Bookkeeping Basics: What Every Nonprofit Bookkeeper Needs to Know

However, that paperwork, number crunching, and other tedious tasks come with the territory of running an effective nonprofit organization. One such activity that many nonprofit professionals don’t want to deal with is nonprofit accounting. But if you’re already falling behind in your books, you can’t rely on a google search or blog article to get you back on track. And beyond invoices and bills, the nonprofit bookkeeper must record bank deposits, manage donor acknowledgment letters, make adjusting bank entries, review the accuracy of their data, and reconcile bank and credit card statements. They can apply the necessary deductions for each employee, cut checks (and make direct deposit) for each payroll period, and file state and local taxes to help keep you compliant with the most up-to-date tax requirements. We turn your attention, now, to the basics of bookkeeping and why it is in your organization’s best interest to keep good financial records.

The right nonprofit accounting experts ensure your knowledge of and compliance with nonprofit tax and accounting regulations is up to par, preventing costly mistakes from ever happening. Your nonprofit’s statement of cash flow shows how funding and cash moves in and out of the organization. It allows you to gauge how much is available to pay your expenses at any given time.

To Hire or Outsource for Nonprofit Accounting

It’s an affordable option that can provide access to deep nonprofit accounting experience and expertise. In this document, you’ll record your nonprofit’s revenue and expenses from the year, to demonstrate how finances have been utilized. Essentially, the Form 990 is the IRS’s method of evaluation to make sure your nonprofit nonprofit bookkeeping is financially honest and legitimate. Filing the annual Form 990 is a key aspect of nonprofit accounting, and one that can’t be overlooked. Form 990 is the annual tax form that tax-exempt (e.g. 501(c)3) organizations are required to file each year to remain compliant with the regulations and requirements set by the IRS.

Actually, 18% of nonprofits listed limited staff as their greatest challenge in 2019. This means that finding someone to take on these responsibilities (especially as you grow) can be immensely challenging. In addition, audits provide insight into the various opportunities that your organization has for financial stability and recording improvements.

Reviews for Bookkeeping Basics

She volunteers as a court-appointed child advocate, has a background in social services and writes about issues important to families. For the most part, nonprofits can apply to the IRS to become exempt from federal taxes under Section 501. 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.

• Although it’s possible to manually generate financial statements from your ledger or spreadsheet, it takes a ton of accounting knowledge and time to do it right.
• This book is intended for nonprofit staff who, whether they have an accounting background or not, are called on to track their organization’s financial activity.
• But, when you grasp how to read various accounting documents, it becomes much easier to understand how finances function and move at your organization.
• When you reconcile your bank accounts, all you’re doing is comparing each transaction from your bank statement with the ones you have in your books.
• It also helps nonprofits measure their financial performance against their charitable goals.
• Nonprofit accounting is the practice of tracking and accounting for funds received or disbursed by a nonprofit organization.

Nonprofit cash flow statements will refer to “change in net assets” instead of “net income,” and will sometimes list cash flows that are restricted to certain uses. Just like the statement of financial position, the statement of activities keeps net assets that have conditions and stipulations attached to them separate from unrestricted funds. 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. Don’t use your personal bank account to receive, hold or disburse money for your nonprofit. Make sure all of your nonprofit’s transactions go through a dedicated bank account. Ask your bank whether they offer business chequing accounts tailored to nonprofits.

A Guide to Nonprofit Accounting (for Non-Accountants)

It also outlines the reporting, filing, and notification requirements related to a nonprofit’s activities. In addition, this code discusses the circumstances in which a nonprofit organization will be liable for taxes, penalties, and other charges. Nonprofit accounting is an essential practice in any organization that doesn’t earn revenue.

Typical categories include program services, management and general, fundraising, and other sources of income. You can use the statement to assess the usage of funds, track performance, and make decisions about future operations. Donors will be more likely to give if they feel confident that you will use their money wisely. This includes investing in necessary overhead expenses such as technology, personnel, and other operational costs. Ensuring you take care of overhead expenses before seeking donations also demonstrates good stewardship of funds, which is an important factor in decision-making for potential donors. The cash-basis method is usually simpler to maintain than the accrual-basis method and may be adequate for smaller nonprofits.

Bookkeeping Basics: What Every Nonprofit Bookkeeper Needs to Know (Paperback or Softback)

A statement of cash flows is a financial statement that provides information about a nonprofit organization’s cash receipts and payments. It helps to illustrate how cash flows in an organization and cash balance changes over time. Below, we go over all the nonprofit accounting essentials, from setting up your books to preparing financial statements. With the information in this guide, you’ll be able to make informed decisions and confidently manage your nonprofit’s finances. Your nonprofit’s statement of activities is also known as your income statement. Plus, you can use this document to review your change in net assets from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

Because nonprofit bookkeepers must manage restrictions, grants, and expenses in significantly more detailed ways than a for-profit bookkeeper. Once you’ve got a bookkeeping system in place, you need to start creating financial statements. Looking at these documents can tell you how much money you have, where your money is, and how it got there. 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. When you reconcile your bank accounts, all you’re doing is comparing each transaction from your bank statement with the ones you have in your books.

Find a nonprofit-friendly bookkeeping solution

This is important because nonprofits often have very specific rules around different funding sources. The solution you decide on should also allow you to do some form of fund accounting. This means instead of piling your money into one big “cash” account, you’ll need to distinguish between and track separate buckets of money. The point of this statement is to help determine whether or not the organization meets its goals or has enough funds to support its programs. You’ll be able to provide a snapshot of the organization’s financial health so that stakeholders can assess its performance and decide its future direction. Complying with the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) will ensure that your nonprofit reports financial information accurately, transparently, and consistently.

Providing detailed information on your statement of functional expenses also helps when it’s time to complete your annual Form 990 which requires expenses to be separated in a similar fashion. A crucial responsibility of nonprofit bookkeeping is tracking exactly how money was spent so that your nonprofit can create a functional expense report at the end of each year. Many nonprofits have earned revenue streams, like membership subscriptions, tuition fees, course enrollments, or sales https://www.bookstime.com/ at company stores. In those cases, nonprofit bookkeeping includes creating accurate invoices (that account for and collect any required sales tax) to track every sale. On top of that, nonprofit bookkeeping requires staying updated on income tax changes and filing requirements to ensure compliance. Nonprofits must maintain thorough and accurate financial records to comply with both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and maintain their tax-exempt status with the IRS.