Nonprofit Budgets: How to Get Started

Good budgets help nonprofit leaders better understand their organization and its mission, communicate resource needs and goals, and pave the way toward equity. If you're just getting started, this new video series is for you.

1. How to Build a Budget from Scratch
2. How to Create a Budget Template
3. How to Fill Out the Budget Template

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• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:23 The 5 W's of the budgeting process
• 1:29 What is a budget?
• 3:53 Why create a budget?
• 6:42 Client example: ownership and understanding
• 7:09 When should I create my budget?
• 10:02 Who should be involved?
• 12:10 Where should my budget live?
• 13:35 How should I get started?
• 15:23 Reflection questions

You can download slides below and here's a transcript of this recording.

• 0:22 Start the Budget Process In Advance
• 1:31 No Numbers Yet: The Budget Template
• 2:26 Budget Template: Similar to Your Packing List
• 4:54 Start Your Budget Template: Make a List
• 6:15 Start Your Budget Template: Add the Details
• 10:02 Organize the List by Similar Categories
• 7:16 A Sample Budget Template is Available at nff.org
• 7:31 Estimate Revenue & Expense
• 9:09 Review of Key Budget Template Steps

You can download slides below and here's a transcript of this recording. We also have a sample budget template for your use.

• 0:27 Review of Key Budget Template Steps
• 1:06 Estimate Expense
• 7:18 Previous Budget & Actual Performance: Variance Analysis
• 10:50 Revenue vs. Expenses
• 12:26 Review Budget Timeline

You can download slides below and here's a transcript of this recording.