both funding and reputation. However, grant professionals—by virtue of our cross-functional roles—have a broader perspective.

Award

Qgiv

JANUARY 8, 2025

Teach kids math and leadership skills: A recent study found that just 18% of high schoolers and 26% of college students said they have a somewhat high or very high knowledge of finance. Planning school fundraisers can make learning about finances fun and relatable. Raffles You can host a raffle at any time and with almost any budget.

Fundraising

Blackbaud

DECEMBER 20, 2024

A good finance team will make sure bills are paid on time, reports are accurate, and the Board of Directors has access to the current financial statements. A good finance team will help you stay where you are. A good finance team will help you stay where you are. A world-class finance department will help you evolve.

Finance

The NonProfit Times

OCTOBER 29, 2024

It’s a perfect match, but you know you’re going to have to set up meetings with the program director, finance, and possibly the executive director. You need to talk budget, set outcomes, and ask about capacity. As a grant professional, you have identified a great grant opportunity but the lead time is short. Or, do you?

Grant

Blackbaud

JANUARY 24, 2025

It helps you better understand your donors, keep them engaged, and work more efficiently with your finance, marketing, programs, and leadership teams. Integrating finance and fundraising makes reconciliation easier and helps improve donor stewardship. Volunteer management platforms: Keep all your volunteer information in one place.

CRM

The NonProfit Times

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

You need to reframe your thinking in three critical areas to get there: budgeting, creative and reporting. 3 key areas for reframing Budgeting: Prioritize audience needs. Rather than allocating budgets by channel, focus on the specific needs of different audience segments.

Fundraising

DoJiggy

JANUARY 8, 2025

Here are some tips to keep your finances organized: Set a Budget Determine the costs of your event, including venue, marketing, supplies, and any other expenses. A clear budget prevents overspending and ensures profitability. Track Income and Expenses Financial software like QuickBooks can be used to monitor transactions.

Fundraising