Maximizing Mission Funds: Automating Expenses and Payouts for a Worldwide Missionary Network
The Client
Mission Quest is a religious non-profit organization that supports missionaries across the globe. They serve as a centralized agency, managing donations, handling administrative tasks, and providing support services to missionaries in the field. This allows missionaries to focus on their primary duties without being burdened by financial and administrative responsibilities.
The Challenge
Mission Quest was struggling with an inefficient and error-prone financial management system:
- Reliance on complex Excel spreadsheets for financial tracking and reporting
- Only one person (the founder) fully understood the Excel system
- High risk of data loss or corruption due to fragile Excel formulas
- Time-consuming process to input data and generate reports
- Difficulty in managing multiple funding sources and expense types
- Challenges in creating accurate, timely reports for accounting purposes
- Limited flexibility in managing funds across different time periods
The Solution
Our agency implemented a comprehensive Airtable solution to address Mission Quest's challenges:
- Migrated all financial data from Excel to Airtable
- Recreated and optimized complex formulas within Airtable
- Developed a user-friendly system for importing donation data via CSV
- Created a flexible fund management system for each missionary
- Implemented a streamlined process for managing regular payouts and ad-hoc expenses
- Developed automated reporting features for easy export to accounting teams
- Built a system that could be easily replicated and updated year after year
Implementation
The implementation process involved several key steps:
- Thorough analysis of existing Excel spreadsheets and formulas
- Design of an Airtable structure to accommodate all necessary data and calculations
- Development of automations to streamline data import and processing
- Creation of user-friendly interfaces for data entry and management
- Implementation of flexible reporting tools for various stakeholders
- Training and support for Mission Quest staff to ensure smooth adoption
The Results
The following improvements were noted:
- Significantly reduced time for data processing and report generation
- Increased data accuracy and reliability
- Improved flexibility in fund management and expense tracking
- Enhanced visibility into financial operations for all stakeholders
- Reduced dependency on a single person for system management
- Streamlined year-end processes and reporting
The new system allowed Mission Quest to manage everything with a single file upload, generating comprehensive monthly reports within seconds. This improvement in efficiency and accuracy has likely led to better decision-making and resource allocation for the organization.
Tech Used
- Airtable as the new system to manage mission expenses and payouts
- Site Stacker to collect payments and donor’s details
- QuickBooks Online to consolidate accounting
