Discover expert insights on ASC 842 compliance for nonprofits, healthcare, and higher education. Learn best practices and lessons from Temple Management Consulting's experience.
As we approach 2025, nonprofit organizations are navigating an evolving landscape of audit requirements and best practices. Effective nonprofit audit preparation remains crucial for ensuring compliance, enhancing transparency, and maintaining stakeholder trust. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore key aspects of preparing for your 2025 nonprofit audit, including lessons learned from recently implemented standards, emerging best practices, and strategies to navigate common challenges.
In 1993, FASB introduced SFAS 116 and 117. These standards revolutionized nonprofit financial reporting. They established guidelines for contribution recognition and financial statement presentation. For over two decades, these standards served as the backbone of nonprofit accounting. SFAS 116 focused on accounting for contributions received and made. It provided clear guidance on how to recognize and measure contributions, including distinguishing between conditional and unconditional promises to give. This standard significantly improved the consistency and comparability of contribution reporting across nonprofit organizations. SFAS 117 addressed the presentation of financial statements. It introduced the concept of three classes of net assets: unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted. This classification system helped users of financial statements better understand the nature and extent of donor-imposed restrictions on a nonprofit's resources. However, the nonprofit sector has changed dramatically since 1993. New challenges and complexities emerged. The rise of social enterprises, increased scrutiny from donors and regulators, and the growing importance of impact measurement all contributed to a need for updated accounting standards. FASB recognized the need for updated standards to reflect these changes and better serve the evolving needs of nonprofit organizations and their stakeholders. Introducing ASU 2016-14: The New FASB Standards In August 2016, FASB released Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14. This update aims to improve nonprofit financial reporting. It became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The new standards represent a significant shift in nonprofit financial reporting, addressing many of the challenges and limitations of the previous standards. Key Changes in ASU 2016-14 Net Asset Classification for Nonprofits ASU 2016-14 simplifies net asset classification. It reduces the categories from three to two: Net assets with donor restrictions Net assets without…
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There is a new emphasis and an upcoming required change in how your NFP financials will present and disclose gifts-in-kind. Accounting Standard ASU No. 2020-07 has mandated this change. It will be effective for annual periods beginning after June 15, 2021. This Accounting Standard improves transparency for gift-in-kind transactions by requiring the following:
Effective financial management is crucial for the success and sustainability of nonprofit organizations. Unlike for-profit entities, nonprofits face unique financial challenges, including reliance on donations, grants, and other variable funding sources. This makes budgeting and cash flow management essential to maintaining operational stability and achieving long-term goals. Key concepts such as budgeting, cash flow management, and financial sustainability are not just financial jargon; they are the backbone of a nonprofit's ability to fulfill its mission and serve its community.
As a nonprofit, it’s important to utilize stories so that donors and supporters feel connected to the mission and can see the impact your organization has in the world.
While off-the-shelf accounting software may seem like a cost-effective solution, it often falls short in meeting the specific requirements of nonprofit organizations, leading to various challenges. These generic systems typically lack the specialized features necessary for detailed fund tracking, grant management, and reporting that nonprofits require. As a result, organizations may face difficulties in maintaining financial transparency, reporting accurately to stakeholders, and ultimately, in achieving their mission effectively.
It’s been three years since the COVID-19 pandemic “stopped the world.” In its wake, we have seen a significant, foundational impact on economies worldwide — and the nonprofit sector is no exception. From reduced funding and flat budgets to a surge in demand for services, nonprofits were challenged to adapt and rebuild on a massive scale. Even now, after the pandemic has seemingly faded into the past like a bizarre alternate reality, nonprofits are still feeling pressure from the impact of inflation on donors, in the ending of much emergency federal financial support, and in the scarcity of available (or retainable) talent. In this blog post, we'll explore a few pieces of how nonprofit finances have changed in the past three years since the pandemic, and what long-term effects you can consider as you navigate your own nonprofit’s finances. It’s been three years since the COVID-19 pandemic “stopped the world.” In its wake, we have seen a significant, foundational impact on economies worldwide — and the nonprofit sector is no exception. From reduced funding and flat budgets to a surge in demand for services, nonprofits were challenged to adapt and rebuild on a massive scale. Even now, after the pandemic has seemingly faded into the past like a bizarre alternate reality, nonprofits are still feeling pressure from the impact of inflation on donors, in the ending of much emergency federal financial support, and in the scarcity of available (or retainable) talent.
