Equip participants with the knowledge and tools to align their budgets with their strategic goals and mission.
Teach participants the M3 (Making Meaning of Multiple Data Sets) process as a best practice for data collection, evaluation, and utilization in their organizations.
Share the types of data participants might collect and how to leverage this data in their proposals and evaluation, including financial data, to strengthen their case for funding.
Identify various nonprofit funding models to help them explore and identify suitable funding strategies.
Identify creative approaches to collaborative funding, highlighting how partnerships can help navigate restrictive funding and maximize financial resources.
Participants will be able to create budgets that align with their organization's strategic goals and mission.
Participants will be proficient in implementing the M3 process to collect, evaluate, and utilize data in their organizations.
Participants will design and execute data collection plans that effectively use the M3 process.
Participants will identify various types of data critical for their organization's mission and objectives.
Participants will be able to describe and assess different nonprofit funding models.
Participants will select and implement appropriate funding models that best fit their organization’s needs and goals.
Participants will apply creative approaches to collaborative funding to overcome restrictive funding limitations and maximize their financial resources.
Sample Nonprofit: Community Health Initiative
Mission: To improve the health and well-being of underserved communities through healthcare services, education, and outreach.
Expense Category - Amount Allocated ($)
Administrative Costs - $100,000
Fundraising Events - $50,000
Staff Salaries - $150,000
Office Rent and Utilities - $80,000
Marketing and Public Relations - $70,000
Healthcare Services - $50,000
Education and Outreach - $20,000
Total Budget - $520,000
Budget Assessment and Realignment
Instructions:
Review the sample budget and mission.
Assess Budget Alignment:
Is the majority of the budget allocated to activities that directly support the mission?
Identify any expenses that seem misaligned with the mission.
Suggest Reallocations:
Recommend changes to the budget to better align with the mission.
Consider increasing funding for healthcare services and education/outreach.
Present Findings:
Prepare a brief presentation on your assessment and recommended changes.
Discuss how these changes better support the nonprofit's mission.
Mission: To provide shelter, support services, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness, empowering them to regain stability and independence.
Shelter Operations - $300,000
Case Management and Support - $150,000
Prevention and Outreach - $80,000
Collaborative Partnerships - $50,000
Staff Training and Development - $30,000
Total Budget - $610,000
This budget prioritizes resources towards mission-critical activities directly related to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. The majority of funds are allocated to shelter operations, case management, support services, prevention, outreach, and collaborative partnerships, which align with the organization's mission of providing shelter, support services, and resources to empower individuals to regain stability and independence.
Expense Category - Amount Allocated ($)
Building Renovation - $200,000
Marketing and Public Relations - $100,000
Staff Bonuses - $50,000
Technology Upgrades - $80,000
Administrative Costs - $120,000
Total Budget - $550,000
In this budget, a significant portion of resources is allocated to non-mission-critical activities, such as building renovation, marketing, technology upgrades, staff bonuses, and administrative costs. While these expenses may be necessary for the organization's operations, they do not directly contribute to fulfilling its mission of providing shelter, support services, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. As a result, this budget lacks alignment with the organization's core mission and priorities.
Mission: To protect and preserve natural habitats and biodiversity through conservation efforts and environmental education.
Expense Category - Amount Allocated ($)
Administrative Costs - $150,000
Fundraising Events - $100,000
Staff Salaries - $200,000
Office Rent and Utilities - $80,000
Marketing and Public Relations - $70,000
Conservation Programs - $50,000
Total Budget - $650,000
In this budget, a significant portion of resources is allocated to administrative costs, fundraising events, staff salaries, office rent, utilities, and marketing/public relations, while only a small amount is allocated to conservation programs. This budget prioritizes overhead expenses and fundraising activities over mission-critical programs and initiatives, indicating a lack of alignment with the organization's mission of wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
Expense Category - Amount Allocated ($)
Conservation Programs - $200,000
Environmental Education - $50,000
Research and Monitoring - $80,000
Capacity Building - $30,000
Fundraising and Outreach - $40,000
Administrative Costs - $50,000
Total Budget - $450,000
This budget allocates the majority of resources to mission-critical activities, such as conservation programs, environmental education, and research and monitoring efforts. These expenses directly contribute to the organization's mission of protecting and preserving natural habitats and biodiversity. Additionally, investments are made in capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the organization's ability to fulfill its mission effectively.
Propel Nonprofits (guides & toolkits)
QuickBooks for Nonprofits | Soloprenuers (software)
DataKind - playbook for implementing data & various databases
Tableau (data visualization software)
Using Results-Based Accountability (RBA) For Performance Accountability with Community Partnerships
Bloomerang for donor management and fundraising (software)
Would you like to give us feedback on this Capacity Strengthening Workshop? It only takes a few minutes. Responding to these questions are optional (and very valuable) and does not impact your chance of receiving funding.