
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The efficient, effective and ethical management of money in a manner that helps accomplish the objectives of the team or organization.
Honor the Lord with your wealth then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.Proverbs 3:9-10
Skilled Characteristics
Uses Less
Uses fewer financial resources in terms of time, material, money and people than most others
Max Value
Gets more things done with less
Resourceful
A model of resourcefulness in how to use money wisely
Under Budget
Almost always comes in significantly under budget in all areas
Budgets
Has a clear and thoroughly documented financial budget
Reports
Tracks and reports finances on a regular basis
Process
Follows a clear decision making process for unplanned purchases or expenses
Transparent
Is transparent and accountable to others with finances
“Unless you control your money, making more won’t help.”
– Dave Ramsey
Unskilled Characteristics
Lacks Budget
Has no documented financial budget
Missing Info
Has an incomplete financial budget, missing many cost items
Inefficient
Uses money unwisely or inefficiently
Over-Budget
Usually over budget on projects, events or responsibilities
Wastes
Wastes time, money, material and people’s productivity
Stingy
Refuses to spend ministry money – conserves money too much
No Process
Lacks a decision making process on how or when to spend money
Spontaneous
Makes financial decisions in the moment without much thought or input from others
“If you buy things you do not need, soon you will need to sell things you need.”
– Warren Buffet
Causes of Weakness
Can't Say 'No'
Difficulty saying ‘no’ to possible or proposed expenditures
Disorganized
Has difficultly keeping track of things
Inexperienced
Inexperienced with tracking and managing finances
Self
Doesn’t involve others in financial planning or financial decision making
Fear
Fear of others wanting to control finances or of having different opinions on how to use money
“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.”
– Warren Buffet
Advice
Review the simple application steps below and choose 1 or 2 things you can do to spur yourself on to further growth.
Set Goals
SET GOALS: You must start by identifying the goals and timelines of your project or team. Once you do so, you can then begin to estimate the corresponding costs associated with achieving each goal within it’s time constraints.
Lay Out the Work
LAY OUT THE WORK: Document all the work you plan for your team to do for the year ahead. What do I need to accomplish? What is the estimated timeline? What resources will I need? What (and how many) staff will I need? What are my cost estimates for each resource, project, event, and staff member?
Get Creative
GET CREATIVE: Ask yourself, ‘What can I trade with others in return for something I need? What can I buy? What can I borrow? What do I need that I can’t pay or trade for?’
Delegate
DELEGATE: Idenfity staff to be responsible for different elements of your team’s work, including tracking finances. Consider allowing your staff to develop an estimate for the costs of the program or work they are responsible for. You can then go over their estimated budget with them and refine it.
Set a Process
SET A PROCESS: Define a process for dealing with unexpected expenditures? What is the maximum amount that can be spent on things that were not specifically budgeted for without needing to go through this decision making process? Who should be involved with making important financial decisions? What factors need to be considered when making financial decisions?
Manage the Budget
MANAGE THE BUDGET: Track the budget over time (weekly or monthly). Plan spending carefully – especially unexpected costs. Set aside reserve funds in case the unanticipated comes up. Set up a funding timeline so you can track ongoing expenditures to see if you are staying on track with your budget.
Report
REPORT: Report your budget to a leadership team or accountability person/group on a periodic basis, such as quarterly. What were the budget categories and amounts for the quarter versus what were the actual expenditures? What are the implications? Why was there a difference? What can you learn from this? How do you need to adjust your future budget? How might you need to adjust your fund-raising plan or strategy?