--- title: "Fundamentals for Building a Tech Budget in Uncertain Times" id: "61456" type: "post" slug: "fundamentals-for-building-a-tech-budget-in-uncertain-times" published_at: "2022-03-14T18:37:52+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:08:36+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/fundamentals-for-building-a-tech-budget-in-uncertain-times/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/fundamentals-for-building-a-tech-budget-in-uncertain-times.md" excerpt: "While the pandemic may have blown up your budgeting process, uncertainty doesn’t have to leave you unable to move forward. These budgeting principles can help your association take its best stab at allocating funds for future tech needs." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Fundamentals for Building a Tech Budget in Uncertain Times Part of the Deep Dive[Tech2022](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/tech2022-from-now-to-next/) Technology moves fast, evolving so quickly that what was cutting-edge a year or two ago can feel obsolete today. For associations, this presents challenges when trying to budget for technology. A good solution is to take a holistic approach that separates capital and operating expenses, while leaving wiggle room if unexpected needs arise. The first principle that will help associations do a better job of budgeting, even as times change, is to know what you have, says Christopher Finnegan, senior director of technology solutions at Association Headquarters. “I think one of the biggest things to do upfront is just ensuring what IT is in your organization,” he said. “I know that sounds funny, but sometimes, especially with these SAAS [software as a service] products and a lot of work going online, it is really important to understand what you have.” ### Capital vs. Operating Expenses Once you have a clear picture of the technology you’re currently using, you can start with some key budgeting principles. Finnegan suggests separating capital and operating expenses. “With operating expenditures, you can move pretty quick,” Finnegan said. “You are getting those services from other places. There are lower upfront costs. Capital expenditures are the bigger ones—you have to buy maybe these big servers, these large pieces of equipment, these large systems that depreciate over time.” Distinguishing these two expense categories will give you room to figure out your association’s immediate budget needs and those that will come over time. And because almost every operational area in an association uses technology, it’s also important to think through how the budget for tech is distributed throughout the organization. “Does this fall into our overall technology, or is it a piece of software for marketing?” Finnegan said. This helps determine where the expense should be allocated in your budget. When it comes to big expenses, such as buying laptops for all staff, Monica Dillingham, chief technology officer at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), said organizations can sometimes spread out their costs to avoid taking a big hit at once. “For equipment, we used to refresh everyone in one fiscal year,” Dillingham said. “Now we have a rolling roll out, so that I can spread it over three years.” [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [Make Your IT Team Your Business Partner](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/make-your-it-team-your-business-partner/) - [Rethinking Data for the Pandemic Era](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/rethinking-data-for-the-pandemic-era/) - [How Tech Tools and Data Can Advance Equity and Inclusion](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/how-tech-tools-and-data-can-advance-equity-and-inclusion/) - [Nimble Technology Strategy Flows With Association Goals](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/nimble-technology-strategy-flows-with-association-goals/) - [Better Member Engagement With Zero-Party Data](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/better-member-engagement-with-zero-party-data/) - [A Data-Cleaning Strategy for Today’s Times](https://associationsnow.com/2022/03/14/a-data-cleaning-strategy-for-todays-times/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/tech2022-from-now-to-next/) ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Industry Partner Edition-Helping Associations Thrive in the Age of AIJuly 16, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/16/associations-now-presents-industry-partner-edition-helping-associations-thrive-in-the-age-of-ai/) - [VideoSkip the Search. 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