How should a nonprofit track grant lifecycles using NPSP?

Tracking grant lifecycles using Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) involves effectively managing both the financial contributions (payments) and the process of applying for funding (applications). The choice that designates payments as Opportunities and applications as Deliverables is typically considered the best practice for several reasons.

When payments are tracked as Opportunities, it allows organizations to leverage the full capabilities of the Opportunities object in Salesforce. This object supports essential features such as revenue forecasting, tracking of open and closed opportunities, and ensuring you can accurately report on the financial status of grants. This setup enables nonprofits to visualize the inflow of funds and analyze their fundraising efforts.

By categorizing grant applications as Deliverables, nonprofits can efficiently manage the expected outcomes or products resulting from the grant. Using Deliverables helps organizations keep track of what needs to be completed and submitted for each grant, aligning these tasks with individual grants rather than mixing them with unrelated activities or tasks. This distinction is particularly beneficial in ensuring accountability and tracking the progress of grant-related commitments systematically.

In combination, this framework not only organizes grant data effectively but also supports reporting needs and enhances the strategic decision-making process for organizations reliant on grant funding to fulfill their missions. Ultimately, this approach facilitates a clear view of both the financial aspects