Bookkeeping For A Non-Profit Organization

You have the opportunity to join a non-profitbeen received or promised and have constraints of
organization as their bookkeeper and while you mayuse or time are restricted assets and are posted to
have a great deal of experience working within thebalance sheet accounts until such time the constraints
business for profit world there are some differencesare met. For example a fund raising event may be
between the two types of organizations that areinstituted to raise money to build a new wing for a
important to consider. Usually a nonprofit organizationhospital. These funds when received would be
will be providing an important service to one or morerestricted by use. They could not be used or
parts of a community and the people of theco-mingled with other hospital revenues.
community will pay dues and become members of theSome of the reports you may be required to produce
non-profit organization. Or the organization may haveare:
donors who donate services, money, merchandise orStatement of Financial Position - balances of your
grants. In a non-profit organization, therefore, yourassets and liabilities as of a specific date.
customers or clients are members, donors or grantStatement of Financial Income and Expense - reports
providers. And your Chart of Accounts would includehow much money brought in versus money spent
the accounts Member Dues Receivables, Donorwithin a specific period.
Receivables and Grant Receivables in the CurrentStatement of Functional Expense (990) - Detailed listing
Asset section of your Balance Sheet. When a pledgeof expenses within a specific period.
for a donation is received you would treat this pledgeBudget vs Actual by Program/Project - Comparison
as a donor receivable and when a grant is awarded itof funds spent to budget plan.
would also be posted as a grant receivable. MemberAs the bookkeeper for a nonprofit organization you will
Receivables would be posted when an invoice isbe responsible for keeping clear and correct records
produced billing the member. One important differenceand providing reports which will document the proper
in nonprofit bookkeeping is that FASB (The Financialcollection, disbursement, and control of all money
Accounting Standards Board) requires nonprofits toreceived by the organization within each of its individual
break out revenues and expenses for certain activities.funds. It can be a rewarding experience knowing that
Often donations and/or grants have restrictions onthe detailed work you perform is helping your nonprofit
how the receipts can be used. Revenues that haveorganization to make a difference in so many lives.