Overview of NGO Accounting

NGO is an entity whose prime purpose is social and not profit-making. NGO Accounting is a system of recording and reporting all business transactions that are considered NGOs. It involves choosing the best accounting method, understanding compliances and tax responsibilities, and creating and reporting the figures in the appropriate financial statements. The main motive of an NGO is not to earn profit but to provide services for the welfare of society. It receives amounts out of contributions from different persons or entities but without any expectations to receive the return on such contributions. Thus, NGO Accounting is a unique system followed by the NGO for recording and reporting business transactions.

NGO Accounting is different from other organisations as NGOs are exempted from tax. Thus, NGOs only focus on keeping overhead low so that money can be used in programs or services that they provide for the welfare of society.

The NGO Accounting has three main reports in the financial statement that include a statement of financial position, a statement of activities and a statement of functional expenses.

NGO Accounting can be done by two methods, cash accounting method or accrual accounting method for recording expenses and income of the NGO. The cash accounting method records transaction amounts when the money trades hands. The accrual accounting method records amounts when a transaction occurs. The accrual accounting method is more accurate.   

Components of NGO Accounting

There are certain areas where the accounting of NGOs differs from that of other organisations that aim at earning profit. The components that are different in the case of NGO accounting are as follows:

• The NGO receives donations from different individuals and business entities. The donations can be general or specific donations, where general donations are used for any purpose in the organisation, whereas the specific or individual donations are used only for the purpose for which the donor has donated.
• The main motive of NGOs is to provide services for the welfare of society, and there are specific programmes that NGOs conduct for the same. The accounting for such programmes is done separately to separate surplus or deficit from such programmes.
• In standard profit-making entities, a different head reports shareholder’s equity, but shareholders and investors are not there in NGOs. Thus, there is no equity stake in NGOs, and in the case of these NGOs, net assets take the place of equity in the statement of financial position.
• In the case of NGOs, the statement of activities is prepared. It calculates surplus or deficit instead of profit and loss account and profit or loss in the profit-making organisation. The equity statement is not prepared in the case of NGOs as equity shareholders are not there.
• In the case of NGOs, the statement of functional expenses is prepared, which records the fund accounting of the company. This report shows the total expenses incurred by the NGO along with the details of the expenses spent by it by diving into funds and category wise.

Basis of NGO Accounting

An important section of NGO account management is the basis of accounting. It defines the basis on which the accounting starts and methods applied for managing accounts with day-to-day transactions. Points to be considered for this process are as follows:

• The NGO prepares its accounts on the basis of the historical basis of accounting, but assets are re-valued from their historical cost to reflect current values.
• The NGO applies an accrual-based accounting method. Revenues, grants, or donations are recorded in the accounting period it is received, and expenses are recognised when incurred. Loans and other grants are also recognised when received. Further, other revenues are recognised as per the accrual concept.
• Grants and donations are recorded separately and are shown with the non-operating income and expenses. They are not included in the retained earnings from operations but in the contributed capital or donated equity.  
• Contributions made in kind are recognised through journal adjustments which are supported by appropriate documents such as agreements, formal letters, memos, MOU, etc.

The account books are maintained in a set pattern, so all transactions are traced back and forth. The pattern is as follows:

1. Expenses
2. Cash memo
3. Voucher
4. Cash book
5. Ledger
6. Trail balance
7. Income and expenditure statement, balance sheet

Fund Accounting

Fund accounting enables NGOs to allocate money in different groups or “funds” to keep them organised and spend as per need. The groups under which money is separated are:

• Restricted Funds: 

The funds are for certain NGO projects and activities and are to be spent accordingly.

• Temporarily restricted funds:

The funds are spent on certain projects and activities at NGOs for a certain period of time. After that time period, the fund becomes unrestricted funds.

• Unrestricted funds:

This is also called the Annual Fund. These funds can be spent on anything that NGOs require. 

Advantages of NGO Accounting

The advantages related to NGO Accounting are as follows:

• In NGOs, the statement of functional expenses is prepared to record funds accounting of the company.
• Programs are conducted by NGOs, for which accounting is done separately.  
• NGO Accounting enables to analyse of every program properly.

Although NGO Accounting is beneficiary in the ways mentioned above, it also has disadvantages. The various disadvantages related to NGOs are as follows:

• NGO Accounting is more prone to fraud when compared with the accounting of other organisations.
• There are chances where the person authorised for accounting does not account properly and leaves some of the grants received by the organisations.

Books and Documents maintained for NGO Accounting

Following is the list of books and documents that NGOs maintain for proper and systematic account management:

• Cash payment or receipt vouchers and book
• Bank payment or receipt vouchers and book
• Summary of daily petty cash book
• Journal vouchers and journal
• General Ledger
• Fixed Assets Register
• Contract or Registration Documents
• Attendance Register
• Budget copies of various grants
• Utilisation Certificates
• Any other relevant Registration papers
• Copies of consultancy agreements
• Capital assets approvals
• A file of original bills of assets purchased
• Copies of contracts and agreements
• Stationary Register
• A file containing bank mandates and authorised signatories
• Quotation file for all purchases
• Advance payment register
• Check issue register
• Cancelled check register
• Donation receipt issue register

NGO Accounting Statements and Reports

For NGO Accounting, one should adhere to specific guidelines while creating reports. The basic guideline one should know is GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). These are general principles accepted by accountants. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

Budget

NGO Budget is a document that is created by the finance team or leaders of the NGO using information from the development team and the historic spending habit of the NGO. It is a planning document used to predict expenses and allocate resources for the NGO. It deals with incurred costs as well as revenue that are expected to receive over a set period of time, usually a year.

Statement of Financial Position

A balance sheet of an NGO is known as a statement of financial position. It is a document that represents the financial health of an NGO. It has a list of assets and liabilities of the NGO.

Statement of Activities

The statement of activities is also known as an income statement. It shows revenue and expenses over time at NGOs. It categorises different revenue sources and expenses. It can also be used to review the change in net assets from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

Statement of Functional Expenses

Statement of Functional Expenses breaks down NGO’s expenditures into various common categories and provides their function. This categorisation separates expenses into operational functions such as program expenses, administrative expenses or fundraising activity expenses.

Statement of Cash Flow

The statement of cash flow shows the funding and cash moved in and out of NGO. It allows the NGO to calculate how much is available to pay expenses at any given time. NGO breaks down the operating, financing and investing activities to show how the cash moves at NGO.

Form 990

The filing of annual Form 990 is an important aspect of NGO Accounting. Form 990 is the annual tax form tax-exempted NGOs must file each year to remain compliant with mandatory regulations.

This document has a record of revenues and expenses from the year to demonstrate the utilisation of finances.

Corpbiz assistance in NGO Accounting

The Corpbiz has a team designed specifically for NGOs. Our expert takes on your accounting responsibilities seriously. So, follow the following process and get your work done:

• Purchase a Plan for Expert Assistance
• Add Queries Regarding NGO Accounting
• Complete all Admissibility Criteria for Preliminary Screening
• Complete Procedural Actions
• Get your work done!