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Should Your Nonprofit Outsource its Bookkeeping Needs?

Accountant is calculate the budget.

Maintaining timely and accurate financial records is one of the most important responsibilities facing every nonprofit organization. But doing it right is time-consuming, and the rules are complicated.

Introduction

Bookkeeping can be such a headache that 40% of small business owners say bookkeeping and taxes are the worst part of owning/operating a business*.  With nonprofits, the number is even higher.

So how do you balance this crucial need without taking too much of your time and resources away from your mission? If bookkeeping has become a burden for your organization, it may be time to outsource. But before you make that decision, let’s explore some of the benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping services:

  • Put more time into your mission
  • Minimize your nonprofit’s risk
  • Accurately submit state & federal filings
  • Access to top-shelf accounting software
  • Professional advice and counsel
Put More Time into Your Nonprofit’s Mission

Administrative tasks are an essential element to any healthy organization.  They may not be the most fun or rewarding parts of operating a nonprofit, but failure to keep up with them is not an option.

With that said, time spent on administration is time NOT spent on mission.  Think about how much time you spend maintaining your organization’s books. Imagine putting that time towards grant writing, fundraising, or donor relations!  Outsourcing your bookkeeping to professionals gives you the freedom to put the time you were spending on your books back into your mission. Spend less time on something your not a professional at, and more time impacting your community.

Minimize Your Nonprofit’s Risk

Just like any business, nonprofits can be susceptible to fraud and mishandling of money.  Given the number of smaller nonprofits that are run by volunteers and part-timers, the risk is even higher for you.

Though many times this negative activity isn’t intentional, trusting inexperienced people in order to cut down on expenses can end up costing you long-term if your books are not accurate and up-to-date. With an outsourced bookkeeping arrangement, your nonprofit can have an experienced, impartial professional to keep track of your finances and to help eliminate the risk of fraud or inaccurate reporting.

Accurately Submit State & Federal Filings

It should be clear by now that maintaining timely and accurate financial records is crucial to your nonprofit’s success.  One of the realities that is often overlooked is the downstream consequences of bad books.  Any level of inaccuracy in your accounting records will result in incorrect reporting to state and federal agencies.

We often see this with clients who come to us after several years of doing their own books and filings, or having another non-professional doing it.  Bad books lead to bad, inaccurate filings.  The longer this goes on, the more it compounds.

For example, if your financial statements for 2018 were inaccurate, your IRS Form 990 that was based on this data was also inaccurate.  Even if 2019s data was right, your 2019 Form 990 would still be off, because it relied on end-of-year numbers from 2018.  If 2019 was as bad as 2018, your 2019 returns are likely even worse than 2018 due to the compounding error.

Working with an accounting professional who understands nonprofits issues can help you avoid this cascading nightmare.

Access to Top-Shelf Accounting Software

There are so many apps and software tools at our disposal these days that can make many of our tasks more efficient. The same is true for nonprofit bookkeeping.

Foundation Group is Quickbooks ProAdvisor-Certified. Our clients are provided a complimentary subscription to the leading, cloud-based accounting software platform available, Quickbooks Online.

These programs make it easy for your books to stay up-to-date on the go, and make it easier for professionals to access your books and consult with you directly about your specific account.

Professional Advice and Counsel

I intentionally saved the best for last:  the value of professional advice and counsel.

One of the most important aspects of working with a third-party expert is their ability to advise your nonprofit about important financial issues impacting your nonprofit.  It may be a situation where your bookkeeper notices transactions or financial activity that is concerning.  Maybe it’s an opportunity to do things better or more efficiently.  Or as is often the case, our client has questions about how to do things according to compliant best practice, your outsourced professional is there to guide you.

About Foundation Group’s Nonprofit Bookkeeping Services

If any of the benefits described above could help you carry out your nonprofit’s mission better, you should really consider our Nonprofit Bookkeeping Services. We provide a chart of accounts setup/review, monthly bank account reconciliation, and monthly financial statements. We pair you with a highly-skilled professional bookkeeper, whose expertise is best matched to your needs. With a complimentary subscription to Quickbooks Online, you’ll have secure, 24/7 access to your books and records.

Regardless of your staff size, income level, or location, we have a plan that will keep your books accurate and up-to-date. Get with us today and let’s get you on the path to success!

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Greg McRay is the founder and CEO of The Foundation Group. He is registered with the IRS as an Enrolled Agent and specializes in 501(c)(3) and other tax exemption issues.

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Hi, Greg.
    Thanks for dealing with this under-addressed issue — keeping accurate financial records!
    You got it right: some of my nonprofit clients exhibit astounding stubbornness when, year after year, I exhort them to raise their standards of record-keeping and data entry because they’re barely one step above napkin accounting.
    People do not realize that Excel is an excellent program — a killer app, as the saying goes — but it does not, repeat, does NOT suffice for preparing proper nonprofit tax returns.
    Keep up the great articles!
    –Josh Wagner, Principal
    Non-profit-world.com

  2. Hi Greg, I am certainly looking at utilizing your services for book and record keeping for my non-profit organization. However, I am not quite sure how I go about paying my staffers. Yes, my staffers are separate from my Board members. Any suggestions?

    Sincerely,
    Rita Armstrong

    1. Hi, Rita. Your “staffers” almost assuredly will need to be treated as employees. That means tax withholding (with Social Security matching), and possibly things like workers comp must be taken into consideration. Fortunately, there are services that make it fairly easy and without a lot of expense. Many of our Bookkeeping clients use Quickbooks Payroll as part of their package with us. Let us know if we can help.

  3. Hello Greg,
    Great article! I have a question. I work with a Texas Nonprofit that has not prepared annual financial reports ever. I have addressed this for over a decade, each time a defensive response and the issue is ignored. I am now responsible for writing grant, but can not without annual financial reports. I have requested these financial reports from the treasurer, with a response of – “Where is the request of info without assertion of wrong doing? Where is the opportunity for me to address your concerns without accusation?”.

    I am starting to think there may be some fraud. TX BOC Sec. 22.354 states this is a violation if the corporation fails to maintain a financial record, prepare an annual report, or make the record or report available to the public. How and who can I report this to?

    Texas Business Organizations Code §
    Sec. 22.352.  FINANCIAL RECORDS AND ANNUAL REPORTS. 
    (a)  A corporation shall maintain current and accurate financial records with complete entries as to each financial transaction of the corporation, including income and expenditures, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
    (b)  Based on the records maintained under Subsection (a), the board of directors of the corporation shall annually prepare or approve a financial report for the corporation for the preceding year.  The report must conform to accounting standards as adopted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and must include:
    (1)  a statement of support, revenue, and expenses;
    (2)  a statement of changes in fund balances;
    (3)  a statement of functional expenses;  and
    (4)  a balance sheet for each fund.Sec. 22.353.  AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
    (a)  A corporation shall keep records, books, and annual reports of the corporation’s financial activity at the corporation’s registered or principal office in this state for at least three years after the close of the fiscal year.
    (b)  The corporation shall make the records, books, and reports available to the public for inspection and copying at the corporation’s registered or principal office during regular business hours.  The corporation may charge a reasonable fee for preparing a copy of a record or report.
    Sec. 22.354.  FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FINANCIAL RECORD OR PREPARE ANNUAL REPORT;  OFFENSE.
    (a)  A corporation commits an offense if the corporation fails to maintain a financial record, prepare an annual report, or make the record or report available to the public in the manner required by Section 22.353.
    (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

    1. Usually, it’s the state AG’s office that governs nonprofit corporations. Before you blow the whistle, however, make sure you’re ready for the fallout. I’m not telling you not to do it, but the genie can’t be put back in the bottle.

  4. Hi Greg.
    I just wanted to say I really appreciate your article on Public Charity vs Private Foundation. Extremely helpful. Unusually dense with good info. Great writing.
    I’m launching an initiative that I consider a new way to disrupt suicide. It’s about rallying those who’ve survived their struggle with suicide, as they are some of the best weapons int he fight against it. http://www.SurvivorCadres.com
    Thanks again.
    Best,
    Christian

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