How a Perfect Purchase Process Improves Your Nonprofit’s Goals
Nonprofits have a different goal than small businesses. Whereas businesses usually strive to make a profit, nonprofits have a mission to make an impact. This is why it is important for nonprofits to be mindful of their spending and purchases.
Reallocating funds to further the mission of the organization can make a huge difference in the outcomes of the nonprofit. To accomplish this, nonprofits should strive to perfect their purchasing process, understanding the distinctions between purchase requisitions vs purchase orders.
This can include creating and following a budget, setting up a system to track expenses and revenue, and researching and comparing prices of products and services before making a purchase.
It can also include investing in technology that can help streamline the purchasing process. For example, purchasing software can help automate the ordering process, track purchase history, and manage vendor relationships.
Nonprofits should also consider seeking out grants and sponsorships to help fund specific projects. This can help reduce the need for buying other products and services and help to achieve their mission.
Finally, nonprofits should be transparent and accountable to their stakeholders, donors, and beneficiaries in order to build trust and attract more support, especially in the context of indirect procurement. By proactively managing their resources, nonprofits can ensure their money is spent in the most effective and efficient way possible to help them reach their goals.
Improve Your Purchasing Process in 7 Easy and Practical Steps
You’ve heard the terms thrown around, and you understand them enough to get by.
However, your team should fully understand the purchasing process and how to use purchase orders properly to make your nonprofit more efficient and cost-effective at the same time.
- Assign purchasing roles to the right team members.
Your nonprofit might not have a dedicated purchasing department. As such, find someone in your organization who has the tech savvy and financial knowledge to handle basic financial relationships between you, the purchaser, and your suppliers.
Spread the task around to different team members so everyone on your team can learn the purchasing process as part of their roles. - Determine what roles at your nonprofit can approve purchases.
Part of the purchase order process involves people making purchases followed by someone higher up the ladder approving the purchase orders.
What roles you assign this task to depends on the size and scope of your organization. You might have one person approving the purchases or one person per team if you have dozens of people under your umbrella.
Regular and large purchases may require multiple sets of eyes on purchase order requests.
Ask yourself:
- Is the purchase necessary?
- Do we have the budget for it?
- How does our clientele benefit from the purchase?
- Develop a relevant spend policy that everyone understands.
This is largely determined by the size of your organization and the size of the purchases. Remember that your organization faces a high level of scrutiny through the IRS and the quarterly reports you file that are public knowledge.
Micro-purchases and simple, one-off buys may be no big deal, like purchasing a water bottle at an outdoor event when it’s hot, and your organization can reimburse the person later.
There are several methods of purchasing that nonprofits may employ that aren’t necessarily as streamlined as they are for for-profit businesses.
Bidding or proposals may be involved for high-cost items, such as:
- Sealed bidding for real estate or vehicles
- Competitive proposals to outline goods or services delivered
- Non-competitive proposals where your chosen supplier invites their vendors to bid on proposals.
- Develop standards for your suppliers
Create a strict set of criteria for your suppliers based on your standards.
Consider the following:
- Prices per unit
- Timeliness of delivery
- Robust customer service
- Flexible with payment terms
- Accepts and fulfills purchase orders
- Has testimonials from other purchasers to show you
Once you set these standards, make sure the people who request the purchase orders follow the criteria. The goal of the criteria is to prevent going over budget while buying quality products or services.
- Plan before making a purchase.
Like an ordinary consumer or small business deciding on how and what to buy, your nonprofit should review all large purchases before making them.
See if you already have the resources on hand to obviate purchasing them again so soon. Understand the exact cost, the overall benefits, and the timeliness of when the purchase will arrive.
- Document every transaction. Documentation is crucial for many reasons.
- You’re accountable to your board of directors.
- You file quarterly, publicly available forms with the IRS that potential donors can examine ahead of making a donation.
- You’ll need the documents when filing taxes every spring.
One way to document your purchases thoroughly is through a robust purchase order system.
- Manage your purchase orders responsibly in every way.
Your purchase order process must be scalable, actionable, and easy to tap into. You’ll also need to train your volunteers and staff on best practices for your purchase orders.
Technological tools go a long way to helping staff understand the purchase order process.
The Significance of Purchase Orders Template in Streamlining Procurement
Harnessing the efficiency of purchase orders templates is akin to setting a foundational pillar for your hardware startup's procurement processes. A well-structured template not only provides a standardized format but also ensures consistency in capturing vital order details. With the dynamism that hardware startups usually display, any tool that fosters streamlined, repeatable, and error-free operations is invaluable. Such templates, when embedded within an automated purchase order system, become the bedrock for speed, accuracy, and scalability. In essence, while automation is the engine driving the procurement car, the purchase orders template is the blueprint ensuring the car is built to perfection.
Automate your procurement process
Say no to paper.While the manual po process is quite tedious, embracing technology in your hardware startup can come in handy in several ways. However, this won't be a simple transition. Adopting a purchase order template requires updating technology, aligning internal processes, and often initiating a cultural shift. In return, your startup gains productivity, prevents duplicate orders, and realizes a more efficient procurement cycle. Plus, the environmental benefits of reducing paper usage are undeniable.
A flexible purchasing process
Automating your po process allows for customized automated workflows tailored to each purchase request. These workflows can be aligned with internal rules and legal requirements, providing flexibility for varying scenarios such as high-demand periods or large one-time purchases. The crux of this automation lies in the ease with which a purchase orders template can be utilized, bringing about uniformity and speed.
Enhanced value in procurement
The transparency and accountability an automated purchase order system offers are unparalleled. Integrations with other departments or vendors ensure favorable ROI and controlled spending. The system's efficiency also redirects resources from manual data entry to more core engineering tasks.
Streamline your procurement process
Creating workflows through the use of purchase orders templates simplifies and accelerates the process. These templates reduce the repetitive tasks and, when coupled with cloud-based systems, offer global accessibility, further diminishing approval delays.
Be more productive with the ControlHub System
Balancing procurement tasks with engineering duties can be a challenge. Yet, by automating the procurement process, setting up vendors, creating and accepting purchase orders, and approving spending become seamless. Partnering with ControlHub amplifies these benefits, ensuring your startup fully capitalizes on what automated procurement has to offer. Take the leap and engage with us today for an insightful consultation.
What is a purchase order?
A purchase order allows your nonprofit to request products or services from suppliers. It creates a paper trail that, once a supplier agrees to fulfill the purchase order, becomes legally binding for both parties.
What is the value of purchase orders for nonprofits?
Purchase orders allow you to create a paper trail, or electronic trail in modern terms. They allow for more accurate reporting, more accurate tracking, and a way for stakeholder, staff, and volunteers to assess your organization’s financial health.
A purchase order process is only as good as the use of the right technology to keep track of your spending.
How do I create a purchase order?
Purchase orders all have specific information on them, such as:
- Header, with your organization’s basic information.
- PO number for easy tracking for all parties.
- Supplier info such as name, address, phone, and email.
- Your billing and shipping address.
- Order details, including quantity and what items you want.
- Pricing details, such as total of each quantity, subtotal, and total.
- Payment terms, including when payments will be made and under what conditions.
Robust software and technology allow your organization to easily generate these forms for your purchase order process.
A purchase order generator helps immensely, particularly when you can standardize supplier information that auto-fills very easily.
How do I generate a purchase order?
Your nonprofit can utilize our free purchase order generator that helps you automate your purchasing and lets you make unlimited purchase orders.
Simply input the information you require, including a PO number for tracking, and the form auto-generates as many fields as you need into an easy-to-read and easy-to-analyze format.
Purchasing has never been simpler.
And when you’re a nonprofit where every dollar counts, free stuff is good stuff.
Help your team, volunteers, and clientele by adding purchase order automation to your office process to save your team time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is perfecting the purchasing process important for my nonprofit?
Perfecting the purchasing process is crucial for your nonprofit because it helps you be efficient, accountable, and make every dollar count. It ensures transparency, financial health, and effective resource allocation, allowing your nonprofit to have a greater impact and reach new heights.
How can I assign purchasing roles in my nonprofit?
Assigning purchasing roles in your nonprofit is all about teamwork. Find team members who are tech-savvy and financially savvy to handle purchasing relationships. Spread the task around your team, so everyone gets to be a part of the purchasing process. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work!
Who should approve purchases in my nonprofit?
Designate someone or a few individuals who will be responsible for approving purchases in your nonprofit. They will be the ones double-checking everything and ensuring that purchases align with your organization's goals and budget. Accountability is key in keeping your finances on track.
How can I create a relevant spend policy for my nonprofit?
Creating a relevant spend policy is essential for maintaining transparency and financial accountability. Set clear guidelines for purchases based on your organization's size and the purchases you make. Consider factors such as budget limits, approval processes, and IRS reporting requirements. A well-defined spend policy keeps you on the right path and avoids potential issues.
What standards should I develop for suppliers in my nonprofit?
Develop standards for your suppliers that align with your nonprofit's values and needs. Consider criteria such as price, delivery speed, excellent customer service, flexible payment terms, and their acceptance of purchase orders. Stick to your standards to ensure you are working with reliable suppliers who meet your requirements.
How can I make informed purchasing decisions in my nonprofit?
To make informed purchasing decisions, take a step back and evaluate whether the purchase is necessary. Assess if you already have similar resources, consider the costs and benefits, and determine when the purchase will arrive. It's important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision, ensuring you make the best use of your resources.
How can a purchase order system help streamline documentation in my nonprofit?
A purchase order system is your secret weapon for streamlined documentation. It allows you to keep track of every transaction, ensuring accountability to your board and providing transparency for potential donors. By embracing technology and utilizing a purchase order system, you can automate the documentation process and save time and effort.
How can I manage purchase orders responsibly in my nonprofit?
Managing purchase orders responsibly requires scalability, actionability, and ease. Train your volunteers and staff on best practices, and embrace technology that simplifies the process. Utilizing a robust purchase order system, such as our free purchase order generator, can automate and generate unlimited purchase orders effortlessly. It's a valuable resource that saves time and effort while ensuring accuracy.
