Unified Financial Reporting System for Not-for-Profit Organizations

Book excerpt: Sponsored by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, formerly known as the Support Center for Nonprofit Management/Nonprofit Development Center Nothing can be more important to an organization's health and success than the quality of its financial reporting. This comprehensive guide is for all nonprofits that are required to comply with financial reporting standards set by the IRS and thirty-five state charity regulators (Form 990), FASB and AICPA (GAAP), grantmakers, and the like. Much more than a standard accounting manual, this book is a thoughtful guide to improving financial reporting so organizations can focus on the business of fulfilling mission, developing essential programs, and serving communities. "In playing chess, the move that accomplishes several purposes is the strongest. This book does exactly that for nonprofits. It gives computer technology the ability to produce reports for funders, budget managers, governmental regulators, and taxing authorities, all from one set of financial data, input only once."--Charles Kirkland, former chair, AICPA Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee, and founder, Kirkland, Eckels & Co. "Well-defined, relevant, and reliable guidelines that should enhance the quality and credibility of financial reports."--Kevin A. Kavanaugh, vice president, financial services, American Diabetes Association "Helps to simplify and align the federal/state record keeping and reporting."--James J. Caputo Sr., consultant, and chair, the Greater Washington Society of CPA's Not-For-Profit-Organizations Committee "Provide[s] management with a wide variety of information that was not previously available"--Dennis F. Dycus, director, Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Municipal Audit, State of Tennessee "As we move into the age of nonprofit financial transparency and instant Web access to reporting documents. . . .it is imperative that nonprofit practitioners, accountants, and lawyers understand and implement the concepts embodied in this guide."--Arthur W. Schmidt, Jr., president, Philanthropic Research, Inc., and publisher of the GuideStar Web site Complete Copy/Written and approved by author when book was originally scheduled for hardcover Sponsored by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, formerly known as the Support Center for Nonprofit Management/Nonprofit Development Center Nothing can be more important to an organization's health and success than the quality of its financial reporting. This comprehensive guide is for all nonprofits that are required to comply with financial reporting standards set by the IRS and thirty-five state charity regulators (Form 990), FASB and AICPA (GAAP), grantmakers, and the like. It shows how to unify financial reporting requirements without compromising the organization's accuracy and accountability. Authors Russy D. Sumariwalla and Wilson C. Levis combine over fifty years of experience in nonprofit accounting and reporting to describe the key elements of a unified financial reporting system. They also draw valuable lessons from a three-year project formed to improve the quality of reporting on IRS Form 990 and to strengthen public accountability. Known as "990 in 2000," this sectorwide project involved the IRS, the National Association of Attorneys General, the National Association of State Charity Officials, the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, the California Society of CPAs, the National Health Council, the United Way of America, and other organizations. Armed with the latest information, the authors discuss a unified chart of accounts, activity-level accounting, cost allocation, and computerization. They also explore ways of unifying internal and external financial reports, including GAAP statements, grant reports, and others. This guide offers a powerful resource section including information on various appendices program service reporting, government regulation, voluntary standards expert review groups, and more. Much more than a standard accounting manual, Unified Financial Reporting System for Not-for-Profit Organizations is a thoughtful guide to improving financial reporting so organizations can focus on the business of fulfilling mission, developing essential programs, and serving communities.