The 5 Best Accounting Services for Nonprofit Organizations

Organizations in the nonprofit space know just how specialized, impactful, and crucial their work is. These organizations function far differently than for-profit businesses, and many of their processes and procedures differ. This includes a nonprofit’s financial and accounting needs.

The truth is that powerhouse nonprofit organizations need powerhouse accounting services to match. With robust and comprehensive financial and accounting support, nonprofits can maximize the impact of their financial resources, ensuring their funds are being used most effectively. They can easily meet their reporting and compliance obligations.

Here’s everything you need to know about nonprofit accounting services (and why you should probably partner with one), along with a list of the top nonprofit accounting services out there today.

What’s So Special About Nonprofit Accounting?

We know your nonprofit organization is special, destined for great things, and making massive waves in the space you’re operating in. And kudos to you because doing good and addressing social and societal issues is no small feat. But your accounting needs differ greatly. You could even say they’re highly specialized. 

Let’s touch on the intricacies of nonprofit accounting for a moment so you know exactly what we mean. First, your nonprofit is still generating funds and working with revenue, even if your organization isn’t pocketing the spare change. 

Data shows us that US nonprofit revenue rose past $2.6 trillion. But nonprofits aren’t selling products and services like a for-profit business does: they’re typically generating funds through donations, grants, membership fees, and program service fees.

With these unique revenue sources come some specific needs. For example, grants often come with certain requirements about how they can be used (which is why nonprofits often turn to grant management solutions). They also often have to be monitored and reported on. 

Non-profits also typically practice fund accounting (and they’re not the only ones: government agencies and religious organizations also utilize this kind of accounting). Fund accounting is fairly different from any other accounting protocol, and it involves organizing financial resources into different groups (aptly called funds). 

Non-profits then track and manage these funds separately and independently monitor the expenses and revenue. Reporting requirements might differ between funds, and different funds might have different restrictions on their usage.

Aside from these specifications, nonprofits have a few other unique accounting considerations. They’re often tax-exempt (if they’re approved with this status by the IRS), and this status comes with annual reporting and filing requirements. 

Also, because these organizations aren’t sitting on profits, they might be operating with a lesser runway, meaning that prudent financial practices deeply matter. One study found that about 50% of nonprofits in social and human services have just one month of revenue as a cushion. 

So, nonprofits have special accounting needs. Instead of tackling all this while still trying to do the most good, many organizations turn to the leading nonprofit accounting service providers. 

Why Nonprofit Accounting Services (Actually) Make a Difference

When your organization chooses to outsource its nonprofit accounting services, what can you actually expect to get done? Here are some main benefits of choosing an expert provider.

Nonprofit Accounting Is Their Expertise

We said it once (or twice), and we’ll say it again: nonprofit accounting is ultra-specific, and you want experts who know this space inside and out. When you choose to go with nonprofit accounting services, you know you’ll never miss a reporting deadline, your funds will be monitored, and your resources will be maximized.

They’re All In, so You Can Focus on What Matters

If you’ve ever spent valuable hours on your nonprofit accounting, or if it has ever kept you up at night, then you’ll appreciate this. When a nonprofit accounting service provider is on board, they can fully own your financial and accounting needs. That means much less financial stuff on your plate and more free time and capacity to focus on furthering your cause. 

They’re Modular, so You Can Choose the Services You Need

Every nonprofit has different financial and accounting needs; the best nonprofit accounting service providers know that. That’s why they’re built modularly, where you can add services as needed. 

Is your bookkeeping suddenly getting more complex as your organization grows? There’s a service for that. Looking for help with your tax paperwork? Yep, that too. What if you want some experts assisting with your cash management? That’s also an a-la-carte service you can add on. 

You’ll Never Miss a Financial Beat

There are a lot of boxes to tick when it comes to nonprofit accounting. From measuring the impact of funds to meeting your financial reporting requirements, all of your financial requirements must be met continuously. 

While this can be a lot for an in-house team to constantly manage on its own, your nonprofit accounting partner has you covered. They can help ensure your financial requirements and reporting needs are easily met. 

What Do Nonprofit Accounting Services Own?

Non-profit accounting services can take ownership of a few main functions and responsibilities. These can include the following.

Bookkeeping

Non-profit bookkeeping refers to monitoring cash inflows and outflows, keeping financial transaction records, organizing and verifying them. When it comes to nonprofit accounting, there can be many different cash inflows and outflows, from distributing funds to recipients to receiving grants from the government. Non-profit bookkeeping services give you rapid and accurate financial information you can rely on. 

Taxes

While your organization might be exempt from federal taxes, it is likely subject to other taxes, such as Social Security and Medicare. And even with a tax-exempt status, there are still reporting requirements. 

For example, the IRS generally requires tax-exempt organizations to file annual returns. Your nonprofit accounting partner can ensure all your tax and associated reporting obligations are met. 

Accounting Management

This refers to expert-led account management led by a dedicated accounting team. You get a dynamic team of experts and state-of-the-art cloud accounting technology who own everything regarding your financials. Oftentimes, these services come with their own HR and tax advisors, meaning your nonprofit will be covered from all angles. 

Financial Reporting 

As we’ve touched on, nonprofits have plenty of reporting obligations. These might include tax and IRS requirements, fund account reporting, monthly and quarterly reporting, and investor reporting. 

All of this is not only time-consuming but can also be high-pressure for in-house teams to get right because one missed deadline can potentially lead to serious consequences. But when you partner with a nonprofit financial services provider, you know your financial reports are in the hands of experts.

Cash Management 

Effective cash management is crucial for nonprofits that want to accomplish their missions and goals. With effective cash management, money can be spent in the most effective way possible, maximizing an organization’s impact. Cash management services help correctly manage cash inflows and outflows to maintain the organization’s stability, meet its payment and distribution commitments, and plan for growth.

The Top 5 Nonprofit Accounting Services Out There Today

With all of that in mind, here’s our official roundup of the top 5 nonprofit accounting services out there today that you can choose to partner with.

1. hiline

Hello, it’s us 👋

We’re kicking off this list with ourselves because we deeply believe in the work of our team of accounting and finance-obsessed experts. We’re a premium tech-enabled accounting firm, delivering a one-stop shop of cloud-based accounting, tax, HR, finance, and more, and we specialize in accounting services for nonprofits. Our accounting plans are suitable for every size organization, and you can choose a package that meets your needs and budget.

hiline was founded to push the boundaries of what an accounting firm can be and use financial services to help organizations meet their growth potential. Our strategy is to combine our stack of best-in-class cloud accounting technology and our dynamic team of professionals to break the conventional accounting firm model to deliver clients a new, premium experience.

Now that you know a bit about us, we’re happy to list other nonprofit accounting service providers on the market. We’re confident in the quality of our work and value working with organizations that are a one-to-one perfect fit for us.

2. The Charity CFO

The Charity CFO says it offers “professional nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping services.” It also says that its team of CFOs gives you “expert bookkeeping and accounting support to help your nonprofit thrive.”

3. Jitasa

Jitasa’s “mission is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofits.” They offer bookkeeping and accounting services, which are “affordable and cater to every nonprofit.”

4. Altruic 

Altruic offers a range of accounting and consulting services for nonprofits, including cloud accounting, CFO solutions, and fraud prevention. 

5. Foundation Group

Foundation Group says it has been “empowering nonprofit success since 1995,” and it offers services that can help you start a nonprofit and stay compliant. They also offer bookkeeping services. 

Your Organization Needs Nonprofit Accounting Services to Move Mountains

Your nonprofit is already making a difference and is destined for even greater things. But in order to reach the heights you dream about, your nonprofit needs a strong financial base. And nonprofit accounting services are just what the doctor ordered.

If you’re looking for comprehensive nonprofit accounting services designed to meet your organization’s needs, we’re here to help. hiline offers premium tech-enabled accounting to nonprofits, and we know how to help you effectively manage your accounting and financial needs. 

Contact us today to find out about how our cloud-based accounting package can help your nonprofit thrive while maximizing its ability to do good.