Let me guess:
You have a big vision for your nonprofit — but your budget looks like a list of last year’s expenses plus inflation.
That’s not strategy.
That’s survival-mode math.
And if you’re only budgeting based on what you think you can raise, instead of what you need to grow — you’re already behind.
Here’s the shift:
Your budget isn’t a mirror. It’s a map.
It should tell your board, your funders, and your team:
Where you’re going
What you need to get there
How you'll make it sustainable
A strategic budget doesn’t just “keep the lights on.”
It funds capacity. It scales programs. It builds your future.
Basing the budget only on last year’s numbers
Underestimating true costs (especially indirect/overhead)
Not budgeting for growth, infrastructure, or reserves
Excluding staff development, evaluation, and tech upgrades
Relying on wishful revenue without solid strategy to back it up
These mistakes don’t just make reporting harder — they weaken your case with funders.
📌 Capacity-Building
Consultants, coaches, fractional staff
Hiring costs, onboarding, and leadership development
📌 Evaluation & Learning
Tools to measure outcomes
Survey platforms, data dashboards, outcome reporting
📌 Technology
CRM systems, grant tracking software, email marketing tools
Data security and digital infrastructure
📌 Staff & Wellness
Salaries that reflect market value
Benefits, training, and professional development
📌 Sustainability Reserves
Set aside 3–6 months of operating costs
Include unrestricted revenue to build stability
📌 Strategic Growth
Program pilots
Community engagement or storytelling initiatives
Brand and marketing development
Don’t cut key items just because they “don’t feel fundable.”
Instead, ask:
🔹 How can we reframe this line item to show its connection to impact?
🔹 What evidence can we show that this investment leads to better outcomes?
Example:
Instead of “admin salary,” use “Program Operations & Compliance Support” — and explain how it ensures program quality and reporting accuracy.
Funders support strong infrastructure. But you need to make the case.
Grab the Strategic Budget Planning Worksheet and walk through your next budget line by line — not just with your calculator, but with your vision board too.
📞 Ready to build a budget funders will take seriously? Let's build it together: trinitystrategic.co
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