It’s important to create budgets that are both complete and realistic. To get a realistic estimate of future revenue, the budgeting process should account for such factors as historical data, anticipated response rates and average donation size. If new marketing techniques or tools are being employed, the budget should make conservative assumptions about how successful they will be. It’s equally important to include all expenses, including fundraising costs and administration. Once created, the budget should be reassessed frequently to see whether adjustments are needed.