We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different finance use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & our accounting software review methodology. QuickBooks isn’t free for nonprofits, but significant discounts are available. Through TechSoup, eligible nonprofits can access QuickBooks Online for a minimal annual fee.
We selected QuickBooks Online as the most user-friendly online accounting software for nonprofits on our list, even though it’s not exclusively designed for this sector. Its versatility shines in its adaptability to the unique requirements of small nonprofit organizations. We chose Aplos as the top accounting software for nonprofits, recognizing its specialized design for nonprofit and church management. This software shines for medium-sized organizations, packed with features like donor and event management, CRM, and a website builder tailored for online fundraising.
NetSuite’s accounting software offers accounts receivable and payable, cash management, fixed asset management, a general ledger and tax management solutions. When we contacted a sales representative for a starting price, we were told there is no set starting price as each solution is uniquely catered to the NetSuite client. While Wave offers free plans, its payroll (tax services), transactions and bookkeeping and accounting support cost extra. Payroll services start at $20 per month and bookkeeping support starts at $149 per month.
Wix also offers a secure payment processing system, ensuring that all transactions are protected. Additionally, the platform provides real-time analytics, enabling you to monitor your campaign performance. Navigating the digital landscape for nonprofit organizations can be as challenging as finding the right tools to elevate your cause.
How to choose the Best Accounting Software for Nonprofits 2025 + Top Nonprofit Accountants
Nonprofit management software empowers organizations to streamline workflows, enhance donor engagement, and focus more on their mission-driven activities. By investing in custom nonprofit management software, organizations can streamline their operations, enhance donor engagement, and ultimately increase their impact within the communities they serve. Compliance with nonprofit accounting standards is a critical but often complicated step to nonprofit financial management. Using cloud-based solutions also enhances your nonprofit’s overall financial management. Cloud-based nonprofit accounting software uses offsite computing resources to simplify your nonprofit’s accounting process.
- Larger nonprofit organizations need enterprise-level software with advanced accounting features and large donor management databases.
- Proper training ensures your staff can fully utilize the software’s features.
- We like its straightforward design for users like volunteer church treasurers who don’t have extensive accounting backgrounds.
- Consider not just the upfront costs but also ongoing expenses like training, support, and upgrades.
- Bonterra offers features that particularly support nonprofits in connecting to corporate partners looking to donate to nonprofits.
Top Tech Tools for Nonprofits in 2025
They offer two different pricing levels, depending on the size of your nonprofit. Connect your Stripe Account to MoneyMinder PRO to directly download transactions, saving you time and effort. Connect your Venmo account to MoneyMinder PRO to directly download transactions, saving you time and effort. By simplifying complex tasks and offering real-time insights through intuitive dashboards, Knack empowers nonprofits to operate more efficiently and maximize their impact within the communities they serve. By leveraging such software, nonprofits can streamline processes, enhance donor engagement, and focus more effectively on mission-driven activities. Categorization of funds and expenses helps ensure accuracy and transparency.
Adminsoft Accounts offers one of the most comprehensive sets of free accounting features available. Springly offers an all-in-one solution for nonprofits, which can simplify workflows by keeping accounting, membership and event management under one roof. This can be especially useful for organizations that rely heavily on fundraising events or membership dues as a significant source of revenue.
Virtual events platforms for nonprofits
Moreover, nonprofits can install this solution on their workstation (Windows, Mac, and Linux). Let us help your business find the best tools and solutions to thrive and grow. Some of the links that appear on the website are from software companies from which CRM.org receives compensation. However, this doesn’t mean this software would be a good fit for every nonprofit organization out there. Accounts by Software 4 Nonprofits is the best nonprofit software for small businesses with basic needs.
This interconnectedness can streamline operations and provide a holistic view of the organization’s financial health. Moreover, cloud-based solutions can offer the added benefit of remote access, allowing staff to manage finances from anywhere, which is particularly advantageous in today’s increasingly digital world. Security features are also paramount, as sensitive financial data must be protected against unauthorized access and cyber threats. Nonprofit organizations often face unique financial challenges, needing to track donations, grants and other sources of income with transparency and accuracy. However, purchasing accounting software or hiring full-time accountants can be costly, especially for nonprofits operating on tight budgets. Thankfully, there are plenty of free nonprofit accounting software options designed specifically for these organizations.
- They cannot be redirected to other funds, such as missions or general maintenance.
- Zoho Books is an online accounting software designed for small businesses, providing features such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
- Unfortunately, this often comes with little to no training, and sometimes, the treasurer has no accounting experience at all.
- That’s why I’ve rounded up the best nonprofit accounting tools to help you save time, stay organized, and keep your mission moving forward.
Mistake: Mixing Personal and Church Funds
But registered best accounting software for nonprofits charities also have many needs that can only be met by this kind of solution. Of course, their requirements and goals are not the same as traditional businesses. Sage Intacct comes equipped with all the features nonprofits need to save time doing administrative tasks so they can focus on more important matters. For instance, this nonprofit budgeting software lets you automate fund, grant, revenue, and billing processes. If you’re not sure whether Wave Accounting is what you need, but you’d like free or cost-effective solutions, check out our list of best open source accounting software currently available. GnuCash allows for deep customization of accounting practices, making it a versatile tool for organizations with more complex financial needs.
Because nonprofits have unique challenges around budgeting and compliance, it’s crucial to pick software that aligns with your goals. If choosing a financial management platform sounds overwhelming (or incredibly boring), read on! We’re breaking down what to look for in nonprofit accounting software, highlighting the must-have features that can boost your operational efficiency, and sharing our picks for 2025. For nonprofits, it offers a comprehensive suite of cloud-based accounting software, including fund management, grant accounting, and spend tracking. It helps organizations streamline operations and stay on top of their finances. Aplos is a top choice for accounting software for nonprofit organizations, especially faith-based organizations.
Organizers can create event pages with built-in payment processing, customizable registration flows, and real-time analytics. The platform also offers promotional tools to enhance event visibility and integrates with various applications to streamline operations. Eventbrite’s mobile app enables organizers to manage events on the go, providing flexibility and convenience. Church bookkeeping is a way of tracking, organizing, and managing the church’s financial data to ensure accuracy, transparency, and good financial management.
Wave is a top choice for small to mid-sized nonprofits with budget concerns. It offers essential features like income and expense tracking and invoicing at no cost. Automatic bank transfer uploads keep financial data current and reduce errors.
You can also connect a bank account and FreshBooks will generate spending reports. Now that we’ve listed 13 of the best accounting software for nonprofit organizations, you should have a good idea of which one works best for you. The selected accounting software for nonprofit organizations shouldn’t work in isolation, it needs to integrate with the other tools your nonprofit relies on. Some tools cater primarily to businesses and may lack essential nonprofit-specific functionalities.
What are nonprofit accounting standards?
Features include unlimited invoicing, enabling nonprofits to efficiently manage donor contributions and fundraising efforts. Its expense tracking and categorization features help organizations monitor spending and maintain financial transparency. Additionally, ZipBooks provides real-time financial reporting, allowing nonprofits to generate up-to-date balance sheets and income statements for informed decision-making. FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and self-employed professionals, offering features such as invoicing, expense tracking, and time tracking. Transitioning to new software needs careful planning to ensure financial data meets nonprofit compliance.
With FastFund Online, you can dedicate more resources to fulfilling your mission by streamlining processes and sharing information across the entire organization. FastFund Online will help your nonprofit provide proper stewardship of funds, and demonstrate better accountability and transparency to help you be more sustainable. Daxko’s integration with Funraise seamlessly connects Funraise’s front-end fundraising tools with Daxko Operations, offering essential tools. For tracking budgets and financials across grants, programs, or multiple locations.
Typical small-business accounting revolves around profit—how much a company is making, spending, losing, and saving. In contrast, nonprofit accounting centers on tracking funds, including responsible oversight of fund management. Fund accounting software’s primary goal is to show you and your shareholders, namely board members and donors, exactly where their money is going. Intuit QuickBooks offers several plans, ranging from $35 to $235 per month ($17.50 to $117.50 per month for the first three months during the current promotion). Plan differences revolve around the number of users, customization options, inventory management, automations and expense tracking.
