A Training Experience Designed for Nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations often manage complex financial responsibilities while staying focused on the missions and communities they serve. On November 17, Widmer Roel will host Beyond the Numbers: Non-Profit Accounting, a complimentary half-day virtual training designed to provide nonprofit finance, accounting, and leadership professionals with practical guidance they can use within their organizations.
Topics Grounded in Everyday Challenges
The program brings together professionals from across Widmer Roel to address areas that can create challenges for nonprofit organizations, including Form 990 fundamentals and updates, month-end close, net assets and donor restrictions, grant revenue recognition, nonprofit financial statements under GAAP, and internal controls and fraud prevention.
The content was shaped around practical needs. Feedback collected from nonprofit professionals ahead of the event identified challenges ranging from grant tracking and reporting to month-end and year-end accounting, internal controls, financial reporting, compliance requirements, and operating without dedicated accounting expertise.
Connecting Financial Information to the Mission
Strong financial processes give nonprofit leaders better information for planning, decision-making, and carrying out their organization’s mission.
As Senior Manager of Widmer Roel’s Outsourced Accounting and Advisory practice, Nick Evin, CPA, works with nonprofit organizations to improve accounting workflows, strengthen internal controls, streamline month-end close responsibilities, and turn financial information into clearer insights for management and boards. His work includes outsourced accounting, controller, and fractional CFO services.
“A nonprofit’s mission and programs should remain at the center of its decision-making,” said Nick Evin, CPA. “Reliable financial information gives leaders a clearer picture of the resources available to support that work. Instead of reacting only to the expenses in front of them, they can plan ahead, evaluate program and staffing needs, anticipate cash-flow challenges, and make more confident decisions about future investments.”
Looking Beyond Basic Compliance
The sessions are designed to help attendees move beyond simply understanding accounting rules and requirements and consider how financial information can better serve their organizations and communicate their impact.
Troy Steele, CPA, is a Tax Manager at Widmer Roel who specializes in serving nonprofit organizations. He works closely with nonprofit clients on Form 990 and Form 990-T filings, governance disclosures, unrelated business income considerations, and other nonprofit tax compliance matters.
“While the Form 990 is required by the IRS to maintain an organization’s exempt status, it’s also a public document that can and should be used as a marketing tool to show donors and other readers what the organization has accomplished during the year,” said Troy Steele, CPA. “Organizations know their story better than the preparer or the reader. They should understand who their readers are and what information to include to maximize the benefit of the Form 990, rather than simply viewing it as a compliance requirement.”
Practical Guidance from Experienced Professionals
Throughout the training, presenters will share practical considerations nonprofit professionals can apply to their own financial processes. Participants will also have an opportunity to submit questions for the event’s panel discussion.
Investing in the Nonprofit Community
For Widmer Roel, the event is about more than covering technical accounting topics. It is an opportunity to share knowledge and support organizations serving communities through mission-driven work.
“At Widmer Roel, investing in the nonprofit community reflects the foundation of our core values,” said Managing Partner Randy Heller, CPA, CGMA. “We created this complimentary program to share practical insights, strengthen financial understanding, and equip organizations with the tools and updates they need to better serve their missions and communities.”
Continuing Beyond the Numbers Initiative
Beyond the Numbers: Non-Profit Accounting is part of Widmer Roel’s continued effort to share practical knowledge and resources with the communities we serve. By bringing together professionals with experience in nonprofit accounting, tax, financial reporting, internal controls, and advisory services, the training gives participants an opportunity to strengthen their financial knowledge and take practical ideas back to their organizations.
Ultimately, strong financial practices help nonprofit organizations make informed decisions, build confidence in their financial information, and remain focused on serving their missions and communities.