Tag Human Resources

FREQUENT ASKS
Amp Up Your Reporting & Prepare for Frequent Asks

AMP UP YOUR REPORTING AND PREPARE FOR FREQUENT ASKS

ABILA ARTICLE BY MICHELLE GARCIA 11.7.18

Particularly during a nonprofit’s growth periods, its finance team may be asked to generate reports on the health of the organization at any given moment. And, although most manage and prepare reports quarterly, bi-annually, and annually, the preference is to have the ability to provide reports based on current state. How can you be ready when the ask comes your way?

Before we jump in to potential solutions for more frequent reporting, see below for a few charts we garnered from our “2018 Nonprofit Finance Study” where your peers share their perspectives:

AMP UP YOUR REPORTING AND PREPARE FOR FREQUENT ASKS

It’s reassuring to learn that a little more than 40 percent of responders don’t feel the burden of frequent reporting to funders. For those who do feel the burden, here’s what they’re saying they must do to respond to funders’ requests:

AMP UP YOUR REPORTING AND PREPARE FOR FREQUENT ASKS

You can see from the keyword cloud, there are many types of changes getting incorporated to respond to funders during growth periods, even when reporting requirements may be different by funder and/or by grant. Users need more efficient and effective reporting on data. A good place to start is to increase emphasis on program assessment and evaluation – capture metrics to show program impact.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A COMMUNITY BRANDS EXPERT

Laura Reifschlager, Community Brands’ Implementation Consultant, recommends the following:

  1. As you increase services, your chart of accounts grows with you. Add the codes you need and budget for those new services.
  2. Growth is planned – that means strategically planning. Use a good a budgeting tool to include money for new services and use that to determine the new funding needed to support the plan.
  3. Make sure your organization and team use a tool that contains powerful reporting capabilities that include:
  • Visual dashboards to help you spot trends instantly
  • Drill down of data with filters, permitting you to see details for your key performance indicators (KPIs)

Producing accurate reports to convey transparency with your finances inspires confidence, which is the foundation to maintain funding.

  1. For careful planning for staffing growth, leverage an employee management tool or module, connected to your accounting software to enable efficient management of new employee requirements.
  2. Finally, for quick access to your financials and reporting (for example, anywhere, anytime login), seek out a cloud solution for your accounting system.
Other methods you can incorporate:
  • Create general ledger (GL) groups for payroll tax analysis or benefits analysis.
  • Set up groups by budget manager or set up groups by managers and department for easier reporting.
  • Manage reports with executive view licenses. These license types allow additional users to run their own reports and assist with budget preparation, freeing you to focus on your management tasks.

At the end of the day, reporting should not be painful or burdensome. With an automated solution, you can replace that stress with ease.

If you have interest in learning more from your nonprofit finance peers, we invite you to contact us below for a download of the full study, “Nonprofit Finance Study: The Dynamics and Challenges of Growth,” and take a deeper look.

Why Use an Abila Business Partner?

1st Choice Advisors is a Select Business Partner for Abila products and services. Our consultants also have over 30 years of experience working with nonprofits; real-world experience with a variety of different types of fundraising needs and requirements as a result. We rigorously train on Abila products, hence spending up to 90 hours each year reviewing new functionality and training procedures. We are your go-to for service, providing user groups, both online and in our offices. All things considered, your satisfaction and ability to get results is our main goal!

Nonprofit Internships
Four Golden Rules of Nonprofit Internships

Four Golden Rules of Nonprofit Internships:

Is your Nonprofit Giving your Summer Interns a Great Experience?

In nonprofit organizations, college interns can be a tremendous resource. Not only are they unpaid, but more often than not they are energetic and eager to contribute. In return for their efforts, they should gain a valuable learning experience from your program. Are you giving your interns the best experience possible? And is your organization getting the most out of nonprofit internships?

The four guidelines below are widely considered the golden rules to make the internship experience mutually beneficial to both your intern and your organization.

Rule 1: Assign a point person to be the intern’s mentor.

This point person should be available for everyday questions and concerns, and should also meet with them regularly- at least weekly- to check in, discuss how things are going and give feedback. Interns need support and supervision just like paid employees, and it’s important for organizations to provide this. If your nonprofit internships involve counseling or other services that can be emotionally charged, allowing interns to discuss and process what they have experienced is especially important.

Rule 2: Provide an orientation process at the beginning.

This should include an overview of your program and basic training on providing services. Although this may take an initial investment of time for your program to develop, it can be used over and over as an orientation for interns, other volunteers, and board members. On the intern’s first day, the point person should also introduce them to everyone and make them feel welcome. Welcome kits with your program logo on them are a small way of making them feel special and part of the team.

Rule 3: Give interns a variety of tasks both large and small.

Of course, this will usually include things like copying and collating, but it should also include skill-building tasks. To think of ideas for intern duties that can be beneficial to both the intern and to you, simply think of things that you wish you could get to. Do you need to research funding opportunities? Is there a community collaboration meeting you don’t have time to attend but could send them to? If they sat in on program services, can you have them complete the required documentation (for you to review and sign) so you don’t have to? Can they write an article for your newsletter? (Don’t have a topic? How about “My Experience as an Intern”?) Can they help with the design and execution of a fundraising event? College students at nonprofit internships may also have skills that your paid staff members don’t; for example, they may be able to expand and update your program’s social media presence better or faster than your staff can.

Rule 4: Show your appreciation.

An important part of showing appreciation for your interns’ efforts is to end with a ceremony that acknowledges their hard work. Thank them for their contributions and review their experiences in a way that gives them a chance to reflect on what they have learned.

Internships are a two-way process: you are there to pass knowledge and experience on to them, and they are there to contribute to your program, not only through their work but also through their fresh perspectives. The more you put into supporting interns, the more you will reap the benefits of their participation in return.

Why Use an Abila Business Partner?

1st Choice Advisors is a Select Business Partner for Abila products and services. Our consultants also have over 30 years of experience working with nonprofits; real-world experience with a variety of different types of fundraising needs and requirements as a result. We rigorously train on Abila products. Why? We spend up to 90 hours each year reviewing new functionality and training procedures. We are your go-to for service, providing user groups, both online and in our offices. All things considered, your satisfaction and ability to get results is our main goal!

To receive more free info on HR management software training: