Logo of Tickmarks with the text 'Tickmarks'.

Unraveling The Details Of Nonprofit Financial Statements

By:
Sreevatsan Thandalam
August 15, 2021
Tickmarks-Unraveling-Blog

Nonprofit Financial Statements That Underline Your Cause

Nonprofit organizations make the world a better place. It is hard to imagine what our communities would do without their selfless, unrelenting dedication to society. Unlike some organizations that exist to generate profits, nonprofit organizations solely function for societal welfare. Their service is significant across religious, educational, commercial, health, sports, and social service sectors. Understandably, financial gain is not their objective. Nevertheless, it is a necessity to further their cause and scale their mission.

nonprofit

Most nonprofit organizations are financially supported by generous donors and philanthropists who contribute substantial sums of money to their missions. They are also assisted by leading virtual accounting firms in the US that help them manage their accounts with ease. When an organization receives money, it has a fiduciary responsibility to show donors the status of its financial resources. If you are a nonprofit that has just started, you have to be very clear about your financial statements from the word 'go.' What we are talking about here is - Concise, Clear, Accurate, and Auditable records. Every income and expense must tally, right down to the last number. There are reasons why we are emphasizing this:

  • To stay motivated, relevant, and accountable.
  • To conform to the rules and maintain your nonprofit status
  • To keep your audits and taxes in check.

Financial Statements Of A Nonprofit Organization

Running a nonprofit organization is no child's play. You are answerable to your donors, auditors, accountants, and board members. You need to be on top of the game with your financial report statements that showcase your revenue and expenses.

We list some of the most significant features below :

Since nonprofits do not have owners, there is no owner's equity or stockholders' equity and therefore no distributions to owners.

Some people mistakenly assume that if an organization is designated as a nonprofit, it cannot legally earn profits. In fact, having revenues in excess of expenses is almost a necessity for a nonprofit if it hopes to withstand such things as:

  • unexpected expenses
  • uneven flows of revenues
  • a decrease in revenues
  • rising costs due to inflation
  • an increase in staffing needs
  • an increase in the need for its services
  • the purchase or replacement of needed equipment
  • other needs since a nonprofit cannot issue shares of stock

Tax-Exempt Status

Nonprofit organizations may apply to the Internal Revenue Service in order to be exempt from federal income taxes.

You can learn more about the tax-exempt status for a nonprofit, the deductibility of contributions by donors, and the taxability of activities not directly related to a nonprofit's exempt purpose in the Internal Revenue Service Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization, which is available at no cost on IRS.gov.

Annual reporting

Your organization's annual report is the statement that mirrors your dedication to your cause and your astuteness in handling the finances. A transparent, well-balanced annual report can inspire and attract donors to support your organization.

Your annual report will have information relevant to your:

  • Finances that are not included in your basic financial statement.
  • Donors and the donations.
  • Activities, volunteer successes, and lobbying support.
  • Attendance records for fundraising or community events.

Streamline Your Financial Statements With Tickmarks

Perfect handling of your nonprofit's financial statements is key to keeping the entire system on track. It is a vital parameter that donors and grantmakers depend on to assess your missions and activities. Financial statements can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with their intricate nuances. Tickmarks' financial experts can help you with virtual bookkeeping and advisory services. We are happy to lend our support with our expertise. Get in touch

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Logo picture of Tickmarks
We deliver end-to-end accounting and bookkeeping solutions to small and medium businesses and enterprises worldwide and help you meet all your compliance and regulatory requirements.
Headquaters
India Office
Copyright © 2024 | TICKMARKS INC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED