Multi-year Strategic Planning Model for Nonprofits using Dynamics 365 Business Central

What is a Multi-year Strategic Planning Model for Nonprofits?

Multi-year strategic planning models serve as invaluable tools in the arsenal of budget managers and executives for projecting financial metrics and charting the course of funding for programs and initiatives over the forthcoming years. These models offer a comprehensive framework, featuring historical data and current-year forecasts as reference points, while also providing input columns to extend the planning horizon for up to eight years. Initiatives are systematically categorized under program headings within the rows, illustrating the organization’s financial roadmap. Below, you’ll find an illustrative example of such a model.

Purpose of Long Term Strategic Planning Models

Nonprofit organizations embrace long-term strategic planning models as essential web-based templates that facilitate the consolidation of crucial financial estimates for program funding. When incorporated as a standard practice within a nonprofit’s Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) department, these models enhance an organization’s strategic planning and analytical capabilities. Additionally, they play a pivotal role in ensuring that managers have unobstructed visibility and convenient access to long-term objectives, thereby reducing operational blind spots.

Benefits to Users

These multi-year strategic planning models offer substantial advantages to business users within nonprofit organizations. By providing a structured framework for financial projections and program funding, these models empower decision-makers to make more informed choices. Business users can effectively assess the feasibility and impact of different funding scenarios, allowing them to allocate resources wisely and strategically. This enhanced decision-making capability translates into increased efficiency in their roles, as they can proactively identify potential challenges, allocate resources optimally, and align their efforts with the organization’s long-term vision. Consequently, these models not only streamline operations but also bolster the overall effectiveness of business users, enabling them to navigate the complex nonprofit landscape with confidence and precision.

Long Term Strategic Planning Model Example

Here is an example of Multi-year Strategic Planning Form for Nonprofit Organizations.

Multi-year Strategic Planning Model for Nonprofits using Dynamics 365 Business Central

Multi-year Strategic Planning Model for Nonprofits Example from Solver

You can find hundreds of additional examples here.

Who Uses This Type of Template?

The typical users of this type of template are: Budget managers, program managers and executives.

Other Templates Often Used in Conjunction with Long Term Strategic Planning Models

Progressive Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Departments sometimes use several different Long Term Strategic Planning Models, along with annual budget models, reports, dashboards and other management and control tools.

Where Does the Data for Analysis Originate From?

The Actual (historical transactions) data typically comes from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) Finance, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365 BC), Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Sage Intacct, Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage 500, Sage X3, SAP Business One, SAP ByDesign, Acumatica, Netsuite and others.

In analyses where budgets or forecasts are used, the planning data most often originates from in-house Excel spreadsheet models or from professional corporate performance management (CPM/EPM) solutions.

What Tools are Typically used for Reporting, Planning and Dashboards?

Examples of business software used with the data and ERPs mentioned above are:

  • Native ERP report writers and query tools
  • Spreadsheets (for example Microsoft Excel)
  • Corporate Performance Management (CPM) tools (for example Solver)
  • Dashboards (for example Microsoft Power BI and Tableau)

Corporate Performance Management (CPM) Cloud Solutions and More Examples

Only Solver delivers a one-day rapid deployment, including free and instant access to $100K of value available on Day 1 in the Solver Marketplace. Solver is committed to helping you with all your advanced planning and reporting needs, so you can Accelerate Better Decisions – starting now. Take a free tour of Solver for any of these ERPs: