Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”

2 Corinthians 1:17-18

Budget season can be rough, but I’ve not experienced it that way all the time. When you build a budget, you can see it as a limiter on what you want to do. Or, you can see it as a way to see the opportunities coming your way in the next year.

Budget cuts are similar. While never fun and always sad, the health of an organization requires pruning so fruit can flourish in the future. What is possible in the future? It depends on the courage of leadership to envision the future and align the current resources to accomplish the vision.

But what if we didn’t think of budgets as the catalyst or the limiter? What if budgets were another piece of the puzzle to serve communities? The world may say that budgets build the structure, but I say that budgets bring freedom.

I attended a workshop once where the speaker, a president of a university, talked about how they update their budgets quarterly. He does it that way so that if a program is showing promise with more recruited students, the department can hire more people. And, there’s no regulation on what kind of positions they hire, just that the positions support the incoming students and is within reason and their structure. Thus, they need to review the budget every three months to make sure their expenses are matching their revenue. Flexibility within structure provides freedom. 

2 Corinthians 1:17-18 reminds us that saying yes to one thing is saying no to another. For example, it’s not possible to say yes to someone to start a new program and say no to not funding it. When budget season rolls around, keep in mind what you decide to pursue and how it supports the greater mission, and what needs to fall away during pruning.

Here’s a bonus thought based on these verses. Sometimes, a funder (usually a foundation) expects something to occur that falls outside your strategy. For example, someone will give toward your building purchase, as long as you install solar panels and make sure the building is LEED certified. In this real-life example, the organization said no to the six-figure gift. It would have meant a complete change in blueprints, and possibly location, which would be more than the donation would provide. That person may never again give to the organization, but that is a healthy “no” the CEO gave that donor. 

Be confident in your goals and mission. Don’t accept money with strings attached that fall outside your mission. It’s not easy when finances are tight, but consider it a way to refine your strategy to reach your mission by making your “yes” a strong “yes” and your “no” a humble “no.”

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© 2023, Mollie Bond. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.molliebond.org.