4 Budget Questions Every Employee Should Be Able to Answer
These days, money is on everyone’s mind.
At home, it might be conversations around layoffs, contingency planning, or reducing expenses.
At work—especially in nonprofits and school districts—it could be concerns around funding uncertainties, scaling back programs, or organizational priorities shifting due to economic pressures.
No matter your title or role, being able to understand and engage with a budget is one of the most tangible ways to connect with how money flows—and how it supports the mission you’re working so hard to advance.
Yet too often, budgeting is seen as something reserved for CFOs, EDs, or finance teams. But the truth is: you don’t have to be in finance to ask smart questions about your organization’s financial picture. In fact, it’s essential for anyone who wants to advocate effectively for their work, plan ahead, or contribute to long-term sustainability.
Here are key questions every nonprofit and school district employee should be able to answer about their role and the organization’s budget and why they matter:
1. How is my position funded?
Understanding the source of funding for your job and the implications of that funding help you assess stability and prepare for change.
Specific questions to be able to answer:
Is my role on a temporary or permanent funding source?
Is it multi-year or year-to-year?
If funding is temporary, is there a plan to continue the role under another funding stream?
How does my role align with organizational funding priorities?
If the org needs to scale back, how secure is my position?
Is my role grant funded?
If grant-funded:
Is the grant time-bound?
Are there conditions that must be met?
Are there restrictions on what I can/can’t do within my role?
What’s the timeline for this grant cycle?
What’s the plan if the grant isn’t renewed?
2. How is my program funded?
Similar questions apply to the program or work you support or lead.
Is my program on a temporary or permanent funding source?
Is it multi-year or year-to-year?
If funding is temporary, is there a plan to continue the work under another funding stream?
How does the program fit within strategic or mission priorities?
What is the likelihood it would be scaled back in tighter financial times?
Are there revenue targets, outputs, or deliverables tied to funding?
How do those assumptions connect to my team’s goals or individual performance expectations?
Is my program grant funded?
If grant-funded:
What was written into the grant proposal?
What are the conditions, restrictions, and timeline?
Is there a sustainability plan for when the grant ends?
What role can I play in generating new funding ideas?
3. What is the overall financial position of the organization?
Specific questions to be able to answer:
Is the organization dipping into reserves?
Is leadership considering cuts?
Is your program being relied on to bring in revenue or balance other shortfalls?
4. What is the budget timeline and process at my organization?
Specific questions to be able to answer:
When is the budget planning cycle?
When and how can I share feedback or make a case for changes to my program or role?
What information or data do I need to provide to support my case?
Why This Matters
Engaging with these questions gives you more than financial literacy—it gives you agency. Whether you’re planning a new project, advocating for a raise, preparing for a grant renewal, or simply trying to understand your role’s long-term stability, budget awareness is power.
It’s not about becoming an expert—it’s about knowing enough to ask the right questions, see the big picture, and plan accordingly.
Want help building your budget literacy or walking through how to apply this at your organization?
I’d love to help—send me a message and let’s talk.
