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Nonprofit Accounting & Bookkeeping for Organizations
Rating: 4.6 out of 5(28 ratings)
123 students

Nonprofit Accounting & Bookkeeping for Organizations

Master fund accounting, grant tracking, compliance, and financial statements for nonprofit organizations
Created byHibox for Nonprofits
Last updated 5/2026
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Set up fund accounting and a nonprofit chart of accounts
  • Record contributions, grants, pledges, and in-kind donations correctly
  • Prepare all four nonprofit financial statements
  • Build and monitor program and operating budgets
  • Manage grants from proposal budgeting through final reporting
  • Maintain compliance with IRS, audit, and state reporting requirements

Course content

2 sections • 15 lectures • 1h 41m total length

  • 1. Course Introduction2:47

    Explore nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping essentials, including fund accounting, restricted funds, and grant management, to prepare compliant financial statements, manage budgeting, internal controls, and audits for mission-driven organizations.

  • 2. Nonprofit Fundamentals4:17

    Understand how nonprofit structures—especially 501c3—shape reporting, fundraising, and financial health. Compare mission-driven goals with for-profit aims, and learn stakeholder reporting needs for donors, boards, regulators.

  • 3. Fund Accounting Basics5:07

    Master fund accounting basics for nonprofits by tracking funds by purpose and managing unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted funds with fund accounts and fund-specific reporting.

  • 4. The Chart of Accounts for Nonprofits6:00

    Structure your nonprofit's chart of accounts to support fund accounting, grant tracking, and IRS reporting requirements, with clear assets, liabilities, net assets, revenue, and expense categories.

  • 5. Recording Contributions and Grants7:15

    Distinguish contributions from exchange transactions and record revenue with proper timing, recognize pledges, grants, and end-kind donations, and apply conditions, restrictions, and valuation.

  • 6. Expense Allocation and Tracking7:00

    Learn to identify direct vs indirect costs, allocate shared expenses, and maintain grant documentation for compliant nonprofit budgeting.

  • 7. Nonprofit Financial Statements6:46

    Explore the four main nonprofit financial statements: balance sheet, statement of activities, cash flows, and functional expenses, and how net assets are reported by restriction while tracking transparency.

  • 8. Budgeting for Nonprofits6:15

    Learn how nonprofits build operating and program budgets. Understand how to budget by fund and restriction and use budget-to-actual variance analysis to guide strategic decisions and board reporting.

  • 9. Internal Controls and Policies8:49

    Learn how to design effective internal controls and policies for nonprofits by implementing segregation of duties, approval processes, documentation, board oversight, and compensating controls to prevent fraud and protect assets.

  • 10. Compliance and Reporting Requirements8:05

    Master nonprofit compliance and reporting by navigating Form 990 types, state registrations, audits, and federal requirements under the Uniform Guidance to protect tax-exempt status.

  • 11. Grant Management and Reporting8:06

    Master grant management from pre-award budgeting to final reporting, tracking spend, reporting variances, and closeout, with emphasis on allowable costs, indirect rates, and documentation.

  • 12. Payroll for Nonprofits8:44

    Classify workers correctly as employees or independent contractors to avoid penalties, then manage nonprofit payroll taxes, W-4, FICA, Form 941, and benefits.

  • 13. Month-End and Year-End Procedures9:18

    Master nonprofit month-end and year-end closing, including bank and credit card reconciliations, accruals and deferrals, grant revenue, donor acknowledgments, and audit readiness.

  • 14. Software and Technology Tools8:46

    Explore nonprofit accounting software options from QuickBooks Online Plus with fund accounting to Sage Intacct. Learn donor management integration, expense tracking, and board-ready dashboards.

  • 15. Course Conclusion3:55

    Learn nonprofit accounting as accountability and stewardship, using fund accounting to track donor-restricted funds and prepare transparent financial statements for boards and donors.

Requirements

  • No prerequisites are required.

Description

“This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.”

Managing finances for a nonprofit is nothing like running the books for a traditional business. Every dollar comes with expectations attached — from donors, grantors, board members, and regulators — and your job is to prove that each one was used exactly as intended.

This course gives you a complete, practical foundation in nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping from the ground up. You'll start with the core principle that sets nonprofit finance apart: fund accounting. You'll learn how to organize money by its restrictions and purpose, set up a chart of accounts built for nonprofit reporting, and correctly record every type of revenue your organization receives — including individual donations, foundation grants, government contracts, and in-kind contributions.

From there, you'll move into the skills that keep nonprofits compliant and credible. You'll prepare all four nonprofit financial statements, build budgets by fund and program, allocate shared expenses across functions, and implement internal controls that protect against fraud. You'll also work through grant management from pre-award budgeting through final closeout, understand payroll requirements including special rules for clergy, and learn how to close the books each month and year with confidence.

Compliance coverage includes IRS Form 990 preparation, state charitable registration, audit requirements, and the Single Audit Act for federal grantees. The course wraps up with a practical look at accounting software options and how to build financial dashboards your board will actually understand.

Every lesson is grounded in real nonprofit scenarios and includes an action step you can apply immediately in your organization. Whether you're a new bookkeeper, a program manager who's been handed the finances, or a board member trying to fulfill your fiduciary duty, this course gives you the tools to manage nonprofit money with accuracy, transparency, and confidence.

Who this course is for:

  • Bookkeepers and accountants new to the nonprofit sector
  • Nonprofit staff managing finances without formal training
  • Board members fulfilling fiduciary oversight responsibilities
  • For-profit accounting professionals transitioning to nonprofit roles

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