{"id":22804,"date":"2024-04-22T07:01:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T11:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=22804"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:08:06","slug":"the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-nonprofit-budgeting-and-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-nonprofit-budgeting-and-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"The good, bad, and ugly of nonprofit budgeting and planning\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe good, bad, and ugly of nonprofit budgeting and planning\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-04-22T07:01:42-04:00\">April 22, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"The good, bad, and ugly of nonprofit budgeting and planning\u00a0\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/the-good-bad-and-ugly-of-nonprofit-budgeting-and-planning\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/natalie-anderson\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/Natalie_Headshot_2021-1-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Natalie Anderson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still using spreadsheets for nonprofit budgeting and planning, you\u2019re not alone.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, more than two-thirds of nonprofit finance teams currently do.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But as nonprofit organizations grow in complexity, their need for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/product-capabilities\/extended-capabilities\/financial-planning-budgeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forward-looking planning and agile decision-making solution<\/a> also increases.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve seen decreases in the number of organizations relying on Excel spreadsheets for budgeting and planning.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the 2024 Sage Nonprofit Technology Trends Report, the percentage of nonprofits using true budgeting and planning software increased from 18% in 2022 to 28% today.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-eddf536e-0615-462e-9248-357d6f80e2ed\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-eddf536e-0615-462e-9248-357d6f80e2ed\"\n\t>Download our ebook to find out if your nonprofit has outgrown Excel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll examine why Excel is poorly suited for forward-looking planning and how easy it is for small spreadsheet errors to become big problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll also explore how your budgeting and planning experience can range from downright ugly with manual spreadsheets to merely bad with outdated technology and on to good with an automated, modern solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-ugly-side-of-budgeting-spreadsheets-nbsp\"><strong>The ugly side of budgeting spreadsheets<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing budgets in Excel presents significant challenges to many nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the most common complaints:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI just pulled another all-nighter to prep for the board meeting.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cUgh. I just found a formula error that overstated our donations last quarter.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWait. Where did that budget version come from? I was using this one to manage our department\u2019s expenses.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cJohn\u2019s just left the organization. He was the only one who understood the model.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Those are some big blemishes to deal with.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine how much more you could accomplish if you ditch the spreadsheets to put time back into your day, eliminate calculation errors, and empower staff with version control.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, when you\u2019re dealing with complex forecasting and what-if models, it\u2019s risky to depend on one person.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How much will it cost to have someone figure out how the model was built to ensure continuity? Or, what if the model had a flaw in its original creation and your team continues using it?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"846\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/nancy-image-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/nancy-image-1.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/nancy-image-1-768x438.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With all the time and headaches associated with manual, spreadsheet-based budgeting and planning, it\u2019s no wonder budgeting and planning ranked as one of the top five internal challenges in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/resources\/white-papers\/trends-report-not-for-profit-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 Sage Nonprofit Technology Trends Report<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-bad-side-of-outdated-technology-nbsp\"><strong>The bad side of outdated technology<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe your organization has a specific software solution in place for budgeting and planning and you\u2019re feeling pretty good right now after reading about the challenges that come with spreadsheets.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re using software based on older technology, then hold that thought.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to exposure to cyber security threats, inappropriate data access, and high budget variances, organizations have many potential problems on their hands when using outdated solutions:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cIt\u2019s halfway through the month and I don\u2019t have last month\u2019s numbers from the development group yet.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWhen did you send that out? I can\u2019t find that email.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cOh no. Did I just send a file that included salary information?\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Outdated software is often a standalone solution that silos financial data.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To share data throughout the organization, nonprofit finance professionals need to download a CSV file and share it with various stakeholders who are responsible for managing and updating their specific data in manual formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These files are sent back and forth as email attachments leading to inefficiencies, errors, and security risks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-good-an-automated-modern-budgeting-and-planning-solution-nbsp\"><strong>The good: An automated, modern budgeting and planning solution<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To get away from the bad and ugly of nonprofit budgeting and planning, more organizations are choosing to adopt a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/product-capabilities\/extended-capabilities\/financial-planning-budgeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">true cloud-based budgeting and planning solution<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern solutions provide a real-time single source of truth that supports agile decision-making and includes the capabilities needed for nonprofits to successfully plan, budget, and forecast.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a closer look at the good.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud-based budgeting and planning software helps nonprofits become more efficient through automation, leaving more time for in-depth analysis and strategy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Budget owners across the organization have the power to accurately monitor budget-to-actuals, enabling real-time decision-making.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When budgets are in the cloud, it emboldens collaboration and ensures everyone sees the same version, which leads to a more responsive and resilient organization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what two nonprofits had to say when they ditched their ugly spreadsheet processes for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/product-capabilities\/extended-capabilities\/financial-planning-budgeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">modern, cloud-based budgeting and planning software<\/a>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hope-human-services-nbsp\"><strong>Hope Human Services<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Using Excel, Hope Human Services struggled to budget. It took two weeks of eight-hour days to get through each exercise.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, broken formulas and version control issues permeated their six-tab spreadsheet. With a cloud-based solution now in place, director of finance Shelton Horton shared:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI\u2019m cutting my budgeting time in half with Sage Intacct Planning, and we\u2019re able to do rolling forecasts to adapt to any changes.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cWe don\u2019t have to wait until the end of the month to see how things are going\u2014we\u2019ve got real-time data available whenever we need it.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-foodcorps-nbsp\"><strong>FoodCorps<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Facing similar constraints with their budgeting process, FoodCorps staff had to battle data silos and communication gaps.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After adopting a true cloud-based budgeting and planning solution, senior director of finance Michelle Emeh said:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cWe\u2019re able to budget more efficiently with Sage Intacct Planning and invest our time savings into analytics and strategy so senior management can make more informed decisions.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cSince moving to Sage Intacct Planning, we\u2019ve been able to spend quality time with budget owners to provide clarity and context. They\u2019re more empowered and comfortable with the numbers.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-nbsp\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For today\u2019s nonprofits, the best way to achieve mission success is through a flexible strategic plan and resilient financial management.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Good nonprofit budgeting and planning tools can make it possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With cloud-based planning and budgeting software, nonprofit organizations benefit from the good\u2014including time savings, cross-departmental collaboration, and real-time decision-making.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Relying on best practices and automated processes in budgeting and planning emboldens your nonprofit to support growth and win more funding opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is your organization ready to say goodbye to bad and ugly for a better nonprofit planning and budgeting experience? To find out, download our 8 Signs Your Nonprofit Has Outgrown Excel for Budgeting and Planning e-book.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">8 Signs Your Nonprofit Has Outgrown Excel for Budgeting and Planning<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-eddf536e-0615-462e-9248-357d6f80e2ed\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1267191201_updated-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"A woman in front of a computer\" loading=\"lazy\" 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src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover why Excel is poorly suited for forward-looking planning and how easy it is for small spreadsheet errors to become big problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1435,"featured_media":22810,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[4,170],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[58],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[472],"coauthors":[611],"class_list":["post-22804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-business-intelligence","tag-business-strategy","business_type-growing-business","industry-nonprofit"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Natalie Anderson","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Nancy-blog-image.jpg","imagine_tags":{"472":"Nonprofit"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice 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