The best qualities of any organization, big or small, is sustainability, stability, and integrity. Conflict management, bookkeeping, and effort make for a lot, but the lifeblood that keeps the lights on is undoubtedly it’s financial management. It serves as the backbone of growth.
This article covers key points of managing money in a non-profit organization. We delve into the best practices, techniques, and strategies that can help your non-profit organization, its members, and the beneficiaries sustainably achieve their shared goals.
- Elevating the Role of the Finance Office
One of the key steps towards effective financial management in a non-profit setting is to shift the perception of the finance office from merely a compliance watchdog to a strategic thought partner.
Non-profits often relegate their finance staff to roles predominantly leaning towards compliance – administering budget cuts, overseeing spending, and ensuring clean audits. While these tasks are crucial, harnessing the strategic financial acumen of your finance team can yield fruitful results.
To foster this shift, engage your finance leadership in strategic discussions. Let their vision contribute to decisions about expansion, systems upgrades, or infrastructure investments. Team members with a strategic financial perspective at the leadership table serve as a valuable asset in testing ideas and influencing the direction of the organization.
- Balancing Information Access
Striking the right balance in the transparency of financial information within the organization is important for your business. Creating clarity in your selection of financial markers, measurements, or data is crucial for driving home the efforts to focus on. Some inundate their staff with an excess of financial data, leading to confusion more than clarity. Others share little to no data, masking the mission and business in a cloud, confusing their team.
Avoid these extremes by considering the specific needs of your organization. Regularly revisit the type and amount of financial information you share to ensure it’s adequate, relevant, and digestible. This balance is crucial in fostering financial literacy across your non-profit. Positive benefits you will see from your efforts are informed decision-making, a promotion of accountability, and a focused team.
- Recognizing the Full Cost of Operations
Non-profit financial management also involves understanding the full cost of running your programs and the underlying business model of your organization. This process involves evaluating the flexibility or restrictiveness of your revenue streams along with the expenses you’re obligated to fulfill.
A thorough understanding of your organization’s financials can unlock insights into its financial health and direction. For instance, assessing the profitability of individual programs can help identify areas that are under-funded due to your business model. This knowledge allows you to make data-driven decisions and strategic adjustments to ensure financial stability for the now and the future.
- Assessing New Funding Opportunities
Every new funding opportunity should be evaluated from the perspective of its cost to your organization. Start this evaluation when identifying potential new funding sources. It’s too late to reconsider once the funds have already been committed to program budgets.
Not all funds are created equal. Non-profits must be wary of funding sources that inadequately compensate them or distract them from realizing their strategic objectives. Before accepting any funding or commitment, consider whether the opportunity aligns with your organization’s mission and resources.
- Upholding Financial Integrity
Non-profits should strive to uphold their financial integrity by implementing an effective monitoring and reporting practice. This cultivates trust among donors, volunteers, and the internal team. Here are a few ways you can uphold your organization’s integrity:
- Adopt a policy for managing conflicts of interest and ensure everyone in the organization is treated fairly in these guidelines.
- Develop sound financial management policies.
- Respond promptly to requests for financial reports and data. Transparency and honesty are viewed under a microscope.
- Ensure the annual budget and other financial reports are reviewed and approved. The organization must move forward together.
- Maintaining a Financial Reserve
Nonprofits must maintain a financial reserve to provide stability and reduce uncertainty. A reserve fund is essentially a safety net for your organization, safeguarding you from unexpected financial setbacks and enabling smooth operations even during tough times. Inflation and other economic crises can severely impact non-profits. During such times, it’s essential for non-profits to conserve as much as possible and adopt strategies to mitigate the impact of the crisis. Transferring funds into interest-bearing accounts or avoiding unnecessary expenses can help in this regard.
Strive to maintain a reserve of about three months’ worth of expenses. Although the bigger the reserve, the better, three months is a good starting point. As your organization grows, increase your reserve as best you can for increased stability.
- Investing in Financial Management Tools
Financial management tools are great options for non-profits looking to simplify and automate their accounting functions. From accounting software to bookkeeping kits, these tools can automate processes, reduce errors, and provide valuable insights into your financial performance over time.
For example, using invoice management software can minimize invoicing mistakes and streamline bookkeeping, which is crucial for a non-profit. There are many resources to evaluate and explore, evaluating your organization’s scope and needs is your first step in making that decision.
- Regular Compliance and Audit Checks
Lastly, non-profits must regularly ensure that they are abiding by the rules and regulations that govern them. Regular compliance checks and audits can help prevent financial discrepancies and ensure the organization’s financial health.
In conclusion, managing money in a non-profit organization involves a strategic blend of teamwork ranging from financial literacy and transparency to internal direction and adequate planning. With the right efforts, your non-profit can ensure sustainable growth, meet its mission, and continue making a positive impact on its beneficiaries.
Remember, money is a means towards an end, and even the most selfless organizations need to put a financial system in place that will provide the necessary means, not just right now but for years to come. May your business succeed and move forward.