Nonprofit Budget Template: Streamline Financial Planning

Budgeting doesn’t need to be stressful! Submit your email and we will send you a free general budget template for your nonprofit + a bonus budget template!
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With the rise of inflation and changes in donor behavior over the past year, nonprofit funding and fundraising have become increasingly tight. It’s now more important than ever to maintain financial stability for nonprofits to stay afloat.

At the core of nonprofit financial management is a budget. A central document where an organization designates how much money should go towards each category and documents expected cash inflows and outflows. 

How much money does a nonprofit expect to receive in grants? How much in donations? How much will they spend on operational expenses? A proper nonprofit budget will clarify all of these questions. 

Creating a proper budget for your nonprofit is manageable, especially when using a template. Lucky you because we have created comprehensive nonprofit annual and monthly budget templates for any nonprofit (2 versions!)! We’re also attaching a surprise nonprofit budget template – you’ll have to sign up to see which bonus template it is.

What to expect from this nonprofit budget template

Annual and Monthly Budget Templates

When planning for the year ahead, it can be helpful to plan on a macro level and budget amounts for the entire year. At the same time, the team needs to know the goals and limits for day-to-day operations. For that reason, our budget template includes both an annual and monthly budget. 

In our nonprofit budget templates, we suggest a few categories for income and expenses, but do not let that box you in. Make a copy of the templates, and customize the columns and inputs to what is relevant for your nonprofit.

 

Budget vs Actual

As part of good budgeting practice, it is important to compare what you thought (budgeted) the organization would spend or earn, versus what it actually spent or earned. 

In our nonprofit budget template, you will see both columns, for nonprofit organizations to compare the projected versus the actual cash flow for accurate financial planning for years to come!

 

Grant and Donation Tracking

Document all sources of income: Record donations, grants, fundraising events, and membership fees to keep a comprehensive record of the nonprofits incoming funds. This documentation simplifies financial health analysis, making it easier to identify potential areas for growth.

Separate sections for recurring donations, one-time contributions, grants and dues. Distinguish between these contributions to enable precise financial planning and reporting. This separation ensures that you can easily monitor the stability of your funding and plan accordingly for future projects.

 

Expense Management

Categorize expenditures such as operational costs, program expenses, staff salaries, and administrative costs. Accurately reporting what your nonprofit spends money on will allow you to understand exactly where your money is going.

Labeling expenditures can enable you to identify areas where the nonprofit might be able to cut costs and prevent fraudulent use of funds. Detailed tracking enables you to drill down into specific expenses, like utilities, supplies, travel expenses, and administrative costs, ensuring nothing is overlooked. It also simplifies the process of preparing financial reports and presenting your financial status to stakeholders.

 

Balanced Budget 

Balancing your budget is key to maintaining the financial health of a nonprofit. Ensure that the money flowing into the nonprofit is greater than or equal to the amount spent. Our template provides tools to help you keep track of your financial equilibrium, ensuring you can meet your obligations without overextending your resources. 

Monthly Financial Reviews: Conduct regular monthly financial reviews to assess your organization’s financial health. This practice helps identify any discrepancies early and allows for timely adjustments, ensuring that your budget remains balanced and on track.

Get Your Free Nonprofit
Budget Template

Budgeting doesn’t need to be stressful!

Submit your email and we will send you a free general budget template for your nonprofit  + a bonus budget template

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Crowded for simple nonprofit financial management

Crowded is your friendly neighborhood all-in-one financial management platform. In one platform, get access to payment processing (for dues, donations, events, etc.), transparent spending tools, AI tax filing services, and a nonprofit bank account*.

Using it streamlines organization finances and cuts out the need for manual tasks such as reimbursements, reconciliation, and keeping track of a million platforms. 

Crowded makes staying on budget a breeze

In the ‘transactions’ tab, one can clearly see all the cash inflows and outflows of their nonprofit. Treasurers would know exactly what the organization’s funds are being spent on, and how much they’re receiving in donations every month. Get your organization on budget, and rule out any possibility of fraud by turning to a financial platform that clarifies your finances like Crowded.

Why using a Nonprofit Budget Template is essential

Our budget template is crucial for any nonprofit, providing the structure needed to maintain financial stability. By using this template, you can ensure that all financial aspects of your organization are well-documented and balanced, helping you avoid common financial problems and stay focused on your mission. Here’s how the template helps:

Improve Financial Oversight

It provides a clear and organized way to monitor financial performance, making it easier to identify trends and make informed decisions. This clarity helps you understand your financial status at a glance, allowing for more effective management and strategic planning.

Enhance Transparency and Accountability

Accurate record-keeping is essential for reporting to stakeholders, donors, and regulatory bodies. Maintaining transparency and accountability helps build trust with your supporters and ensures compliance with IRS compliance requirements. Our template simplifies this process, making it easy to keep accurate and comprehensive records.

Facilitate Strategic Planning

Set realistic financial goals and develop long-term plans to ensure the sustainability of your organization. Strategic planning is crucial for the long-term success of your nonprofit. Our template helps you set achievable financial goals and develop plans to meet them, ensuring your organization remains viable and effective.

Streamline Financial Operations

Simplify the process of tracking and managing finances, freeing up time for your staff to focus on mission-critical activities. By reducing the time and effort required to manage your finances, our template allows your team to concentrate on what really matters: advancing your mission and making a difference.

We hope you find the general annual and monthly template helpful! If you are interested in Crowded’s financial management tools, sign up or book a demo with us 🙂

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