It demonstrates to donors, members, directors, and regulators that the firm does its https://nerdbot.com/2025/06/10/the-key-benefits-of-accounting-services-for-nonprofit-organizations/ work transparently, comprehensively, and above board, and thus, the public has more confidence in the non-profit. It enhances credibility, identifies improvement opportunities, and ensures legal and regulatory compliance. Audits contribute significantly to the sustainability of nonprofits, enabling them to make a greater impact on the communities they serve. Candid’s demographic research manual reveals the layered approach to data collection and categorization, which is integral to an audit’s success. Nonprofit organizations can learn from this by ensuring their data is as comprehensive and categorically clear as the demographic information collected by Candid. References from other organizations in your field will help you identify firms with experience in the different types of audits for nonprofits.

How can independent audits benefit my nonprofit?

A clear game plan is another factor that works in your favor when pitching to potential supporters, especially if you have a trustworthy reputation supported by verified information. By showing your commitment to fiscal and legal responsibility, an audit strengthens donor confidence, helping you retain contributors and therefore increasing the chance that they will step up donations. Rapid growth, major changes in campaign programming, or the arrival of a new leadership team may warrant a fresh audit. Key insights and actionable guidance based on feedback from nonprofit finance and executive leaders. Take our 2-minute survey to find out if outsourced accounting and bookkeeping is a good fit for your organization. Nonprofit boards should create committees to focus on needs like governance, fundraising, and finance.

• An auditor can examine profit/loss segments so they can easily track expenses back to each donation or grant.
• If an organization is using off the shelf accounting software, such as QuickBooks for Nonprofits, it is likely more audit findings will be reportable.
• Nonprofit audited financial statements are a powerful tool to help your group control costs, reach financing goals and garner donors.
• This is the time for the finance team to ensure that it has supporting reconciliations which not only tie to the general ledger and trial balance but have also resolved all hanging variances during the year.
• Non-profits often struggle with keeping accurate financial records, complying with regulations, providing enough resources for audits, understanding audit requirements, and meeting deadlines during the audit process.
• This return, called Form 990, is a public document that is available for anyone to view.

AI Will Break Your Nonprofit Finance Team If You Don’t Fix These 5 Problems

Get our FREE GUIDE to nonprofit financial reports, featuring illustrations, annotations, and insights to help you better understand your organization’s finances. Once you’ve gathered all the necessary documents for your audit, you can start organizing them for the auditor’s review. Start by setting up a dedicated workspace for the auditors with easy access to your documents.

Prepare for the Auditor’s Visit

With proper planning, strong internal systems, and board involvement, audits can become opportunities for growth—not just obligations. Use them to reaffirm your organization’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. However, even a small non-profit can expect to pay around the $10,000 mark as the process involves significant resources, staff time and volunteer board member time.

Auditor Selection

However, even if your nonprofit isn’t required to undergo an audit, it can still be The Key Benefits of Accounting Services for Nonprofit Organizations worthwhile to conduct one to get a better understanding of your organization’s financial situation. By providing audited financial reports and annual reports on your website, you’re helping build trust with your donor base. Adding an audit requirement to your organization’s bylaws may seem redundant for many nonprofits.

How long does the nonprofit audit process take?

• Common challenges include limited financial resources, complex fund accounting, diverse revenue streams, volunteer-driven operations, and keeping up with changing regulations.
• These statements help them have confidence in the reported financial health of the organization.
• In conclusion, the nonprofit audit process is a journey of collaboration, data-driven insights, and strategic implementation.
• The independent auditor is a professional CPA unrelated to the agency and is compensated by the audited firm.
• To clear up this confusion, let’s begin by answering some common questions about nonprofit audits.

In addition, we often bundle auditing for non-profit organizations with tax services to offer even more cost savings. Your non-profit organization works hard to give back so we developed affordable, high-quality services. For clarity and consistency, we’ll primarily focus on independent, external financial audits. However, the other types are also useful tools for maintaining transparency and accountability. Every dollar counts for nonprofits, and an independent audit is the perfect opportunity to check that you’re being as efficient as possible. Plus, going through this process is great for demonstrating transparency among stakeholders.

Table of Contents

This guide will walk you through what financial audits are, why they matter, and how to ensure your next audit not only meets compliance standards but strengthens your nonprofit’s credibility and financial practices. It does not include testing the organization’s controls; therefore, it is considerably less complex than an audit. An accountant prepares financial statements without expressing an opinion as to whether or not the financial statements are free of material misstatements. Posted to Jitasa on June 30, 2022, this guide helps professionals in the sector gain a basic understanding of the nonprofit auditing process.

• These audits can highlight areas where a nonprofit is excelling or identify opportunities for improvement, thus supporting the organization’s mission and enhancing its impact.
• Tracking and reporting systems must capture specific financial data related to each grant, such as expenditures against budgeted categories and timeframes.
• Our tool integrates with leading CRM tools to help you utilize this data to the max!
• Although rare, this can happen if there are discrepancies in your tax filings or if the IRS randomly selects your nonprofit for review.
• Nonprofits produce a ‘Statement of Activities’ and a ‘Statement of Financial Position’ instead of the traditional income statement and balance sheet used by businesses.
• Audits contribute significantly to the sustainability of nonprofits, enabling them to make a greater impact on the communities they serve.

Auditing nonprofit organizations presents unique challenges and opportunities distinct from those encountered in the for-profit sector. Given their reliance on public trust and donor contributions, nonprofits must maintain transparency and accountability through rigorous auditing practices. This ensures compliance with legal requirements and enhances credibility among stakeholders.

• The Form 990 provides detailed information about a nonprofit’s finances, including income, expenses, and assets.
• For example, was a deliverable deadline missed because PBC item X was not delivered until the Tuesday before the deadline, but it wasn’t requested by the auditor until the Monday before the deadline?
• Regular monitoring and evaluation are also critical, as they provide a framework for continuous improvement and accountability.
• The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) principles require auditors to issue a report to the board of directors, presenting a professional opinion about the nonprofit’s financial practices.
• In addition to tax and employee regulations, your organization may fall under specific federal, state, and local regulations for your type of nonprofit.
• Nonprofit organizations, recognized for their contributions to the public good, may undertake a variety of audits to ensure their operations are transparent and efficient.

Compliance audit

The other approach is narrower, focusing on “operating inefficiencies.” These are issues that could lead to more serious problems unless corrected. A financial audit by an independent CPA is performed methodically and according to rigorous criteria. One step leads to the next so the nonprofit firm has a full picture of its financial health. Less extensive than the field audit, the office or correspondence audit rarely includes a face-to-face encounter with an IRS representative.