Owning and operating a nonprofit organization can be a rewarding experience. Keeping accurate business records is critical. The daily operations of your nonprofit must match the documentation required by local, state, and federal agencies. Failure to follow rules and regulations could result in fines or the termination of your sales tax exemption status. Staying up to date on new changes will help you limit the chances for inaccurate reporting.
Use the new changes to go over reporting procedures within your nonprofit. The implementation of all the new requirements provides you with a chance to review any areas with less than efficient track records. Fixing small problems prior to the implementation of the new standard procedure is a cost effective practice for your nonprofit organization.
Changes Affecting Your Nonprofit
Starting in December 2017, new guidelines will be in place affecting your nonprofit organization. The new policies allow you to slowly implement the changes until the procedures become binding. Implementing the new rules into your organization will improve financial statements. Designed to reduce costs and the complex procedures for financial reporting, efficiency is the main goal.
- Classification of Net Assets
Classifying net assets will be simpler after the new regulation goes into effect. Replacing the current three category listing, the classification breaks down into two separate categories: assets with donor restrictions and without donor restrictions. By switching over to the two classifications, keeping an accurate record of donor enforced restrictions will be easier. Saving you valuable time and money, your nonprofit will no longer need to classify assets as unrestricted, temporarily restricted, or permanently restricted.
In addition to eliminating the three classifications, the changes affect other net assets, including:
- Underwater Endowments: An endowment with less market value than in the past requires accurate tracking. Your nonprofit must show the exact nature of spending the funds.
- Board-designated Net Assets: Funds or other assets met for specific causes within the nonprofit organization will no longer be able to receive time restrictions.
- Cash and the Liquidity of Assets
A designated plan must include the management of liquid assets, an established credit line, and available cash. Your nonprofit will need to show the handling of the cash on hand for daily expenditures. The balance sheet must provide all information relating to the transactions.
- Income Expenses and Investment Reporting
Prior to implementing the new changes, reporting was optional. Now, reporting all investment income against the investment expense is mandatory. Ensuring consistency in reporting is the goal.
- Cash Flow
Continuing to allow you to choose the best practice for your nonprofit, the use of indirect or direct cash flow method is still allowed. Using a direct method eliminates the need of indirect method reconciliation.
Implementing new standards will help your nonprofit organization to continue to run in a smooth, efficient manner. Your new financial statements should be able to give exact details of your nonprofit’s financial story. The changes will help your team keep accurate, consistent records for future tax reporting.
Navigating these new changes can be tricky for nonprofits. Speaking with a reputable auditing and accounting firm, such as Ernst Wintter & Associates, will give you peace of mind in knowing that their staff are up to speed on what is necessary for your business to comply. To prepare for these changes, contact us today and schedule a meeting with one of our Certified Public Accountants.