Nonprofit Accounting Academy

When nonprofit boards struggle, the consequences ripple across the whole organization. Nonprofit consultant Mandy Pearce recently described the top three dysfunctions she has observed in nonprofit boards: Lack of clarity in board roles and responsibilities Lack of shared goals for the board and organization Lack of accountability for board participation and active engagement What activity…

Budgeting isn’t just a financial exercise—it’s a roadmap for your nonprofit’s mission.  A well-prepared budget does more than track dollars; it brings clarity, alignment, and accountability to everyone in the organization. When used thoughtfully, the budgeting process becomes a strategic tool that helps nonprofits stay mission-focused, adapt to challenges, and make informed decisions throughout the…

What would make 2025 your best QuickBooks year ever? Actually, let’s expand that question. What would make 2025 your best year ever for managing the finances of your organization? A client recently told us that it would be a most memorable year for her if she could (edited for clarity): Implement a bookkeeping system for…

Credit cards always seem to be a sore spot for nonprofits. Yet they are often essential for staff to carry out the organization’s business. Is it possible to make credit card administration any easier?  First consider all these credit card management problems. Credit Card Sore Spots 1. To manage physical credit cards, some organizations use…

Alternative title: I love you, I need you, unrestricted net assets! “Look at all this money we have! I don’t understand why we can’t pay the bills,” exclaimed Todd, a member of the board of directors, as he looked at the balance sheet. “What number are you looking at, Todd?” I asked. “Right here at…

Mary Diegert is a recently retired CFO with 25 years’ experience in the nonprofit human services sector. She earned a master’s degree in Accounting and her CPA license (now lapsed) in the 80’s. Her most recent experience is fifteen years with a $20 million Catholic Charities agency in upstate New York. Her focus is on…

Our world has experienced a seismic shift. No doubt many of you are rethinking priorities and questioning what you thought to be true. You are racing to learn about new coronavirus relief programs. You’re scrambling to shift to online formats for everything from fundraising events to board meetings to programs. With so much going on,…

He was the executive director of the local United Way. He had also served as mayor in their small town of Milton, Florida for 20 years. By all appearances, he was an esteemed community leader and philanthropist. He was also perpetrating a nonprofit fraud by pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen donations meant…