Which items belong in a budget presentation to members?

• A. Only revenue and expenses.
• B. Donations and sponsorships.
• C. Revenue, expenses, variance from prior year, and planned allocations.
• D. Marketing plan.

Answer: (C)

In a budget presentation to members, the important idea is to give a complete, transparent view of how money comes in, how it’s spent, how current performance stacks up against the past, and how funds will be allocated in the future. The strongest choice does exactly that: it includes revenue and expenses to show the basic financial picture, variance from the prior year to highlight trends and changes, and planned allocations to illustrate how funds will be used to further the organization’s goals. This combination lets members understand not just the numbers, but what they mean for accountability, direction, and impact.

Only showing revenue and expenses misses context about how the current year compares to the past and how surplus or deficit will be addressed. Focusing only on donations and sponsorships highlights funding sources but omits how those dollars are spent and what adjustments are planned. A marketing plan discusses strategy and outreach, but it isn't the financial snapshot needed for budgeting and accountability.