Nonprofit accounting,
without the jargon.

When a nonprofit must file Form 990-T, the three-part test for unrelated business income, the exclusions small groups qualify for, and a worked tax example.

Who can file Form 990-N, how the IRS decides gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less, the eight items it asks for, the due date, and what a missed year costs.

The invitation usually arrives politely. “Could you join us for the first twenty minutes? The board has a few questions about the financials.”

If you have been asked by your board to “get a few quotes” for nonprofit bookkeeping services, you already know the shape of the afternoon ahead:

A nonprofit gift acceptance policy tells you what to accept before the gift arrives — approval thresholds, Form 8283 and 8282, and how to say no.

Line-by-line Form 990 Schedule A instructions — Part I status lines, the 33 1/3% public support test with a worked example, the 2% rule, and what failing means.

How to write a nonprofit expense reimbursement policy that meets IRS accountable plan rules — the 30/60/120 timeline, receipt limits, and a copy-paste template.

A practical nonprofit compliance checklist — annual federal and state filings, a month-by-month calendar, and a free tool to find your state’s agencies.

What a nonprofit cash flow statement shows — a complete worked example, direct vs indirect methods, and the three numbers your board should read first.

Nonprofit bookkeeping explained — fund accounting basics, a monthly close checklist, a sample chart of accounts, real costs, and how books feed the 990.

How to become a nonprofit organization in 12 steps — state incorporation, Form 1023 costs and timelines, plus the first-year filings most guides skip.

How your 501(c)(3) fills out Form W-9 — the right tax classification, exempt payee code 1 — plus the new $2,000 1099 threshold that starts in 2026.