In this Nonprofit Show Power Week episode, you will find expert insights on transforming budgeting at your nonprofit from a necessary evil into a strategic tool for growth and sustainability. Cohosts Julia Patrick and Wendy Adams are joined by Ariella Reiss, Manager at YPTC. She turns the often-dreaded topic of budgeting into an empowering conversation for nonprofits with wit, wisdom, and a touch of inspiration.

Budgeting, as Ariella explains, is not just about balancing the books—it’s about dreaming big and setting your organization up for success. “The budget process is the one moment that you have all year to dream big… plan for a surplus,” she says, flipping the script on the traditional nonprofit mindset. Rather than approaching budgeting with fear and scarcity, Ariella encourages nonprofits to plan for a financial cushion—a rainy-day fund—that can help them thrive, not just survive.

What truly sets this episode apart is the zest Ariella brings to what can often be a mundane topic. With such a refreshing perspective, she emphasizes the importance of balancing optimism with realism—setting ambitious goals but doing so with a grounded understanding of the organization’s financial landscape.

The JOY’S of Nonprofit Budgeting! from American Nonprofit Academy on Vimeo