Nonprofit Accounting & Bookkeeping for Organizations

Master fund accounting, grant tracking, compliance, and financial statements for nonprofit organizations

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

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