Designing a Dynamic Budgeting & Scenario Planning Tool for Restore NYC

Restore NYC is a nonprofit organization providing survivor-centered, trauma-informed services for survivors of human trafficking, including safe housing, economic empowerment, and comprehensive case management. As the organization has grown and funding streams have become more complex, they recognized the need to strengthen their financial planning tools and processes. The Capstone team was tasked with designing a more agile and integrated forecasting tool to support multi-scenario planning, particularly in response to dynamic changes in the current funding environment. To accomplish this, the team analyzed Restore’s existing budgeting system, mapped data flows, researched nonprofit financial modeling best practices, and developed a streamlined Excel-based model with structured input, calculation, and output layers. The tool was designed with practical constraints in mind, including coordination across Google Sheets and Excel and limited NetSuite capabilities. The final model centralizes inputs, automates key calculations, incorporates scenario planning, and introduces built-in error-checks. These enhancements enable faster, more accurate budget re-forecasting, fewer manual errors, and the ability to model multiple financial scenarios for better decision-making.