Case Study: Onward We Learn Transforms Budgeting with Martus Solutions

The Challenge

Before partnering with Martus Solutions, Onward We Learn (OWL) struggled with a fragmented and manual budgeting process. Each department managed its own Excel spreadsheets, leading to version control problems, continual revisions, and data security risks. The finance team, led by Chief Finance and Administration Officer Susan Mansolillo, spent excessive time consolidating data and ensuring accuracy, which limited their ability to focus on strategic financial planning and cross-departmental collaboration.

The Solution

Seeking a more efficient, secure, and collaborative approach to budgeting, OWL evaluated its options and selected Martus Solutions for its nonprofit-focused, cloud-based platform. Martus offered secure, role-based access control and real-time collaboration features, enabling departments to work together seamlessly and eliminating the headaches associated with spreadsheet-driven processes. Reflecting on the transition, Susan Mansolillo shared, "What I found was that Martus just makes collaborative budgeting and forecasting easier. You can easily understand how spreadsheets influenced the development of the Martus software. But with Martus, it becomes all the things you wish a spreadsheet could do – but it’s built right in." Through Martus, OWL centralized its budgets, streamlined approvals, and improved transparency at every level of the organization.

The Results

By adopting Martus Solutions, Onward We Learn realized a 50% reduction in budgeting time, significantly improving operational efficiency. The finance team benefited from enhanced data accuracy, robust security, and easier reporting. Budgets are now confidently set up through 2030, supporting the organization’s long-term mission. As Susan Mansolillo attests, "My final advice I would give to someone who’s still using Excel and thinks it’s a headache is: take the time to learn Martus – it’s a much better way to approach collaborative budgeting. Take the leap of faith. It’s worth the time and effort you have to put in to learn it and train your staff. But it’s definitely worth it in the long run. To use a simpler phrase, making the switch to Martus over other budgeting options is worth it because ‘the juice is worth the squeeze.’"