Whether you run a new nonprofit or your nonprofit has been around for years, I recommend that EVERY nonprofit implement and actively use these three manuals in their organizations:
- Accounting manual
- Employment manual
- General operations manual
The accounting manual will keep an organization in compliance with nonprofit specific Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), as well as protect its financial assets, and ensure that proper internal controls are in place. The contents of a nonprofit accounting manual generally includes:
- · Division of Duties
- · Cash Receipts Procedures
- · Cash Disbursements Procedures
- · Reconciliations
- · Petty Cash Fund
- · Purchases
- · Fixed Asset Management
- · Payroll
- · Financial Reporting
- · Grant Compliance
- · Fiscal Policy Statements
Sample Nonprofit Accounting Manual
Steps for Creating an Accounting Manual
- · Employment Policies
- · Leave from Work and Other Benefits
- · Vacation and Sick Leave
- · FMLA
- · Other state mandated policies
- · Conditions of Employment
- · Compensation and Other Administrative Matters
- · Grievance Policies
- · Verification of Receipt
- · At Will Employment Statement
Sample Employment Manual
Creating an Effective Employment Manual for Your Nonprofit
Personnel Policy Manuals
The operations manual will document critical organizational information and general operating procedures. This manual will also improve operational efficiency. The contents of an operations manual generally includes, but is not limited to:
- · Security Culture/Procedure
- · File Saving Procedure
- · Back Up Procedure
- · Marketing and communications Procedures
- · New Hire Procedure
- · Emergency/Evacuation Procedure
- · Fundraising Filing Procedure
- · Human Resource/Personnel Filing Procedure
- · Events Procedures
Operations Manual Template
Operations Manual Example
Operations Best Practices
I provided links to templates and examples so you can easily revise and personalize these manuals to your own nonprofit organization. The important thing is to involve the staff and key board members in the entire process from start to implementation.
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing such an important reminder. Most of the small nonprofits I work with do not have these systems in place.
In my work I have seen a great need for 'conflict of interest' and 'nepotism' language. A lot of start ups have family members as employees and/or board members. As the organization grows these types of practices can cause problems.
I'll certainly direct colleagues and clients to this blog entry!
Thanks for this post. I am starting a non-profit organization (charter school) and this is one of the most useful free resources I have come across. Kudos! Excellent!
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