Ever see the video “Everyone deserves a slice?” It asks the question: What is pizza shops were funded like human services nonprofits? It makes the case that we would never expect a pizza shop to operate at partial cost or with the kinds of restrictions we deal with regularly.
In this episode, Nancy and Sarah talk about how to cover the full cost of doing the work we do so we can better achieve our mission without the panic of never having enough money. They explore how full-cost budgeting can lead to healthier organizations and greater sustainability. You’ll hear practical, doable ways to understand your real costs, talk to funders about overhead (which we prefer to call cost administrative costs), and bring your board along for the journey. Tune in to learn how full cost accounting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about sustainability, transparency, and thriving in your mission.
Question to consider before listening:
What could your nonprofit do differently if you had all the funding you needed?
Questions to consider:
- Are you clear on what it takes to run your program?
- How could you shift how you account for costs to better know how much a program costs?
- How might you start having more open conversations with your board or funders about costs?
Word of the Week: Full
“Full” means covering everything—no pieces left out. Full cost includes all the expenses needed to run a program, like staff, space, and support. It’s about knowing the real price of doing the work well. What parts of your program’s cost do you think often get overlooked?