Restricted grants can be configured with restriction rules tied to any dimension

Description

Managing restricted grants in a planning environment involves setting up restriction rules tied to dimensions like project, activity, department, etc. This provides a flexible and enhanced control mechanism to ensure the appropriate usage of funds granted with specific conditions within non-profit and education sectors.

Example Use Case

Scenario: A non-profit organization receives a restricted grant for environmental conservation projects. The grant comes with stipulations on its usage, such as being used only for specific project activities or in certain geographical regions.

Solution: The CPM software is configured such that the restricted grant is tied with restriction rules linked to the Project and Region dimensions. These rules ensure that the grant money is allocated only for designated activities in the appropriate regions and allows reporting to be precise regarding planned grant funds disbursements.

Considerations

This is one of the most difficult challenges for any non-profit or educational institution when it comes to planning and reporting. There are a limited number of planning vendors who can accommodate this requirement, and an even smaller number who can do it in a purpose-built manner. Most vendors will require a consulting engagement to setup a custom process despite what you may see on the demo.

Questions to Ask a Vendor

• Configurability: How easily can restricted grants be configured with usage rules attached to dimensions like project or location?
• Rule Enforcement: How does your system ensure the enforcement of restriction rules tied to the grants? Does it pop up validation messages?
• Reporting Capabilities: What type of reporting capabilities does your system offer for tracking and reporting on the use of restricted grants?