We Do Great Design For
Creative Folks

Admin on 2 October, 2023
not-for-profit accounting guide

Since reporting is critical for ensuring accountability, let’s dive into the practical aspects of nonprofit accounting by reviewing the most important documents your accountant will create. This is essentially the nonprofit accounting version of the balance sheet equation. Bench simplifies your QuickBooks small business accounting by combining intuitive software that automates the busywork with real, professional human support.

Preservation Initiatives Grant Program – District of Columbia

not-for-profit accounting guide

As you sift through the available accounting software options, it’s essential to evaluate key features and functionalities that align with your nonprofit’s needs. Start by considering basic accounting functions such as general ledger management, accounts payable and receivable, and bank reconciliation. These foundational features are critical for maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition to your nonprofit’s operating budget, the other financial document that depends heavily on data from your statement of functional expenses to ensure accuracy is your organization’s annual Form 990. Plus, understanding how much of your funding goes toward mission-related activities vs. operational needs can help you manage your nonprofit’s spending more strategically.

The differences between for-profit and not-for-profit financial statements

  • A good budget can act like a roadmap for a nonprofit, determining where and when the organization will deploy its resources, and whether it’s on the right track financially.
  • They should also let you track how your income and spending for the year compare to your budget goals.
  • For example, segregating duties reduces fraud risk by ensuring no individual controls all aspects of a transaction.
  • Track your nonprofit’s finances with our customizable chart of accounts template.

Aplos has everything you need in one place for streamlined nonprofit and church management. In this case, you’d probably ask the lawyer what they would charge a client for the same services. If their standard hourly rate is $100/hr, you’d record the three donated hours as an in-kind donation of $300. They need an organized system that makes sure purchases are ordered, budgeted for, and fulfilled properly from the get go. These materials were downloaded from PwC's Viewpoint (viewpoint.pwc.com) under license.

Other income

  • According to a recent Independent Sector study, nonprofits are still among the most trusted institutions in America, with 57% of people saying they have “high trust” in them.
  • Regular audits, internal or external, evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls and identify areas for improvement.
  • Access affordable, scalable, expert nonprofit accounting services by partnering with Jitasa.
  • This is critical for preparing financial statements that reflect the organization’s financial position and performance.
  • They allow donors, grantors, board members, and the public to see that funds are managed responsibly.
  • From financial reporting to revenue recognition to grants and contracts to auditor report changes, you have a lot going on in the not-for-profit financial arena right now.

Use the tips above to get started, and don’t hesitate to contact an accountant (like our team at Jitasa!) with any questions or to take your systems to the next level. For large nonprofits, the Intuit Enterprise Suite solution provides additional project management and multi-entity reporting features that are particularly useful for tracking finances across locations. For organizations tracking budgets and financials for grants, programs, departments, or multiple locations. Unrestricted net assets are any funds your nonprofit has received from donors that have no rules or conditions attached to them, like a pure cash donation. The difference between the balance sheet and the statement of financial position is that, because nonprofits don’t technically have any owners, the statement of financial position doesn’t have any equity on it. Once you’ve got a bookkeeping system in place, you need GAAP for Nonprofits to start creating financial statements.

not-for-profit accounting guidenot-for-profit accounting guide

The statement of functional expenses is the one financial statement unique to nonprofits, since it breaks down how your organization’s spending furthers its mission. It’s usually laid out as a Airbnb Accounting and Bookkeeping table, with various types of payments along one axis and the three aforementioned functional expense categories along the other. They include statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement to track assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Access resources and tools to successfully address the accounting, financial reporting, tax compliance, governance and assurance issues facing the NFP organizations you serve. We find that small to mid-sized nonprofits benefit most from investing in the Plus or Advanced plans of QuickBooks Online.

  • Additionally, investigate whether the software provider offers discounts for nonprofits or tiered pricing based on organizational size or revenue.
  • Created with common errors and questions in mind, accountants benefit from not-for-profit industry-specific guidance on the issues they are likely to encounter this year.
  • Unconditional contributions, such as general donations, are recognized as revenue upon receipt.
  • Features such as budget tracking, expense reporting, and compliance monitoring can streamline grant management processes and enhance accountability.
  • The statement of activities is the nonprofit parallel to the for-profit income statement.
  • The information here is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be construed as providing legal or tax advice.
not-for-profit accounting guide

Our expert accounting team has worked with nonprofits of various sizes and missions for more than 15 years, and we use our experience to create tailored solutions for every organization. We also offer bookkeeping services and fractional CFO guidance through the Jitasa Strategic Advisory Team (J-SAT) to develop a well-rounded financial management system for your organization. While these expenses are important to your cause, they contrast with program costs, which are directly related to the initiatives that further your organization’s mission. Most nonprofit-friendly accounting software like QuickBooks Aplos or Nonprofit Treasurer will allow you to generate financial statements automatically.