Nonprofit Accounting Basics

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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.

General Information

  • The internal control system needs to be documented (the expected results or outcomes of the system and what everyone does need to be put in writing) and constantly evaluated.  A con

Cash

Cash is an area with a high-risk of error and fraud.