States and communities across the country deploy numerous approaches to support the health, development, and well-being of children and families. Though well-intentioned, these efforts are often siloed and financed by multiple funding streams, making it difficult for states and communities to track overall statewide services and funding across programs. A fiscal map — an inventory of funds directed toward a particular population, service array, or intervention — is one way to tackle the challenges associated with multiple funding streams.

This how-to guide provides a framework and steps to complete a fiscal mapping process, and is accompanied by a data collection tool that offers a template for gathering and documenting funding details through the fiscal mapping process. A companion brief is also available that examines implementation considerations for fiscal mapping based on the experience of two communities that used the mapping process.

While these tools are geared toward applying fiscal mapping to early childhood services, the lessons herein are generalizable to any population.