Nonprofit Accounting Basics

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Grant Funding

Grant funding may require accounting and compliance different from normal nonprofit operations.

Financial Reporting

  • All financial reports are based on the general ledger.  Adjustments and estimates modifying the information from the general ledger will be documented.
  • Review i

Meeting Expenses

  • Meetings should have formal budgets.
  • Each meeting should be assigned a unique department or project code.  This will help with analyzing variances to

Travel Expenses

  • Create a standardized travel reimbursement request form with instructions for completion.  Excel can be used for the form so totals will be automatically calculated once the form is

Facilities Expenses

  • All leases for office space should be reviewed by an attorney experienced in office leases.
  • Reconcile invoices for rent to the office lease.  Any addi

Revenues/Deferred Revenue

  • Establish policies for revenue recognition.  Certain types of revenue (including: dues; subscriptions; and meeting registration fees) may be received in advance of the product

Payables

  • Verify that the vendor invoice has not been previously paid before processing the invoice for payment.
  • Do not pay from statements if a vendor submits both invoices a

Receivables

  • Compare all check logs for cash receipts to the amounts applied to receivables.  This will be done by an individual separate from those processing cash receipts and accounts receiva

Fixed Assets

  • Establish a policy for fixed assets detailing which fixed assets are capital (depreciated rather than expensed) assets.  This will be included in the organization's footnote disclosures t

Investments

  • Establish an investment policy; consult with an investment advisor if necessary.