Automate Nonprofit Processes with Excel 2019

By April 9, 2019Nonprofit

Excel has come a long way since its introduction into the business world in 1985. The 2019 edition includes 12 updates that transform it from a simple spreadsheet tool into a robust office software capable of 3D rendering and more. Here, we present the highlights of the latest version of Excel.

Five Exciting Highlights of the New Excel 2019

  1. Automated workflow: The new version of Excel connects through Microsoft Flow, which enables data to be retrieved from other applications and stored and manipulated in Excel. Data can be programmed to send to others as well, via third-party applications. Flow can gather data from any third party application including ERP systems, CRM systems, weather forecasts, and more, so the potential for its use is enormous.
  2. 3D images: This new feature is hard to put into words, so you might want to check it out for yourself. Excel now enables you to incorporate pictures from their database into your spreadsheets and rotate them to form 3D images. There’s a video of this available from the Journal of Accountancy that shows you just this new feature in action.
  3. Build custom functions: If you know JavaScript, you can now build custom functions into Excel. Excel already lets users create functions with Visual Basic, but now Microsoft has enabled JavaScript programming. It’s more widely available and commonly used than Visual Basic, and offers a great deal of flexibility in Excel.
  4. Map and chart improvements: Map improvements allow you to display maps in many ways, including flat or curved displays. Chart improvements include color-coded heat maps, the ability to control axis information on funnel charts, and more.
  5. Form improvements: If you use Excel to prepare forms, you’re in luck! Form improvements in the 2019 edition include the ability to produce surveys, polls, and quizzes. You can use Excel similarly to other popular form tools and integrate the responses into spreadsheets for easier use. To apply the new form improvements, visit Microsoft online New Form.

Other improvements to Excel include co-authoring, which enables people collaborating on documents to include their names, 500 new built-in icons to create dashboards and infographics, and full SVG support, which means that graphics won’t pixelate as they once did. It’s bringing Microsoft Excel up to data in many ways.

Excel for Nonprofit Organizations

Microsoft Excel continues to be a popular software choice for nonprofit organizations. It’s inexpensive, plays well with other Microsoft software, and provides a standard format for sharing information with colleagues, consultants, and others who may require access to your data.

Although it is limited compared with specialized systems for nonprofits, the enhancements to the 2019 version of Excel make it an excellent tool for many standard functions in the nonprofit office environment.

  1. Basic reports: When used in conjunction with an accounting program, Excel can be used to create charts, graphs, and other reports that make data easy to understand.
  2. Grant tracking: Use Excel spreadsheets to track grant applications, progress towards completion of grant applications, and other vital metrics.
  3. Mailing lists: Mailing lists can be tracked on spreadsheets too. Name, address, and other information merges smoothly with label-printing functions in Microsoft Word to enable you to generate your mailing labels and get news sent out promptly.

Microsoft Excel has definitely come a long way since its early days. It’s much more than spreadsheets. It’s an office productivity tool that helps you organize, work with, and share data of all types.

Welter Consulting

Welter Consulting bridges people and technology together for effective solutions for nonprofit organizations. We offer software and services that can help you with your accounting needs. Please contact Welter Consulting at 206-605-3113 for more information.