Donations hit target, yet program delivery feels uneven
Question
Our fundraising total met the goal and grant agreements are signed. But pledge-to-cash runs late, restricted funds pile up, disbursements bunch near quarter-end, and some partners report results late. Field cadence feels stop–go even though the board pack is green. How can delivery wobble when dollars look on plan?
Answer ✅
Totals can be “on target” while cadence and usability slip. If pledges convert slowly, restrictions choke flexibility, disbursements cluster, or monitoring lags, programs look funded but operate in spurts. SSM-Audit adds a stability band beside the KPIs you already track so you see whether impact is calm and repeatable or bunched and paperwork-driven—before outcomes and trust erode.
What the bands would have shown 📊
• Pledge-to-cash conversion stability sliding A+ -> A0 (longer lags after campaigns)
• Restriction mix stability degrading to A- (higher restricted share constrains deployment)
• Disbursement timeliness weakening A0 -> A- (payments bunch at month/quarter end)
• Program delivery cadence tilting A0 -> A- (activities pause awaiting funds/approvals)
• Partner compliance stability dipping A0 -> A- (late reports, procurement variance)
• M&E verification timeliness softening A+ -> A0 (surveys/audits trail achievements)
What to do now 🛠️
- Band the impact loop: pledge -> cash -> allocate (restriction) -> disburse -> deliver -> verify. Publish a monthly band panel by program and partner.
- Accelerate cash: when pledge-to-cash band < A0, send milestone invoices, enable digital pay links, and escalate aging pledges.
- Loosen constraints: if restriction band < A0, negotiate conversions to “less restricted,” and prioritize flexible funds to programs with low bands.
- Smooth payments: when disbursement band < A0, move from quarterly lumps to monthly tranches tied to verified milestones.
- Strengthen partners: if compliance band < A0, add light-touch procurement packs, spot checks, and co-signer rules for high-risk spends.
- Verify faster: when M&E band < A0, pre-schedule surveys and adopt quick phone/IVR checks to confirm outputs weekly.
How SSM-Audit helps (practicalities) 🌟
• No additional infrastructure: runs beside CRM/fundraising, grant ledgers, partner reports, and M&E sheets.
• Numbers unchanged: donations, grants, and outputs remain as reported; stability is a read-only overlay.
• Easy to use: spreadsheet/BI friendly; one lightweight monthly review with programs, finance, and M&E.
• Universal language: A++ / A+ / A0 / A- / A– aligns funders, finance, program leads, and partners fast.
CLI 💻 — try our mini Calculator to identify the drift
(Mini CLI Download Page)
Feed your CSVs and see bands and drift at a glance (numbers unchanged).
# Pledge-to-cash conversion stability (days from pledge to receipt)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Pledge-to-Cash Stability" \
--out bands_pledge.csv --plot_kpi "Pledge-to-Cash Stability" --build_id npo
# Restriction mix stability (restricted vs flexible share over time)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Restriction Mix Stability" \
--out bands_restrict.csv --plot_kpi "Restriction Mix Stability" --build_id npo
# Disbursement timeliness (scheduled vs actual payment cadence)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Disbursement Timeliness" \
--out bands_disb.csv --plot_kpi "Disbursement Timeliness" --build_id npo
# Program delivery cadence (activities completed per period vs plan)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Program Delivery Cadence" \
--out bands_delivery.csv --plot_kpi "Program Delivery Cadence" --build_id npo
# Partner compliance stability (on-time reports & procurement adherence)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Partner Compliance Stability" \
--out bands_partner.csv --plot_kpi "Partner Compliance Stability" --build_id npo
# M&E verification timeliness (achievement -> verification lag)
ssm_audit_mini_calc npo.csv --kpi "Verification Timeliness" \
--out bands_verify.csv --plot_kpi "Verification Timeliness" --build_id npo
Outputs you will get:
• CSVs with stability bands for each timestamp (e.g., bands_pledge.csv).
• Drift charts per KPI (--plot_kpi) showing exactly where pace and flexibility crack.
• Optional alerts if you enable thresholds in your setup.
Technical notes
Representation: x = (m, a) with a in (-1, +1)
Collapse parity: phi((m,a)) = m
Order-invariant pooling:
U = sum(w_i * atanh(a_i))
W = sum(w_i)
a_out = tanh( U / max(W, eps_w) )
Typical bands (example):
A++: a >= 0.75
A+: 0.50 - 0.75
A0: 0.25 - 0.50
A-: 0.10 - 0.25
A--: a < 0.10
Navigation
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Page disclaimer
Illustrative scenario for research and education. Observation-only; do not use for critical decisions without independent validation.
SHUNYAYA 