This toolkit brings together Amy Omand’s complete approach to budget season: from the workplan that maps out who does what and when, to the real board memo that shows what “telling the story” looks like, to scripts for the conversations most leaders dread.
From the Helia Library — based on the article Build A Budget Based In Reality, from our Coffee Chat with Amy Omand.
What’s Inside
Three resources, meant to be used together. Start with the workplan to get oriented — then reach for the scripts and memo as budget season unfolds.
01 — Budget Workplan + Template
A real 3-month timeline — not theoretical, but an actual project plan Amy used with a client — that maps out every step from kickoff to board approval, with clear ownership at each stage. Use this first to get your process on the calendar and communicate a clear timeline to your team.
02 — Budget Conversation Scripts
Six scripts for the hardest budget conversations: explaining contraction mode to your team, pushing back on unrealistic asks, presenting to your board, and creating safety around variance reporting. Reach for these when you know what needs to happen but can’t find the words.
03 — Sample Board Budget Memo
A real, anonymized budget memo Amy created for a client — showing exactly how to present numbers with context, not just columns. Use this when you’re preparing for a board presentation and want to see what “done” actually looks like.
When Resources and Templates Aren’t Enough
These tools will give you the process and the language. What they can’t do is tell you whether your revenue assumptions are actually realistic, help you navigate the politics when one budget manager is the CEO’s favorite, or sit with you when the board asks a question you weren’t expecting. If you’re facing contraction mode for the first time, stepping into a new ED role, or know there’s a conversation you’ve been avoiding — that’s usually where a thought partner makes a real difference.
If you want help with budgeting and financial strategy
Amy Omand is a fractional CFO who works with social sector organizations — nonprofits, foundations, and social enterprises — to build financial systems that actually work.
She’s a good fit if:
- You’re a $2M–$30M organization without a full-time finance leader (or your finance person is more bookkeeper than strategist)
- You’re in a transition moment: new ED, first real budget, or shifting from growth to sustainability
- You’re preparing for a board that’s starting to ask harder questions
