There are many different types of accounting software for nonprofits to choose from. Not all accounting systems are created equally. It is important to understand how each type of accounting software for nonprofits works, what makes a good system, and how it will fit under your business model. By answering this question you will be able to identify the best nonprofit software for your organization.
The fiscal support of the general public is important for every nonprofit organization. When it comes to asking for contributions and donations, accounting software can help you make well-informed decisions when it comes to budgeting and tracking expenses and income.
Breeze
Make managing your church a breeze with Breeze Church Management Software. Breeze was designed specifically to be a functioning, affordable church management software option for small to medium-sized churches. Of all the church software we researched, Breeze offered the most modern UI, practical features, and affordable pricing. The software is also incredibly easy to use.
Since Breeze isn’t traditional accounting software, it lacks features such as expense tracking or payroll. However, Breeze does integrate with QuickBooks and Freshbooks. It also integrates with a number of other software and apps, including Slack and Toggl.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Supports unlimited users
Cons
- Not traditional accounting software
Breeze Features
Breeze offers great features that address the specific needs of churches very well. Here are some of the most notable features:
- Donation management
- Pledges
- Event management
- Event registration
- Children’s ministry check-in
- Contact management
- Volunteer management
- Contact groups
- Built-in emailing and texting
- Online giving
- Reports
- Year-end statements
- Print directories
- Custom forms
Breeze Pricing
Breeze has a simple pricing structure, with a single plan priced at just $50/month. This includes all features and supports unlimited users. There are no contracts or hidden fees. If you want to try before you buy, a demo is available on the company’s website.
Breeze is one of the best options for small to medium churches that you’ll find. It offers an impressive number of features that are beneficial to churches at one affordable price. And while it isn’t traditional accounting software, it does integrate with two of the top accounting software options on the market today, helping you manage your church and finances more effectively.
ACCOUNTS from Software4Nonprofits
For small organizations like churches or community organizations, we selected ACCOUNTS as the best accounting software. It’s affordable and easy to use, with all of the necessary features you need to track income and expenses and create reports.Pros
- 60-day free trial and 30-day money back guarantee
- The standard version costs just $130 for the first year
- The program can be used for the accounting of multiple organizations (up to 5) at no additional cost
Cons
- The desktop program can only be used on Windows
- You have to purchase a separate donation program to track donors
- Only one user can do data entry at a time with the standard version
ACCOUNTS through Software4Nonprofits is a program offered by Cooperstock Software, a small company based in Canada. The company was founded by the treasurer of a religious finance committee because he had difficulties finding software that met his needs. He created ACCOUNTS as an alternative to the more expensive and complex accounting programs available at the time.
ACCOUNTS is an easy-to-use platform designed specifically for small organizations and churches who need basic bookkeeping and accounting services. The program allows you to track income and expenses, track fund balances, associate accounts with lines on your IRS tax forms, and create detailed reports.
If you’re responsible for managing the accounting for multiple organizations, such as the school PTA and your child’s sports team, you can use the software to handle the accounting for both at no additional cost.
The standard version of ACCOUNTS is $130 for the first year. After that, it costs $65 per year. You can try ACCOUNTS for free for 60 days, and you can download the free version online. ACCOUNTS also has a 30-day guarantee if you purchase the program. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase and no longer intend to use it, the company will give you a full refund.
Unfortunately, ACCOUNTS was designed for Microsoft Windows and the desktop version is only available for that operating system. However, there is a cloud-based, browser version called OnDemand that works on most platforms including Mac. Under the standard version, only one user can do data entry at a time. If you upgrade to the local network version—which costs $220 for the first year—up to five users can access the database at once.
If you want to track donations and donor information, you’ll need to purchase additional software. Cooperstock Software offers another program called DONATIONS, which is free if you have 100 donors or less per year. Larger organizations will need the paid version of DONATIONS.
ACCOUNTS has a 4.7-star rating on Capterra.
Financial Edge by Blackbaud
For large organizations that want enterprise-level accounting, Financial Edge is the clear choice. It integrates with Raiser’s Edge, a program of choice for donor and constituent management, and allows you to track expenses and budget across fiscal years.Pros
- Cloud-based software that can be managed remotely
- Integrates with Raiser’s Edge donor management software
Cons
- Lack of pricing transparency on the site
Financial Edge is a product released by Blackbaud, a leading software company that caters to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. It serves millions of users in over a hundred countries worldwide.
For large nonprofit organizations that have significant accounting needs as well as employees and a large donor-base, Financial Edge can be an excellent fit and it’s our top choice for large organizations.
Financial Edge is a cloud-based program, so you can use it from any laptop. You can use Financial Edge to create budgets, track expenses, manage cash flow, and handle the general ledger. It has expanded budgeting capabilities, so you can forecast different scenarios and budget across fiscal years.
Financial Edge also integrates with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge, the gold-standard program for donor management and fundraising, so you can make sure your organization’s efforts are cohesive.
The pricing for Financial Edge was not readily available on the website, but Financial Edge has a 4.2-star rating on Capterra.
Sumac by Silent Partner
For nonprofit organizations that need customizable donation tracking and donor management tools, Sumac is our top choice in our review. With affordable pricing, free training sessions, and built-in email marketing, Sumac is a powerful fundraising tool.Pros
- Affordable pricing and different packages available
- Staff and volunteers can access databases simultaneously from anywhere
- Customizable donor profiles
Cons
- Does not include general accounting capabilities
- Implementation services and data migration may be an additional cost
- Additional training costs $150 per hour
Many small and midsize nonprofit organizations have excellent accounting software and keep their financials in good order, but need help when it comes to donor management and donation tracking. If you’re relying on multiple spreadsheets or outdated databases, Sumac can be an affordable upgrade that can streamline how you work with your constituents.
Sumac was launched in 2003 and supports thousands of nonprofit professionals around the world. In 2018, Sumac became part of Silent Partner Software Inc and is offered alongside other products like PartnerHR.
With Sumac’s fundraising program, staff can access critical data from anywhere, and they can view databases at the same time, so they always have the most up-to-date information. The program allows you to create customizable donor profiles so you can adjust fields to meet your organization’s needs.
Within Sumac, you can see each donor’s history with your organization, including past donations and communications. You can also create reminders to follow up with key donors.
Donation details can be converted into ledger entries and reports for your bookkeeper or accountant, and you can craft summarized annual giving reports.
The price for Sumac ranges from $35 per month to $250 and up per month, depending on your organization’s needs and number of records. Other services, like online donation acceptance, website management, and course registration require additional fees. With your fee, you get free training. If you need additional training, you’ll have to pay $150 per hour.
Sumac has a 4.3-star rating on Capterra
Araize FastFund Accounting
For organizations that want total remote access, Araize FastFund Accounting is our pick for the best cloud-based solution. It offers comprehensive accounting, fundraising, and payroll services and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.Pros
- You can choose one service or bundle all three
- Monthly training webinars and online video training included
- Can cancel anytime
Cons
- One-on-one training costs extra
- May not be intuitive if you don’t have an accounting background
- Reports not as customizable as they are on other programs
Araize has over 30 years of experience delivering software solutions to nonprofit organizations. With Araize FastFund Accounting, you can get access to a complete cloud-based system. Because FastFund Accounting runs on the cloud, you can access it from any web browser on any device, including Mac, PC, or tablets. You can get your software up and running within a day, and multiple users can use the software at once, making it an ideal cloud-based program.
With the FastFund Accounting platform, you can handle bank reconciliations, generate accounting reports, create budgets for each department and grant, and generate all the data you need to complete the IRS Form 990. The FastFund Accounting program is available for as little as $42 per month, and there is no setup fee. Also, you don’t have to commit to a contract; you can cancel at any time.
Araize offers two other programs you can purchase separately or bundle with the accounting program. With FastFund Fundraising, you can create detailed donor profiles, track cash, pledges, and in-kind gifts, and create customized donor receipts. When bundled with FastFund Accounting, FastFund Fundraising is available for as little as $20 per month, or $42 per month as a standalone product.
With FastFund Payroll, you can also manage your organization’s payroll. You can pay employees through direct deposit or check, allocate money for taxes, and file quarterly payroll taxes. FastFund Payroll starts at $66 per month.
While your fee includes monthly training webinars and online video training, one-on-one training sessions are an additional cost.
In reviews of Araize, many people say the program is robust and powerful. However, if you’re used to pricier programs like Financial Edge, you may find that the reports aren’t as customizable.
Araize has a 4.5-star rating on Capterra
Conclusion:
Nonprofit organizations and charities have different needs than those of a for-profit business. Nonprofits have different reporting requirements and usually have more diverse financial matters to oversee. You need accounting software that will allow you to accurately track donations, keep your books organized and up-to-date, showcase your finances to grantors and funders, provide transparency, and be flexible enough to adjust to the ever-changing titles within your organization’s staff structure.