The University of Nebraska Foundation (UNF) recently launched a faster, more efficient and paperless process for moving funds from the foundation to the university. The new process is standardized across all campuses and can be accessed through the NU Foundation Funds Online (NUFFO) funds management portal, a tool in Ali CRM that is already utilized by university partners and affiliates.
Paper submissions are no longer accepted.
The new process for electronic payments and transfers is automated and transparent. After a request is approved at one level, it automatically moves to the next level approver and sends that approver an email alert. University partners can see what stage their request is in at any time.
Submit a Fund Authority form to request NUFFO access. Every request creator and approver must have access to Ali CRM+NUFFO in order to participate in the new electronic transfer and payment request workflow process.
Visit the Whatfix information page to review features and benefits. Google Chrome is the preferred browser for Ali CRM+NUFFO — and the Whatfix tool.
You can email [email protected] to request the link be shared with you. Due to licensing requirements, the link is not posted publicly.
Download this process graphic to understand request roles (creators and approvers) and the automated workflow process that happens within NUFFO.
This PDF guide helps you decide which type of request to submit and explains how fulfillments are made.
Approvers in the workflow will appreciate this abbreviated job aid to help them understand:
Download this complete guide containing every detail and screenshot for how to create, submit and approve requests for payment from foundation-held funds.
This content is also provided at point of need within NUFFO using Whatfix.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Changing:
Your university system True You Identity credentials provide single sign-on (SSO) pass-through into Ali, making it easier to log in to Ali+NUFFO.
PDF: Logging into Ali+NUFFO using SSO
Request creators must now have a NUFFO account. These users create, edit, submit or cancel all requests.
The system batches together approval requests and sends an email notification to the next approver in the workflow, with alerts being broadcast multiple times throughout the day. Each message contains a digest of all pending approval items which require review by the recipient.
Each pending approval item is re-sent within each email batch until it is approved or rejected. This means that one request may appear within multiple emails.
Note: It will be extremely beneficial for approvers to work on their approvals queue from within the most recent email received.
Checks for payment requests will be mailed directly to the payee via U.S. mail.
Once a requester chooses which fund from which to request the expense payment, the spendable balance and pending spendable balance will display.
Not Changing:
Student scholarships and cash awards to students that need to be applied to the cost of attendance will continue to be processed through the campus office of financial aid and not processed via request.
Some users may have an Ali+NUFFO account and not even realize it, particularly if they previously held fund authority but never logged in.
Here are steps to verify NUFFO account access:
All approvers – including one or more spending authorities, if applicable on a fund-by-fund basis – will receive system-generated digest emails twice daily (noon, midnight) with a list of (and direct hyperlinks to) all current pending items that need to be reviewed.
No, if you are a spending authority.
Yes, if you are an approver in campus financial aid or campus payroll.
The request system launch happens Nov. 1, 2023, and multiple training sessions will be offered each week all this month.
The grace period for paper submissions ends at the close of business on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
No. The system does not currently offer a way to download an exportable version of an request. All approvals will now occur online within NUFFO.
Two alternatives:
Because checks are now direct-mailed to the payee, there is no way to view a scan of the check. You will be able to see the check number to ensure it was paid.
In the rare event you need to determine whether a check was cashed, please call the foundation and ask to speak with senior accountant Jane Steinbach.
No. All checks must be directly mailed to the payee (vendor or employee seeking reimbursement).
Prior to the launch of this new system, the foundation addressed 2,000 committee-awarded funds, reassigning the spending authority to be a specific position held by a university employee.
No. Documents containing sensitive personal information must not be uploaded into NUFFO. Uploaded documents are permanently visible to anyone with fund access, so sensitive information would be viewable by others. Users do have access to remove uploaded documents during the approval process.
Documents containing sensitive information should be directly emailed to the foundation at [email protected]. Emails between university and foundation payroll are automatically encrypted for added security.
If you accidentally upload sensitive information, refer to the next question to learn how to correct the error.
A request creator has the ability to remove a request attachment only during the initial creation of the request. Once the request record is saved and added to NUFFO, attachments can no longer be removed for security purposes.
To remove an attachment uploaded in error:
If you already have NUFFO access, email [email protected] to request an update to your email address on file.
If you do not have NUFFO access, or if you need to update NUFFO access, submit a Fund Authority form.
If you’re unsure whether you have NUFFO access, email [email protected] for further assistance.
No. Unlike other data in NUFFO which expires in 24 months or less, all requests created in the system remain permanently visible to anyone with fund authority, including attachments of supporting documentation uploaded to request records.
UNF may, from time to time, review stale requests without any activity for an extended time. That review may involve contacting the request creator to determine if the request should remain active or be canceled.
The first step is to attend one of the convenient request launch virtual learning opportunities (or NUFFO 103). If you still have questions after training, contact [email protected].
