This shows how the nonprofit performed by comparing the actual revenue and expenses with what was planned or budgeted. Any deviations or variances in the actual performance will need to be addressed. Track your nonprofit’s project-specific budget with this basic template. List income sources and figures in monthly columns to determine month-by-month total income. Enter project expenses in the same month-by-month columns to compare total expenses to total revenue.

When putting in the numbers for your revenue, make sure you know exactly where your funds will come from. Before starting with what is, essentially, a future-oriented process – clarify the present context. Assess the current financial and resource management decisions. Evaluate current financial health by analyzing the current year-end forecast, current budget variances, and balance sheet strength. Then, take some time to reflect on and learn from programmatic and financial successes and failures. It allows organizations to prepare for unexpected events and respond appropriately so they can achieve their goals.

Nonprofit Budgeting Scenario Planning Tool

This way, certain facilities could be shared at the same time. This grant proposal budget template caters to nonprofits seeking funding for their organizations. Enter the details of your nonprofit’s year-over-year projected and actual revenue, along with expenses, to compare the former to the latter. With this comprehensive annual nonprofit operating budget template, you’ll get  quarter-by-quarter and yearly insights into income and expenses.

It’s important to be realistic in reviewing income sources and expenses. Board directors should be careful to consider the state of the economy and any unusual or unforeseen financial situations of their contributors. Good communication between the program, finance, and development departments and the board is key to monitoring the budget during the year. Try and differentiate between the program and other expenses.

Separate operational from capital budget

This process allows nonprofits to make informed decisions and adjust their operations to confirm they are aligned with their budget. Our model indicates that new organizations and groups that are operating on small budgets need to spend a larger share of their revenue on administrative costs than larger, more established nonprofits. This investment lays a solid foundation for long-term budgeting for nonprofits resilience and ensures they are better equipped to serve their beneficiaries. The requirements of Form 1023, however, should not be the dictating factor in preparing a multi-year budget projection. The smallest of organizations, those who are filing Form 1023-EZ because of their expected total income being below $50,000 per year, don’t have such a requirement on their application.

• Award-winning online accounting software designed for small business owners and accountants.
• Once you decide to make the hire, you would need to update your budget forecast for the remainder of the year to reflect the difference so the budget is more accurate.
• Don’t forget to track restricted and unrestricted funds, and how you are spending them.
• No matter what happens with your nonprofit, you never stop needing a budget!
• If your budgeting is based on a strategic perspective consistently for years, your nonprofit will remain secure.

Your annual unrestricted surplus should be sufficient to meet debt obligations, fund depreciation, and add to operating reserves. AAFCPAs recommends a 3-5% surplus operating budget each year, and four to six months of expenses in your operating reserves. Every accounting system has a chart of accounts which classifies the sources of revenue and the types of expenses you incur. Use the same categories in your budget to easily generate financial reports to funders and others. If you’re creating a budget for the first time, create as reasonable a list as possible of expenses. Then, assess your best and worst-case scenarios for generating funding.

More Fundamentals

A budget isn’t a prediction, a forecast, a target or a wish list. A nonprofit budget is a financial document that provides an overview of how the organization plans to spend its money. There are two parts to the budget — expenses and revenue. It’s crucial that the budget be centered around the primary goals and objectives of the organization.