Aplos is a cloud-based accounting software for nonprofits. NetSuite Accounting software for nonprofits offers multiple features and functionalities to manage finances. You can use it for real-time financial reporting, accounts payable and receivable, and fund accounting. By utilizing the payroll features in your accounting software, you can save time, reduce errors, and maintain accurate financial records. When choosing accounting software for nonprofits, it’s crucial to consider a few important features.
Plus, the platform includes features to make accepting donations by credit, debit, bank transfer, cash, or check easier than ever. The biggest drawback to this software seems to be the pricing for it. You may run into needs that this software doesn’t have a solution for. So you’ll be able to implement this into your small nonprofit quickly. Be sure to write down a list of what your nonprofit needs and compare those to your available options.
With so many accounting tools, the right pick comes down to your team’s needs, reporting requirements, and how well it fits into your existing systems. However, because the platform wasn’t built with nonprofits in mind, it lacks some crucial features and integrations. While its core audience is still small teams, the platform is flexible enough for nonprofits managing product sales, event merch, or project-based budgets. Denali, by Cougar Mountain Software, is a nonprofit accounting solution focused on fraud prevention, compliance, and data security. That said, it’s not ideal for organizations that need advanced reporting or payroll capabilities. With flat-rate pricing, a no-fuss interface, and tools made specifically for treasurers, it’s a reliable choice for small organizations that want to stay organized without overcomplicating things.
Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT – Best Overall
Unless you’re a power user or an accountant, business accounting software can be difficult to use. This results in organizations trying to make square pegs fit in round holes, relying on a patchwork of solutions, and following online tutorials to make general-purpose software work for the NPO. Unfortunately, general accounting solutions don’t offer ways to manage separate funds. Though general-purpose accounting software is often less expensive than industry-specific solutions, NPOs must work harder to make general solutions fit their unique needs. Donor-advised funds (DAF) let the donor receive an immediate tax deduction and even get involved in recommending grants to the organization of your choice.
How do I choose the best nonprofit accounting software for my organization?
- It provides you with customizable reports, priority customer service, easy transfer of data to IRS forms, and more.
- Combined with an intuitive interface that welcomes rather than intimidates users, these features transform technology from obstacle to accelerator.
- Track donors’ contact information such as their address, email, phone number, and other information on contact cards with AccountEdge.
- Fund accounting, also known as fund-based accounting, is the accounting system nonprofits use to keep their books and track funds.
- Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT stands out as a top choice for medium to large nonprofits looking to streamline fundraising and donor management.
- If you need specific features, though, be sure to pick an option that offers them.
I’ve taken the time to review the best tools that would suit different types and sizes of nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development. To read more tips and resources on nonprofit management and fundraising, visit the Donorbox Nonprofit Blog. 50,000+ nonprofits worldwide have used our tool to boost donations and effectively manage their donors.
Best for Nonprofit HR management features
FreshBooks is one of the most popular accounting software options on the market. See Nav’s accounting software resources for more. You’ll want to look at the accounting features to see if the software matches your accounting needs, as well as pricing and functionality. Accounting software, when combined with a little education, can help nonprofits gain control of their finances. Nonprofits use a different approach to accounting than for-profit companies called fund accounting.
Sage Intacct: Cloud-Based Financial Management for Growing Nonprofits
After completing this period, the software will ask you to give a valid credit card for authorization to continue using it. It means from the time you enroll till 30 days of using the tool, it is available for free. The disclosure note is also an important document for financial statements.
This makes it very difficult to create realistic budgets and longer-term goals if you don’t have the right accounting tools. This lack of time means you have less energy to focus on accounting and bookkeeping. Between meeting with Board members, tracking volunteers, and applying for grants, you’re probably low on spare time. Nonprofits often struggle to maintain their financial data and general ledger because they are usually not accounting experts. The Financial Accounting Standards Board sets strict requirements for nonprofits.
Software4Nonprofits ACCOUNTS
Sage Intacct because of its advanced financial management features and built-in HR and payroll modules. However, it may not be the best fit for larger nonprofits that require more advanced capabilities like payroll, church management, or budget management. Its flexibility in deployment, with options for cloud-based, on-premise, or self-hosted systems, allows organizations to tailor the software to their specific operational needs. The Free plan comes with basic features, while the Pro plan unlocks more advanced features like volunteer management and bookkeeping tools.
If you’re paying for an online accounting solution, integrations with popular business software should come as standard. Nonprofit-specific reporting, which includes tax forms and donor report generation, is a must. Charities and similar organizations rely on volunteers, and although this removes the hassle of payroll, there are still protocols to carefully follow. It’s common for not-for-profit companies to receive general funds that can be spent however the organization sees fit, alongside restricted funds that must be used for specific purposes. The mobile version of the software, Xero Touch, makes it possible to access all your accounting data instantly from wherever you may be.
With Bonterra Case Management, we can now run the reports and have all the information ready in a few minutes and have the entire report done in 1 to 2 hours.” — Nick S. “Overall, this has been a good system for a small nonprofit with limited data needs, and as we’ve learned more about the ins and outs, we’ve been able to make more and more use of it. With time and support, it became a reliable part of our data and communications work.” — Aerin F. Bonterra EveryAction is the perfect option for managing donations and optimizing your fundraising strategies.
This level of organization will want to ensure board members have full clarity of the organization’s finances through proper bookkeeping, cash management, and reporting. Your organization may also be growing and adding on paid staff members (rather than being fully volunteer-run), meaning payroll and time tracking are features best accounting software for nonprofits you can no longer ignore. For example, if you receive any money from grants and need to allocate expenditures to them appropriately, you’ll want to ensure your software has fund accounting functionality. Ease of use is critical here, as smaller organizations won’t have the funds or personnel to dedicate to advanced accounting processes.
With optional integration to their donation tracking tool, Donations, it’s a smart, low-cost pick for small teams, rural orgs, or anyone working without reliable internet. However, price increases after the first year and limited reporting flexibility may be a concern for growing teams. It’s solid for managing accounting and tax requirements, but limited integrations and no mobile app may be a dealbreaker for tech-savvier teams. However, you can do a 30-day free trial to explore the software further. Zoho Books offers registered charities, trusts, and societies a 15% discount on original pricing.
You must also check out the IRS website for more detail on nonprofit accounting and seek external consultants‘ help if the need be. With packages starting at $42 a month and no setup fee, most organizations can afford this software. Organizations can cancel with only one month’s notice if the accounting software is not a good fit. Nonprofits using this accounting software can track and pay bills, connect the system automatically to their bank, and view all activities on Xero’s dashboard. This means nonprofits can access their financial information from anywhere.
QuickBooks Online can be used in a nonprofit setting, but you’ll want to make sure your staff can put up with the “for-profit language” of the program. QuickBooks Online is Intuit’s cloud-based platform and a popular choice for smaller non-profits. Forecasts will be far more important in predicting the health of your organization in the following year. Looking for a fully integrated (all-in-one) option will be the better long-term option to avoid integration issues and paying multiple software vendors a month. In addition to the functionality described above, you’ll need extra features. They’re too big for small-scale solutions but not large enough for enterprise-level software.
Based on user reports, plans typically start around $3.5K to $9K per year, and can go as high as $50K to $70K for advanced features. Premium plans run up to $94–$110/month depending on features, with payroll and fundraising modules available as add-ons for $20–$40/month each. FastFund is accessible from any browser and continues to improve with updates like enhanced budgeting and customizable financial reports. IYou know your way around a spreadsheet, but at some point, Excel alone isn’t enough to handle the unique financial needs of your growing nonprofit. However, with the help of a trained accountant, you can rest easy knowing your nonprofit’s finances are properly managed.
It doesn’t offer an ongoing discount for nonprofit orgs, but you can get a one-year subscription to QuickBooks Online Plus (not including payroll) for an $80 one-time fee through TechSoup. QuickBooks offers accounting, payment processing and payroll all in one place, but you have to pay extra for a payroll plan, starting at $50 per month. Through QuickBooks Online, a nonprofit organization can keep a close eye on each project’s cash flow via the Cash Flow Dashboard.
- It is the #1 cloud nonprofit accounting software, designed to enhance financial stewardship and support the missions of growing nonprofits.
- Yes—especially if you’re managing donations, grants, or restricted funds.
- It also has nonprofit-specific financial features that even some nonprofit-specific software lack.
- It means you can expect customized features for your church-based organization.
- Many nonprofits operate with limited staff and rely on volunteers who may not have extensive accounting backgrounds.
- However, these factors do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis.
The following financial statements must be provided and updated each year to remain in compliance with the IRS. FASB 117 gives nonprofit accountants standards to follow when filing these documents. Nonprofit accountants are there to review the bookkeeper’s work and ensure that the organization understands and follows the rules put in place by the IRS. Do you think expert coaching will help boost your fundraising efforts? Check out Donorbox, the simple-to-use, affordable, and powerful solution for online fundraising. After the free trial, pricing depends on your nonprofit’s needs.