The thing most nonprofits dislike most about money is the bureaucracy. Or maybe it’s just a feeling of bureaucracy around managing money properly. The endless form-filling. Signing this or that. Why can’t it be easy???? Let me tell you what’s good about paperwork for money.
Value for money
Procurement processes are things most of us dislike. But – they actually help us make sure we get good value for our money. So we’re not spending more than we need to. And so we can use our money in the best possible way to get the most done.
Real prices & real invoices
We don’t want to pay fake invoices or fraudsters. That’s why it’s good to have systems in place to check incoming invoices. So we can be sure we’re paying contracted services to the right bank account at the agreed price.
Data for budgeting
Keeping track of the cost of services and goods helps us create better budgets for new projects. Now we know what the real cost is so we don’t budget too low amounts. If a donor asks us where our budget comes from, we have data to show them too!
These are just three ways how managing your money with some level of ‘bureaucracy’ is actually helping your nonprofit practically.
Having systems in place that your team clearly (and visibly) follows in your nonprofit also helps you build trust with your donors. So that they also can be sure their money is used in the best possible way and isn’t paid to fraudsters.
How I can help
Here is how I can help you set up your nonprofit finance and admin professionally so you can stop worrying about this:
- If you would like to know what admin steps you need to design and implement for proper donation management, my workshop Donation Received – Now What? Can help you. You can get that here: https://www.changingtides.eu/donationnowwhat
- If you have your donation policy and SOPs for managing donations, and you’d like my professional opinion, I create a personal video review for you: https://www.changingtides.eu/reviewdonationssops
- If you would like simple steps to set up and organise your finance & admin foundations guidance by me, you can get a bundle of six simple and short workshops here: https://www.changingtides.eu/financeandadminbundle
Want to take about dilemmas you face as a manager, join the Nonprofit Management Confidence Club.
Watch my video Money mindset in nonprofits: 5 helpful thoughts about managing money and money panic. You can also check out my YouTube channel here, and find a collection of videos on HR issues, fundraising, annual reporting, donations and other nonprofit operations topics.
Want to know more and ask questions?
If you want to discuss this more – jump into my nonprofit support community and get input from a wide range of peers and from myself!
Here is how you can join my free nonprofit support community
You can join my free nonprofit support community on the Heartbeat platform here. This group is a safe space for open exchange and discussion on potentially sensitive topics like boards, nonprofit management, fundraising, etc. You can visit the community via a browser or via an app. Here is the link to download the Heartbeat chat app in the Google Play store.
Want to support me with a cup of coffee?
The seaside always inspires me and helps me think of articles, videos, workshops and courses I can create for you. If you want to support me without getting a paid workshop, course or review – you can donate me a coffee and speed up my thinking process! You can support me here: https://ko-fi.com/suzannebakker