Answers to the most common questions about nonprofit accounting software, fund accounting, donor management, fiscal sponsorship, church software, and more — sourced from our 388+ published articles.
Nonprofit accounting software is purpose-built to handle fund accounting, restricted gift tracking, FASB-compliant reporting, and donor integration. Unlike business accounting tools like QuickBooks, it tracks stewardship (how resources are used by purpose) rather than profit and loss.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
You can, but you'll hit limitations quickly. QuickBooks doesn't support true fund accounting, can't generate a Statement of Functional Expenses, and doesn't track restricted fund balances natively. Most nonprofits that start with QuickBooks eventually switch to purpose-built software as they grow.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
They're closely related. Fund accounting is the methodology — tracking resources by purpose rather than profit. Nonprofit accounting software is the tool that implements fund accounting along with other nonprofit-specific features like donor integration, Form 990 support, and grant tracking.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in annual donations) to $59-159/month (Aplos) to $500-2,000+/month (Blackbaud). Always compare the total cost — if the accounting software doesn't include CRM, email, and events, you'll pay for those separately.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
Fund accounting software is a specialized accounting system designed for nonprofits, governments, and other organizations that need to track resources by purpose rather than profit. It separates your finances into funds — each with its own restrictions, budgets, and reporting — so you always know exactly how donor and grant dollars are being used.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
QuickBooks is built for businesses that track profit and loss. Nonprofits need to track stewardship — how resources are used according to donor intent. QuickBooks uses 'classes' to approximate fund tracking, but it can't generate a Statement of Functional Expenses, track restricted fund balances in real time, or handle inter-fund transfers properly. Purpose-built fund accounting software handles all of this natively.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Regular (for-profit) accounting focuses on one bottom line: net income. Fund accounting tracks multiple 'bottom lines' — one for each fund. Every transaction is tagged to a specific fund, and the system tracks whether those funds are restricted or unrestricted. This ensures donor-restricted dollars are never spent on the wrong purpose.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations) to $59-159/month (Aplos) to $500-2,000+/month (Blackbaud Financial Edge). The real cost comparison should include CRM, email, and event tools if the accounting platform doesn't include them.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Fund accounting is a specialized accounting method that tracks resources by their intended purpose rather than by profit and loss. Each fund (restricted, unrestricted, temporarily restricted) has its own assets, liabilities, and balance. It ensures donor restrictions are honored and organizations can demonstrate accountability.
Regular accounting tracks profit and loss for business owners. Nonprofits don't have profit — they have stewardship obligations. Fund accounting ensures restricted gifts are used as intended, financial statements meet FASB requirements, and organizations can report to donors, grantors, and regulators on how every dollar was used.
The three main types are unrestricted funds (available for any purpose), temporarily restricted funds (designated for a specific purpose or time period), and permanently restricted funds (endowments where only the income can be used). FASB classifies these as net assets 'with donor restrictions' and 'without donor restrictions.'
The four core reports are: Statement of Financial Position (balance sheet), Statement of Activities (income statement), Statement of Functional Expenses (expenses by program vs. admin vs. fundraising), and Statement of Cash Flows. You also need fund-specific reports and donor impact statements.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
It's a report required by FASB that shows your expenses broken down by both function (program services, management, fundraising) and nature (salaries, rent, supplies, etc.). It's typically presented as a matrix and is required for audited financial statements.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Monthly for internal management (budget vs. actual, cash flow). Quarterly for board meetings. Annually for audits, Form 990, and donor reports. The key is closing your books monthly so reports are always based on accurate, reconciled data.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Yes. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint generates all four FASB-required statements automatically from your transaction data. It handles net asset classification, functional expense allocation, and liquidity disclosures — no manual spreadsheet work needed.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Restricted funds are donations or grants that come with specific conditions on how they can be used. Temporarily restricted funds are for a specific purpose or time period (e.g., a building campaign grant). Permanently restricted funds must be maintained in perpetuity, with only the income available for use (e.g., endowment principal).
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Misusing restricted funds can result in grant clawbacks (returning the money), loss of future funding, audit findings, damage to donor relationships, and in serious cases, legal consequences. Proper fund tracking software prevents this by tagging every transaction and alerting you before restricted funds are overspent.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Every transaction is tagged with a fund code. When a restricted gift is received, it's credited to that specific fund. When expenses are incurred, they're debited from the correct fund. The software maintains running balances and can generate fund-specific financial statements showing exactly how each restricted dollar was used.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Yes. FASB (ASC 958) requires nonprofits to classify net assets as either 'with donor restrictions' or 'without donor restrictions' on their Statement of Financial Position. You must also disclose the nature and amounts of restrictions in your financial statement notes.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Centralize all donor data in a CRM that tracks contact info, giving history, communications, and engagement. Automate thank-you emails and receipts. Segment donors by giving level and engagement for targeted outreach. The key is having one system where you can see every donor's complete relationship with your organization.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Yes. When your CRM and accounting are separate, you're maintaining two sets of records and manually reconciling them. An integrated system means every donation automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports — no double entry.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Monthly, at minimum. Bank reconciliation catches errors, prevents fraud, and ensures your financial reports are accurate. With software that imports bank transactions automatically, reconciliation takes minutes instead of hours.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
At minimum: a balance sheet, income statement (statement of activities), and budget vs. actual report. Many boards also want a cash flow statement, fund balance summary, and program expense breakdown. These should be generated monthly or quarterly.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Grant management software helps nonprofits track grant applications, budgets, spending, deadlines, and compliance requirements in one system. It replaces spreadsheets and manual tracking with automated reminders, real-time budget monitoring, and funder-ready reports.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
If you manage even one or two grants, dedicated software saves time and reduces compliance risk. Spreadsheets work until you miss a deadline or overspend a restricted fund. Most small nonprofits benefit from a platform that combines grant tracking with fund accounting.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
The best grant management tools are built into your accounting system. When you record an expense against a grant, it automatically updates the grant budget, the general ledger, and your financial reports. Alignmint handles this natively — no syncing or imports needed.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
Fund accounting tracks all restricted and unrestricted funds across your organization. Grant management is a subset — it focuses specifically on tracking grant budgets, spending, deliverables, and funder reporting requirements. You need both, and they work best when they're in the same system.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
Many nonprofits still use Excel spreadsheets, but purpose-built tools like Alignmint, Aplos, and Sage Intacct offer fund-specific budgeting with real-time tracking. The best tools integrate budgeting with your accounting system so budget vs. actual reports generate automatically.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Start with prior year actuals, estimate revenue (donations, grants, earned income), allocate expenses by program and function, build in contingency reserves, get board approval, then monitor monthly. The key is tracking by fund — each restricted fund and grant should have its own budget.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Yes. Each restricted fund and grant should have its own budget line items. This ensures you don't overspend restricted money and can report accurately to grantors. Fund-level budgeting is a core feature of nonprofit accounting software.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Monthly, at minimum. Review budget vs. actual for each program and fund. Flag any categories where spending exceeds 90% of budget. Adjust projections quarterly based on actual revenue and expense trends.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Fund tracking software helps nonprofits monitor how money is allocated and spent across different funds — general operating, restricted, temporarily restricted, endowment, and program-specific. It ensures donor restrictions are honored, grant budgets aren't overspent, and fund balances are accurate in real time.
Fund tracking is one component of fund accounting. Fund accounting is the complete financial management system for nonprofits — including the chart of accounts, journal entries, financial statements, and reporting. Fund tracking specifically refers to monitoring fund balances, restrictions, and spending against budgets.
QuickBooks can approximate fund tracking using classes or locations, but it wasn't designed for it. You can't easily generate fund-specific financial statements, track restricted vs. unrestricted balances, or prevent overspending of restricted funds. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software handles this natively.
Every transaction is tagged with a fund code. When a restricted gift is received, it's credited to that specific fund. When expenses are incurred against that fund, they're debited from it. The software maintains a running balance for each fund and can alert you if spending approaches the restriction limit.
Staff costs are typically 60-80% of a nonprofit's budget. Without payroll integration, someone manually enters payroll journal entries every pay period — allocating salaries across funds, programs, and grants. Integration automates this, eliminating errors and saving hours per month.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Staff who work on grant-funded programs must have their salary and benefits allocated to the correct grant budget. This is typically done by percentage (e.g., 50% to Grant A, 30% to Grant B, 20% to general operations) based on time tracking. Payroll integration automates these allocations.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Common providers include Gusto, ADP, and Paychex. The key is whether the payroll provider integrates with your accounting system to automatically post journal entries with fund allocations. All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include payroll integration natively.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Yes. While nonprofits are exempt from income tax, they must withhold and remit employee payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, federal and state income tax). Some states exempt 501(c)(3) organizations from state unemployment tax (SUTA), but federal unemployment tax (FUTA) exemption applies to most 501(c)(3)s.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Nonprofit grant management encompasses the entire lifecycle of grant funding — from identifying opportunities through application, award, implementation, and reporting. It includes tracking spending against grant budgets, maintaining compliance documentation, and filing required reports.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Nonprofits track grant spending by assigning each grant its own fund in their accounting system. Every expense charged to the grant is tagged with the fund code, maintaining a running balance. Fund accounting software generates grant-specific financial reports showing exactly how each dollar was used.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software with fund accounting handles grant tracking natively. Each grant gets its own fund with budget tracking, spending alerts, and compliance reporting. Alignmint includes grant management alongside donor CRM and volunteer tools in one platform.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) sets the accounting rules nonprofits must follow. The key standard is ASC 958, which governs how nonprofits classify net assets, report functional expenses, disclose liquidity, and present financial statements. Compliance is required for audited financials and expected by grantors and donors.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
FASB requires nonprofits to classify net assets as either 'with donor restrictions' (funds restricted by donors for specific purposes or time periods) or 'without donor restrictions' (funds available for general use). This replaced the old three-category system of unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
Yes. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint generates FASB-compliant statements automatically — including net asset classification, functional expense allocation, and liquidity disclosures. Generic software like QuickBooks doesn't support these nonprofit-specific requirements natively.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
When CRM and accounting are separate, every donation gets entered twice — once in the CRM and once in the ledger. This creates double work, reconciliation headaches, and discrepancies between your donor reports and financial statements. An integrated system records each gift once and updates everything automatically.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Sometimes. Some CRM-accounting pairs have native integrations (e.g., Bloomerang + QuickBooks). You can also use Zapier or custom APIs. But these integrations are often fragile — they break when either vendor updates their software, they sync in batches (not real-time), and they can't handle complex scenarios like split gifts across multiple funds.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Alignmint is the most modern option — it combines donor CRM, fund accounting, volunteer management, event planning, and marketing in one platform. Every donation automatically updates the donor profile, creates the journal entry, and assigns the gift to the correct fund.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Most nonprofits report saving 15-25 hours per month when they switch from separate CRM and accounting to an integrated platform. That's the time previously spent on double data entry, reconciliation, and manual report generation.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software integrates all your core systems — accounting, CRM, fundraising, volunteer management, events, and reporting — into one platform. For nonprofits, this means fund accounting, donor management, grant tracking, and financial reporting all share the same database.
The term 'ERP' sounds enterprise-only, but the concept applies to any nonprofit using 3+ disconnected tools. If you have separate software for accounting, CRM, and email, you're dealing with data silos that an integrated platform would eliminate. Alignmint provides ERP-level integration at a price small nonprofits can afford — including a free Starter plan.
Traditional enterprise ERPs (Blackbaud, Sage Intacct) cost $10,000-$100,000+ per year. Modern cloud-based platforms like Alignmint offer the same integration at a fraction of the cost — free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations, with Pro plans for larger organizations.
Functionally, they're very similar. 'ERP' traditionally refers to enterprise systems with complex implementation. 'All-in-one' describes modern cloud platforms that provide the same integration but with simpler setup and lower cost. Alignmint is an all-in-one platform that delivers ERP-level functionality.
The best accounting program for nonprofits includes fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, and Form 990 support. Alignmint offers all of these with a free Starter plan for organizations up to $100K in annual donations.
QuickBooks can handle basic bookkeeping, but it lacks fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit-specific financial statements. Most nonprofits outgrow QuickBooks quickly and switch to purpose-built nonprofit accounting software.
Nonprofit bookkeeping software handles day-to-day financial tasks like recording transactions, reconciling bank accounts, managing accounts payable and receivable, and generating basic reports. Modern nonprofit software combines bookkeeping with higher-level accounting functions like fund tracking and financial statements.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Yes. Every transaction in a nonprofit potentially affects multiple funds. When you record a donation, you need to know which fund receives it, whether it's restricted, and if it relates to a specific grant. Generic bookkeeping tools like Wave or QuickBooks don't handle this natively.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions — data entry, bank reconciliation, receipt management. Accounting is the higher-level work — financial statements, budgeting, analysis, and compliance reporting. Modern nonprofit software like Alignmint combines both in one platform.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Nonprofit financial software encompasses the tools organizations use to manage their complete financial picture — from daily transactions and fund accounting to budgeting, financial reporting, and strategic planning. It's designed for the unique requirements of mission-driven organizations.
Business software optimizes for profit tracking. Nonprofit financial software optimizes for stewardship — tracking restricted funds, generating FASB-compliant statements, supporting Form 990 preparation, and reporting on program effectiveness. The regulatory environment and reporting requirements are fundamentally different.
Essential features include fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, Form 990 support, grant management, budgeting with budget-vs-actual reporting, donor management, and audit-ready record keeping. The best platforms also include CRM, volunteer tools, and event management.
For small nonprofits, Alignmint offers the best combination of features and price — it's free for organizations up to $100K in annual donations and includes true fund accounting, donor management, and financial reporting. Aplos is another option if you only need accounting, but it charges $59+/month and doesn't include CRM or volunteer tools.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
You can, but it's not ideal. QuickBooks doesn't support fund accounting natively — it uses 'classes' which aren't the same as true funds. You can't track restricted vs. unrestricted balances properly, and your financial statements won't meet nonprofit accounting standards without significant manual adjustments.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Yes. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits with up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donor CRM, and financial reporting. Wave is free but designed for small businesses, not nonprofits — it lacks fund accounting and donor management entirely.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Yes. If you receive any restricted gifts, grants, or designated donations, you're required to track them separately from general operating funds. This is a nonprofit accounting standard, not optional. Fund accounting software makes this automatic instead of manual.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Cloud-based fund accounting software runs on remote servers and is accessed via the internet — no software to install or servers to maintain. It tracks restricted, unrestricted, and temporarily restricted funds, generates FASB-compliant reports, and lets your team access financials from any device.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Yes. Leading cloud providers offer enterprise-grade security including 256-bit encryption, SOC 2 compliance, automatic backups, and multi-factor authentication. Cloud accounting is generally more secure than on-premise software because the provider handles security updates and monitoring 24/7.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Cloud software is accessed via the internet from any device, updates automatically, and requires no IT infrastructure. On-premise software is installed on your computers, requires manual updates and backups, and can only be accessed from the office. Cloud is cheaper, more accessible, and more secure for most nonprofits.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $39-$200/month for platforms like Aplos or QuickBooks. Enterprise solutions like Sage Intacct or Blackbaud Financial Edge can cost $10,000-$50,000+/year. Cloud pricing is typically subscription-based with no upfront hardware costs.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Most churches use either QuickBooks (which lacks fund accounting), a church-specific tool like ChurchTrac or Aplos, or an all-in-one platform like Alignmint that combines accounting with donor management, volunteer tools, and event planning. The right choice depends on your church's size and complexity.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Yes. Churches receive designated gifts (building fund, missions, youth ministry) that must be tracked separately from general tithes and offerings. Fund accounting tracks each fund with its own balance and restrictions. Without it, you risk spending restricted money on the wrong things — which is a compliance violation.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
You can, but it's not ideal. QuickBooks doesn't support fund accounting natively. It uses 'classes' which can't track true fund balances or restrictions. Your financial statements won't be formatted for nonprofit reporting, and you'll need separate software for donor management and giving statements.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Church accounting software with built-in donor management can generate IRS-compliant giving statements automatically. The system pulls each donor's total giving for the year, formats it with your church's EIN and the required tax language, and lets you email or print statements in bulk.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Aplos pricing starts at ~$39/month for the Lite plan (basic accounting only). The Core plan (~$59/month) adds donor management and online giving. The Advanced plan (~$79+/month) includes full reporting. There's no free tier — unlike Alignmint which is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Yes. Aplos offers true fund accounting with restricted and unrestricted fund tracking, which is a significant advantage over QuickBooks. However, its reporting is more limited than enterprise tools, and high-volume organizations may find it struggles with large transaction counts.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Limited scalability for high-volume organizations, basic CRM features compared to dedicated donor management tools, reporting that may require manual exports for advanced analysis, no built-in payroll, and some third-party integrations require workarounds.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Alignmint is the closest alternative — it also combines fund accounting and donor management in one platform, but adds volunteer management, event tools, advanced email marketing, and AI-powered insights. It also has a free Starter plan. Bloomerang is a CRM-only alternative with stronger donor analytics but no accounting.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
QuickBooks can handle basic bookkeeping for nonprofits, but it wasn't designed for fund accounting. It can't natively track restricted vs. unrestricted funds, generate FASB-compliant financial statements, produce donor giving statements, or manage grant budgets. Most nonprofits using QuickBooks rely on workarounds and spreadsheets to fill these gaps.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
No true fund accounting. QuickBooks tracks income and expenses, but it doesn't support the fund-based accounting that nonprofits need to track restricted gifts, grant budgets, and net asset classifications. You can approximate it with classes, but it's error-prone and doesn't generate proper nonprofit financial statements.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
Export your chart of accounts, transactions, and contacts from QuickBooks as CSV files. Import them into your new platform. Set up your fund structure and map accounts to the correct funds. Most purpose-built platforms like Alignmint offer migration support to make the transition smooth.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
For nonprofits, yes. Alignmint includes fund accounting, donor CRM, online giving, volunteer management, and grant tracking in one platform. QuickBooks requires separate add-ons or tools for each of these functions. Alignmint also has a free Starter plan for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
QuickBooks was designed for businesses that track profit and loss. Nonprofits need fund accounting — tracking restricted, unrestricted, and temporarily restricted funds separately. QuickBooks lacks fund-level financial statements, restricted fund enforcement, and Form 990 mapping.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint includes fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, and Form 990 support. Alignmint also adds donor CRM, volunteer management, and event tools in one platform with a free Starter plan.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
QuickBooks generates Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports designed for businesses. It cannot generate the Statement of Activities, Statement of Financial Position, or Statement of Functional Expenses required by FASB for nonprofits without significant manual workarounds.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
AI in nonprofit accounting is used for natural language data queries (ask questions about your finances in plain English), automated transaction categorization, anomaly detection, and generating narrative board reports from financial data.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
No. AI is a tool that makes your team faster, not a replacement for financial expertise. It can surface data and flag issues, but it cannot make judgment calls about accounting treatment, interpret complex FASB standards, or represent your organization in an audit.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
When implemented properly, yes. Look for platforms with org-level data isolation, role-based AI responses, no training on your data, and real-time processing. Alignmint's Minty AI respects your permission model and never uses your data to train AI models.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
AI nonprofit accounting software combines traditional fund accounting capabilities — restricted fund tracking, Form 990 reporting, FASB-compliant statements — with AI features like natural language queries, automated transaction categorization, and anomaly detection. The key difference from generic AI tools is that it understands fund accounting.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Alignmint is the most complete AI nonprofit accounting platform, with built-in Minty AI that queries your actual financial data. It includes fund accounting, donor CRM, and AI features in one system with a free Starter plan. Generic tools like QuickBooks AI don't understand funds, grants, or Form 990.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Yes. AI that understands your chart of accounts can check for missing data across Form 990 line items, flag incomplete sections, and suggest corrections — reducing preparation time and the back-and-forth with your CPA at year-end.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Multi-entity nonprofit accounting is the practice of managing financial records, reporting, and compliance for multiple nonprofit organizations from a single platform. Instead of running separate accounting systems for each entity, a multi-entity approach keeps each organization's data private while giving administrators a consolidated view across all entities.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
QuickBooks requires a separate account and subscription for each nonprofit entity. Managing 15 organizations means 15 logins, 15 bills, and no consolidated reporting. Some organizations use QuickBooks 'classes' as a workaround, but this creates compliance risk because there is no true data isolation between entities.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
Multi-fund accounting tracks multiple restricted and unrestricted funds within a single organization — for example, a building fund and a scholarship fund. Multi-entity accounting manages separate organizations, each with their own complete set of books, donors, and operations. A fiscal sponsor needs both: multi-entity to separate each sponsored nonprofit, and multi-fund within each entity to track restricted gifts.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
Fiscal sponsors typically manage accounting for multiple organizations using one of three approaches: separate accounts per entity (expensive and disconnected), a single account with classes or departments (risky and messy), or purpose-built multi-entity nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint that provides true data isolation, consolidated reporting, and automatic fee allocation from one account.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
QuickBooks was designed for businesses that track profit and loss. Churches need fund accounting — separate tracking of restricted funds like building campaigns, missions, and benevolence. QuickBooks classes don't enforce restrictions, maintain separate balances, or generate fund-level financial statements.
Fund accounting is an accounting method that tracks money by purpose rather than by profit. Each fund (general, building, missions, benevolence) has its own assets, liabilities, and balance. When a member designates a gift for the building fund, fund accounting ensures that money is tracked and used only for that purpose.
Alignmint offers true fund accounting designed for churches — with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, automatic fund balance tracking, and donation tracking with year-end giving statements. The Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations.
Multi-campus churches need software that gives each location its own giving records, expenses, volunteers, and fund balances while providing the central office with consolidated financial statements, unified donor records, and cross-campus reporting. Purpose-built multi-entity platforms handle this natively.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
Yes. Alignmint's multi-entity architecture lets each campus operate independently with its own data while giving the central office a consolidated view. Campus pastors see only their location's data. The executive team sees everything. No separate accounts or manual consolidation needed.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
No. Separate accounting systems create data silos, require manual consolidation, and make cross-campus reporting impossible. Multi-entity platforms like Alignmint manage all campuses from one account with true data isolation and one-click consolidated reporting.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
A nonprofit CRM with accounting is a single platform that combines donor management (tracking gifts, relationships, and communications) with fund accounting (tracking revenue by fund, generating financial statements, and preparing Form 990 reports). Instead of using separate tools for each function, everything lives in one system.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Historically, no single platform did both well. CRM vendors focused on donor relationships while accounting vendors focused on financial compliance. Nonprofits cobbled together stacks — Bloomerang plus QuickBooks, DonorPerfect plus Aplos — because there wasn't a better option. That's changing.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Most nonprofits report saving 15-25 hours per month when they switch from separate systems to a unified platform. That time was previously spent on double data entry, reconciliation between systems, and manually generating reports that pull from multiple sources.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines donor CRM, fund accounting, volunteer management, event ticketing, marketing tools, and AI in one platform. Every donation automatically updates the donor profile and creates the journal entry. Free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint supports data imports from most major CRM and accounting platforms. You can upload spreadsheets of donor records, giving history, and financial data. The setup team helps with migration at no extra cost.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines fund accounting, donor CRM, and volunteer management in a single platform. Most competitors focus on one or two of these areas, forcing nonprofits to buy and maintain separate tools.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Historically, software vendors specialized. CRM companies built donor tools. Accounting companies built financial tools. Volunteer platforms built scheduling tools. No one built all three together because it's technically complex. Alignmint was designed from day one to unify all three.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
A typical stack costs $250-450 per month: $99+ for a CRM like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect, $30-99 for accounting like QuickBooks or Aplos, and $0-50 for volunteer management like SignUpGenius. That doesn't include the 15-25 hours per month your team spends syncing data between them.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Yes. Most platforms support CSV imports for donor records, financial data, and volunteer lists. Alignmint's setup team helps with migration at no extra cost, including data cleanup and field mapping.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Nonprofit vendor management software helps organizations track the companies and contractors they pay — vendor profiles, tax IDs (EIN/SSN) for 1099 reporting, payment terms, and expenditure history. When integrated with fund accounting, vendor payments are automatically tracked by fund, account, and program.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
Yes. Nonprofits must issue IRS Form 1099-NEC to unincorporated vendors (sole proprietors, LLCs, partnerships) paid $600 or more during the tax year for services. This includes contractors, consultants, freelancers, and some service providers. Vendor management software that stores tax IDs and tracks expenditure totals simplifies 1099 preparation.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
When vendor profiles are integrated with your accounting system, every expense and bill payment is linked to a specific vendor. This creates automatic expenditure totals for 1099 reporting, proper fund assignment for restricted spending, and complete audit trails from payment to vendor to general ledger.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
Nonprofit CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) software centralizes all your donor and supporter data — contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement. It's designed for nonprofit workflows like gift tracking, receipting, segmentation, and stewardship automation.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Business CRMs track sales pipelines and customer revenue. Nonprofit CRMs track donations, pledges, fund designations, giving statements, and donor stewardship. A business CRM like HubSpot or Salesforce can be adapted for nonprofits, but purpose-built nonprofit CRMs work out of the box.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Ideally, yes. When CRM and accounting are separate, every donation gets entered twice and you spend hours reconciling. An integrated platform like Alignmint records each gift once and automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter) to $99-$500/month (Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Virtuous) to $10,000-$50,000+/year (Blackbaud, Salesforce). Always compare the total cost including accounting software, email tools, and event platforms if the CRM doesn't include them.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Donor management software (also called a nonprofit CRM) centralizes all your donor data — contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement — in one system. It automates thank-you emails, generates giving statements, and provides analytics to help you raise more and retain donors longer.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
In the nonprofit world, they're essentially the same thing. A CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) tracks all your relationships — donors, volunteers, members, and contacts. Donor management software is a CRM focused specifically on fundraising workflows like gift tracking, receipting, and stewardship.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $99-$500+/month for platforms like Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or Virtuous. Enterprise platforms like Blackbaud or Salesforce can cost $10,000-$50,000+ per year. The real cost comparison should include accounting software if the CRM doesn't include it.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Ideally, yes. When your CRM and accounting are separate systems, every donation gets entered twice and you spend hours reconciling. An integrated platform like Alignmint records each gift once and automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Centralize all donor data in a CRM that tracks contact info, giving history, communications, and engagement. Automate thank-you emails and receipts. Segment donors by giving level and engagement for targeted outreach. The key is having one system where you can see every donor's complete relationship with your organization.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Yes. When your CRM and accounting are separate, you're maintaining two sets of records and manually reconciling them. An integrated system means every donation automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports — no double entry.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Monthly, at minimum. Bank reconciliation catches errors, prevents fraud, and ensures your financial reports are accurate. With software that imports bank transactions automatically, reconciliation takes minutes instead of hours.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
At minimum: a balance sheet, income statement (statement of activities), and budget vs. actual report. Many boards also want a cash flow statement, fund balance summary, and program expense breakdown. These should be generated monthly or quarterly.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Donor database software is a specialized tool that stores, organizes, and analyzes information about your nonprofit's donors and supporters. It tracks contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement — giving you a complete picture of each donor's relationship with your organization.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
A donor database focuses on storing and organizing donor information. A CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) goes further with communication tools, stewardship automation, and relationship management features. Most modern platforms combine both — Alignmint includes donor database, CRM, and fund accounting in one system.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $99-$500+/month for platforms like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect. Enterprise solutions like Blackbaud can cost $5,000-$50,000+/year. Compare the total cost including any separate accounting or email tools you'd need.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Yes. Most donor database platforms accept CSV imports. You can upload your donor list, giving history, and custom fields. Alignmint's import tool maps your spreadsheet columns to database fields automatically. It's a good opportunity to clean up duplicates and outdated records.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Online donation software lets nonprofits accept gifts through their website or custom donation pages. It handles payment processing, receipt generation, recurring gift management, and donor data — then syncs everything with your CRM and accounting system.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Most platforms charge a monthly fee plus a per-transaction fee (typically 2.2-3.5% + $0.30 per transaction). Some platforms like Alignmint include online giving as part of their all-in-one subscription with no additional monthly fee for the donation page itself.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Three things have the biggest impact: a mobile-friendly donation page with minimal form fields, suggested giving amounts (anchored to your average gift size), and a prominent recurring giving option. Nonprofits that offer recurring giving see 2-3x higher lifetime donor value.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Absolutely. If online gifts don't flow automatically into your accounting system, someone has to enter them manually — which creates delays, errors, and reconciliation headaches. The best platforms record the donation, update the donor profile, and create the journal entry in one step.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Donor stewardship is the process of building and maintaining relationships with your supporters after they give. It includes thanking donors promptly, keeping them informed about impact, recognizing their contributions, and inviting continued engagement. Good stewardship is the single biggest factor in donor retention.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
The average nonprofit loses 50-60% of first-time donors. Good stewardship dramatically improves retention. It costs 5-10x more to acquire a new donor than to retain an existing one, and loyal donors give more over time — often including your organization in their estate plans.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
Automated thank-you emails triggered by gift entry, donor journey tracking (first gift to major donor), personalized segmentation, task reminders for personal outreach, impact reporting tools, and recognition tracking. The best platforms integrate stewardship with CRM and accounting so everything is connected.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
Within 48 hours, ideally instantly. Automated thank-you emails should send immediately when a gift is recorded. For major donors ($1,000+), follow up with a personal phone call within a week. Speed of acknowledgment is one of the strongest predictors of whether a donor will give again.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
A donor-ready financial report is a clear, visual summary of how your nonprofit used donor funds. Unlike internal accounting reports, donor reports focus on outcomes and impact — showing donors what their gifts accomplished, with easy-to-understand charts and personalized fund-specific details.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
At minimum, annually (often paired with year-end giving statements). Major donors and grantors typically expect quarterly reports. Some organizations send brief impact updates monthly via email. The key is consistency — set a schedule and stick to it.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
An executive summary, program highlights with outcomes data, a financial summary showing revenue and expenses by program, fund-specific reporting for restricted gifts, and a thank-you with an invitation to stay engaged. Use visuals — charts and photos — not dense tables.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
Yes. Platforms like Alignmint that combine donor CRM and fund accounting can generate personalized donor reports automatically — pulling each donor's giving history, the funds they supported, and how those funds were used. This turns a weeks-long manual process into minutes.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
When CRM and accounting are separate, every donation gets entered twice — once in the CRM and once in the ledger. This creates double work, reconciliation headaches, and discrepancies between your donor reports and financial statements. An integrated system records each gift once and updates everything automatically.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Sometimes. Some CRM-accounting pairs have native integrations (e.g., Bloomerang + QuickBooks). You can also use Zapier or custom APIs. But these integrations are often fragile — they break when either vendor updates their software, they sync in batches (not real-time), and they can't handle complex scenarios like split gifts across multiple funds.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Alignmint is the most modern option — it combines donor CRM, fund accounting, volunteer management, event planning, and marketing in one platform. Every donation automatically updates the donor profile, creates the journal entry, and assigns the gift to the correct fund.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
Most nonprofits report saving 15-25 hours per month when they switch from separate CRM and accounting to an integrated platform. That's the time previously spent on double data entry, reconciliation, and manual report generation.
From: CRM with Accounting Integration: All-in-One Nonprofit Management
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software integrates all your core systems — accounting, CRM, fundraising, volunteer management, events, and reporting — into one platform. For nonprofits, this means fund accounting, donor management, grant tracking, and financial reporting all share the same database.
The term 'ERP' sounds enterprise-only, but the concept applies to any nonprofit using 3+ disconnected tools. If you have separate software for accounting, CRM, and email, you're dealing with data silos that an integrated platform would eliminate. Alignmint provides ERP-level integration at a price small nonprofits can afford — including a free Starter plan.
Traditional enterprise ERPs (Blackbaud, Sage Intacct) cost $10,000-$100,000+ per year. Modern cloud-based platforms like Alignmint offer the same integration at a fraction of the cost — free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations, with Pro plans for larger organizations.
Functionally, they're very similar. 'ERP' traditionally refers to enterprise systems with complex implementation. 'All-in-one' describes modern cloud platforms that provide the same integration but with simpler setup and lower cost. Alignmint is an all-in-one platform that delivers ERP-level functionality.
CRM donor management is the practice of using a Customer Relationship Management system to track donor interactions, giving history, communication preferences, and engagement. It centralizes all supporter data so your team can build stronger relationships and make data-driven fundraising decisions.
Ideally, yes. When CRM and accounting are separate, donations recorded in your CRM don't automatically create journal entries in your books. Integrated platforms like Alignmint connect every gift to both the donor record and the correct fund — eliminating double entry and reconciliation errors.
Nonprofit donor management is the practice of cultivating meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters. It goes beyond tracking gifts to understanding donor motivations, communicating effectively, and creating experiences that inspire continued generosity.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
The key drivers of donor retention are timely thank-yous (within 48 hours), regular impact reporting, personalized communication, and making donors feel like partners in your mission. Organizations that prioritize relationships over transactions typically achieve 60-70% retention vs. the 45% average.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
Donor management software (nonprofit CRM) centralizes supporter data, tracks interactions, automates communications, and provides analytics. Alignmint combines donor management with fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform with a free Starter plan.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
Donor management is the practice of cultivating meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters. It includes tracking giving history, managing communications, segmenting donors for targeted outreach, and measuring retention — all with the goal of increasing donor lifetime value.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
The average nonprofit donor retention rate is around 45%. Organizations with strong donor management practices — timely thank-yous, impact reporting, and personalized communication — typically achieve 60-70% retention. Every 10% improvement in retention can significantly increase lifetime revenue.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
Nonprofits use donor management software (also called nonprofit CRM) to centralize supporter data, track interactions, automate communications, and analyze giving patterns. Alignmint combines donor management with fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
Donation management software is a specialized tool that helps nonprofits track, process, and report on charitable contributions. It records donor information, gift amounts, fund designations, and payment methods — and generates tax receipts, acknowledgment letters, and fundraising reports.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
The best donation management software does. When a gift is recorded, it should automatically create the corresponding journal entry in your fund accounting system — crediting the correct fund and updating your financial statements in real time. Alignmint handles this natively.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
Essential features include gift entry and batch processing, automatic tax receipt generation, pledge tracking, recurring gift management, fund designation, donor communication tools, and reporting. Integration with fund accounting is critical to avoid double data entry.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
Donor manager software is a database system designed for charitable organizations that stores donor contact information, records giving history, tracks interactions, and helps manage relationships at scale. It's also called donor management software or nonprofit CRM.
Pricing varies widely. Basic tools start at $50-100/month, mid-tier platforms run $100-300/month, and enterprise solutions cost $500+/month. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan that includes donor management alongside fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management.
Ideally, yes. When donor management and accounting are in the same platform, every gift automatically creates a journal entry in the correct fund. This eliminates double data entry, reduces errors, and gives you a complete picture of each donor's financial relationship with your organization.
A nonprofit CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is a database platform that centralizes information about donors, volunteers, members, and other supporters. It tracks interactions, giving history, communications, and engagement to help your team build stronger relationships and raise more money.
Pricing ranges from free (Alignmint Starter) to $500+/month for enterprise platforms like Virtuous or Blackbaud. Mid-tier options like Bloomerang and DonorPerfect run $100-300/month. The total cost should include any separate accounting software you need, since most CRMs don't include it.
Donor tracking software records and monitors every gift and interaction with your supporters. It answers the question: who gave what, when, and why? It tracks giving history, communication touchpoints, event attendance, and engagement — helping you identify trends and optimize fundraising.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Donation tracking focuses on the gifts themselves — amounts, dates, funds, and receipts. Donor tracking focuses on the people — their giving patterns, engagement history, communication preferences, and relationship with your organization. The best software does both.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Yes. By tracking giving patterns, you can identify at-risk donors (those whose giving frequency or amount is declining), lapsed donors (who haven't given recently), and upgrade candidates (who are giving more over time). This data drives targeted outreach that improves retention.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Donation tracking software automates the process of recording, categorizing, and reporting on charitable gifts. It tracks who gave, how much, when, to which fund, and through what channel — then generates receipts, acknowledgments, and reports automatically.
Yes. Purpose-built donation tracking software automatically generates IRS-compliant tax receipts and year-end giving statements. It includes the donor's name, gift amount, date, and a statement about whether goods or services were provided in exchange.
Absolutely. When donation tracking is separate from accounting, someone must manually enter every gift into your books — matching it to the correct fund, donor, and account. Integrated platforms like Alignmint create the journal entry automatically when a gift is recorded.
Membership software helps nonprofits track dues-paying members alongside traditional donors. It manages member records, dues payments, renewal cycles, benefits, and engagement — providing a complete picture of your supporter relationships.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
Members pay dues in exchange for benefits (access, discounts, community). Donors make charitable gifts with no expectation of return. Many nonprofits have both, and the best software tracks both relationships in one system so you can see the full picture.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
Ideally, yes. Membership dues often have different accounting treatment than donations — dues may not be tax-deductible, while donations are. Integrated platforms like Alignmint handle both correctly, creating the right journal entries for each transaction type.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
An enterprise fundraising CRM is a comprehensive donor management platform designed for mid-sized to large nonprofits. It offers advanced segmentation, multi-channel campaign management, major gift tracking, custom workflows, real-time analytics, and integration with accounting and other systems.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
When your donor base exceeds 5,000-10,000 contacts, you process 500+ donations per month, you run multi-channel campaigns, you manage major donor portfolios, or your current CRM can't keep up with your reporting and automation needs.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
Traditional enterprise CRMs like Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT cost $5,000-$50,000+/year plus implementation. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud starts free but quickly scales to $10,000+/year with required add-ons. Modern platforms like Alignmint offer enterprise-level features at a fraction of the cost, including a free Starter plan.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
Most don't. Blackbaud sells accounting (Financial Edge) as a separate product. Salesforce has no accounting at all. This means donations get entered twice — once in the CRM and once in accounting. Alignmint is one of the few platforms that includes both CRM and fund accounting in one system.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
AI-powered donor analytics uses machine learning to analyze donor behavior, predict future giving, and surface insights that would be impossible to find manually. It can score donors by likelihood to give, upgrade, or lapse — helping you focus your efforts where they'll have the most impact.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Even small nonprofits benefit from basic AI features like lapsed donor alerts, giving trend analysis, and automated segmentation. You don't need a data science team — modern platforms like Alignmint build AI insights directly into the CRM so anyone can use them.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
AI models analyze patterns in your historical data — giving frequency, gift amounts, recency, email engagement, event attendance, and demographics. Based on these patterns, the model assigns scores predicting each donor's likelihood to give again, increase their gift, or stop giving.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Standalone AI analytics tools can cost $500-$5,000+/month. But many modern CRM platforms include AI features in their standard subscription. Alignmint includes AI-powered insights (via Minty AI) as part of the platform at no additional cost.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches with up to $100K in annual donations. It includes member tracking, donation management, volunteer tools, and event planning. ChurchTrac is another low-cost option, though it lacks fund accounting and marketing tools.
Yes. A CRM helps you track members, manage giving, send communications, and organize volunteers in one place. Without one, churches rely on spreadsheets and disconnected tools that create data silos and extra work for staff.
Most church CRMs focus only on member management and giving. Alignmint is different — it combines CRM with true fund accounting, so you can track tithes, offerings, restricted funds, and generate financial reports from the same platform.
Most CRMs let you import member and donation data from a CSV file. Alignmint's team can help you migrate your data during setup, so you don't lose any history.
Blackbaud doesn't publish pricing publicly. Most organizations report paying $5,000-$50,000+ per year depending on modules, users, and customization. Implementation costs can add another $10,000-$100,000+. You'll need to request a custom quote from Blackbaud's sales team.
No. Blackbaud CRM is designed for large organizations with dedicated IT staff and significant budgets. Small and mid-size nonprofits typically find it too complex, too expensive, and too slow to implement. Purpose-built platforms like Alignmint are a better fit.
Not directly. Blackbaud CRM is a fundraising and donor management platform. For accounting, you'd need Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT — a separate product with its own subscription. This means managing two systems and syncing data between them.
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It combines donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing in a single system — without the enterprise complexity or pricing.
Raiser's Edge NXT uses custom pricing. Annual subscriptions typically range from $5,000-$50,000+ depending on database size and features. Implementation adds $5,000-$25,000+, and training is an additional fee. It's one of the most expensive nonprofit CRM options on the market.
No. Raiser's Edge NXT is CRM-only. For accounting, Blackbaud sells Financial Edge NXT as a separate product with a separate subscription. This means donations entered in RE NXT must be synced or re-entered in Financial Edge — creating the double-entry problem that integrated platforms like Alignmint eliminate.
Partially. RE NXT has a cloud-based web interface, but many advanced features still require the desktop database view. It's a hybrid approach — not a fully modern cloud application. Some users find the dual-interface confusing.
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform without enterprise complexity, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It includes donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing — all in one system with a free Starter plan.
Blackbaud uses custom pricing. Typical annual costs range from $5,000-$100,000+ depending on which products you use, your database size, and add-on modules. Implementation adds another $5,000-$50,000+. Training and premium support are additional fees.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
The main products are Raiser's Edge NXT (donor CRM and fundraising), Luminate Online (digital fundraising and peer-to-peer), Financial Edge NXT (accounting — sold separately), JustGiving (crowdfunding), and Blackbaud CRM (enterprise-grade constituent management). Each is a separate subscription.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
Generally no. Blackbaud's products are designed for mid-sized to large organizations with dedicated staff and significant budgets. Small nonprofits typically find the cost, complexity, and implementation time prohibitive. Purpose-built platforms like Alignmint are a better fit for smaller organizations.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform without enterprise complexity, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It includes donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing — all in one system with a free Starter plan.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
Aplos pricing starts at ~$59/month for the Core plan which includes basic donor management and online giving. The Advanced plan with better reporting is ~$79+/month. There's no free tier — unlike Alignmint which is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
Yes. Aplos includes fund accounting integrated with donor management, which is a significant advantage over CRM-only tools like Bloomerang. However, Aplos lacks volunteer management, event tools, and advanced email marketing that all-in-one platforms like Alignmint include.
Aplos is designed for small to mid-sized nonprofits. Organizations with high transaction volumes, complex segmentation needs, or large donor databases may find Aplos's reporting and analytics too limited. Larger nonprofits typically need more advanced tools.
Alignmint offers the most similar integrated approach (CRM + accounting in one) but with more features including volunteer management, event tools, and AI. Bloomerang is a CRM-only alternative with stronger donor analytics but no accounting. QuickBooks + a separate CRM is another option but creates integration headaches.
The most common reasons are cost (implementation + customization + admin salaries), complexity (requires dedicated staff to manage), and the lack of built-in accounting. Many nonprofits find they're paying enterprise prices for a platform that still requires separate tools for fund accounting, email marketing, and event management.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
Salesforce offers 10 free licenses through their Power of Us program. However, the free licenses only cover the base CRM. Most nonprofits need paid add-ons for email marketing, advanced reporting, and online donations. Implementation and customization costs typically run $10,000-$50,000+, and you'll likely need a paid Salesforce admin.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
Yes. Salesforce allows you to export all contacts, donations, and custom objects as CSV files. Most modern CRM platforms can import this data. Alignmint's team provides migration assistance on Pro and Enterprise plans.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
It depends on your needs. If you want CRM and fund accounting in one platform, Alignmint is the best fit. If you only need donor management, Bloomerang is simpler. If you need enterprise-scale CRM without accounting, DonorPerfect or Virtuous are options.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
Yes. Emails with video thumbnails see 2-3x higher click-through rates, and adding video to a donation page can increase conversion rates by 20-30%. The key is authenticity — a 60-second phone video from a board member outperforms a polished production.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
No. Modern smartphones shoot excellent video. Use natural lighting near a window, keep backgrounds simple, and add captions with free tools like Kapwing or Descript. Donors respond to real people sharing real stories, not polished corporate productions.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
The best approach is a donation page builder that lets you embed video directly alongside your donation form. Alignmint's drag-and-drop builder supports video embeds, progress bars, testimonials, and Stripe checkout — all on one page.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
A high-converting donation page has a clear impact-focused headline, suggested gift amounts, a prominent recurring giving option, minimal form fields, mobile-first design, trust signals (SSL, payment processor logo, 501(c)(3) status), and an immediate thank-you confirmation with email receipt.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
As few as possible. Every additional field reduces conversion. Essential fields are name, email, and payment info. Only add phone and address if needed for tax receipts. Remove 'How did you hear about us?' and lengthy comment boxes.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
Yes. Adding a video to your donation page can increase conversion rates by 20-30%. Use a short (60-90 second) impact story or personal appeal to reinforce the emotional connection right before the donor enters payment info.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
MintBucks are Alignmint's unified marketing credit system. Instead of paying separately for email, SMS, and direct mail through different providers, you get one pool of credits that works across every channel — email (1 MintBuck), SMS (2), postcards (100), letters (200), and handwritten cards (600).
MintBucks power automated donor journeys across multiple channels. When a donor gives, they automatically receive a thank-you email, a 7-day impact update, a 30-day handwritten card, and ongoing engagement — all triggered without manual effort. Consistent multi-channel communication is the #1 driver of donor retention.
Every Alignmint plan includes a monthly MintBucks allocation. The Starter plan (free) includes enough credits for basic email communication. Paid plans include larger allocations for multi-channel campaigns. Additional MintBucks can be purchased as needed.
No. Virtuous is a responsive fundraising CRM focused on donor engagement and marketing automation. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 preparation. You need separate accounting software. Alignmint combines CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
Virtuous uses custom pricing starting around $400-600/month for small organizations. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes both CRM and fund accounting.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
Virtuous is designed for mid-sized to large nonprofits with dedicated marketing staff. Small organizations often find the cost and complexity excessive. Alignmint offers a simpler, more affordable alternative with CRM, accounting, and volunteer tools in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
No. DonorPerfect is a donor management CRM. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 preparation. You need separate accounting software. Alignmint combines donor CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
DonorPerfect starts at $99/month for up to 1,000 records. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes both CRM and fund accounting. Adding separate accounting software to DonorPerfect increases total cost significantly.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
DonorPerfect is a capable CRM for small nonprofits focused on donor management. But if you also need accounting, volunteer tracking, or event management, you'll need additional tools. Alignmint provides all of these in one platform with a free tier.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
No. Bloomerang is a CRM-only platform focused on donor management and retention. You need separate accounting software (like QuickBooks or Aplos) for fund accounting, financial reporting, and Form 990 preparation. Alignmint includes both CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
Bloomerang starts at $125/month for up to 1,000 records. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes CRM, fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management. When you add the cost of separate accounting software to Bloomerang, Alignmint is significantly more affordable.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
Bloomerang is a solid CRM for small nonprofits that only need donor management. But if you also need accounting, volunteer tracking, or event management, you'll need additional tools — adding cost and complexity. Alignmint combines all of these in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
A nonprofit CRM with accounting is a single platform that combines donor management (tracking gifts, relationships, and communications) with fund accounting (tracking revenue by fund, generating financial statements, and preparing Form 990 reports). Instead of using separate tools for each function, everything lives in one system.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Historically, no single platform did both well. CRM vendors focused on donor relationships while accounting vendors focused on financial compliance. Nonprofits cobbled together stacks — Bloomerang plus QuickBooks, DonorPerfect plus Aplos — because there wasn't a better option. That's changing.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Most nonprofits report saving 15-25 hours per month when they switch from separate systems to a unified platform. That time was previously spent on double data entry, reconciliation between systems, and manually generating reports that pull from multiple sources.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines donor CRM, fund accounting, volunteer management, event ticketing, marketing tools, and AI in one platform. Every donation automatically updates the donor profile and creates the journal entry. Free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint supports data imports from most major CRM and accounting platforms. You can upload spreadsheets of donor records, giving history, and financial data. The setup team helps with migration at no extra cost.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines fund accounting, donor CRM, and volunteer management in a single platform. Most competitors focus on one or two of these areas, forcing nonprofits to buy and maintain separate tools.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Historically, software vendors specialized. CRM companies built donor tools. Accounting companies built financial tools. Volunteer platforms built scheduling tools. No one built all three together because it's technically complex. Alignmint was designed from day one to unify all three.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
A typical stack costs $250-450 per month: $99+ for a CRM like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect, $30-99 for accounting like QuickBooks or Aplos, and $0-50 for volunteer management like SignUpGenius. That doesn't include the 15-25 hours per month your team spends syncing data between them.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Yes. Most platforms support CSV imports for donor records, financial data, and volunteer lists. Alignmint's setup team helps with migration at no extra cost, including data cleanup and field mapping.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
A donation page builder is software that lets nonprofits create branded online giving pages without coding. You customize the design, set suggested gift amounts, add recurring giving options, and embed the page on your website or share a direct link. The best builders include payment processing, donor data capture, and analytics.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Costs vary widely. Donorbox charges 1.75% per transaction plus payment processing fees. Classy starts around $299/month. GiveForms is free with a 1% fee. Alignmint includes a donation page builder in every plan — free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations, with no platform transaction fees.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Yes. Most donation page builders offer embeddable forms or widgets you can add to your website. Alignmint provides both standalone donation pages with custom URLs and embeddable forms that match your site's branding.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Essential features include custom branding, suggested gift amounts, recurring giving options, mobile-responsive design, donor data capture, tax receipt generation, analytics and conversion tracking, and low or no platform fees. Bonus features include A/B testing, peer-to-peer fundraising, and integration with your CRM.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Most CRMs like Bloomerang and DonorPerfect don't include a donation page builder — you need a separate tool like Donorbox or Classy. Alignmint includes a drag-and-drop donation page builder alongside its donor CRM, fund accounting, and marketing tools, so you don't need a separate vendor.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
The four core reports are: Statement of Financial Position (balance sheet), Statement of Activities (income statement), Statement of Functional Expenses (expenses by program vs. admin vs. fundraising), and Statement of Cash Flows. You also need fund-specific reports and donor impact statements.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
It's a report required by FASB that shows your expenses broken down by both function (program services, management, fundraising) and nature (salaries, rent, supplies, etc.). It's typically presented as a matrix and is required for audited financial statements.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Monthly for internal management (budget vs. actual, cash flow). Quarterly for board meetings. Annually for audits, Form 990, and donor reports. The key is closing your books monthly so reports are always based on accurate, reconciled data.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Yes. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint generates all four FASB-required statements automatically from your transaction data. It handles net asset classification, functional expense allocation, and liquidity disclosures — no manual spreadsheet work needed.
From: Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Stay Compliant and Transparent
Restricted funds are donations or grants that come with specific conditions on how they can be used. Temporarily restricted funds are for a specific purpose or time period (e.g., a building campaign grant). Permanently restricted funds must be maintained in perpetuity, with only the income available for use (e.g., endowment principal).
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Misusing restricted funds can result in grant clawbacks (returning the money), loss of future funding, audit findings, damage to donor relationships, and in serious cases, legal consequences. Proper fund tracking software prevents this by tagging every transaction and alerting you before restricted funds are overspent.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Every transaction is tagged with a fund code. When a restricted gift is received, it's credited to that specific fund. When expenses are incurred, they're debited from the correct fund. The software maintains running balances and can generate fund-specific financial statements showing exactly how each restricted dollar was used.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Yes. FASB (ASC 958) requires nonprofits to classify net assets as either 'with donor restrictions' or 'without donor restrictions' on their Statement of Financial Position. You must also disclose the nature and amounts of restrictions in your financial statement notes.
From: Restricted Funds Tracking: Ensure Compliance and Transparency
Grant management software helps nonprofits track grant applications, budgets, spending, deadlines, and compliance requirements in one system. It replaces spreadsheets and manual tracking with automated reminders, real-time budget monitoring, and funder-ready reports.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
If you manage even one or two grants, dedicated software saves time and reduces compliance risk. Spreadsheets work until you miss a deadline or overspend a restricted fund. Most small nonprofits benefit from a platform that combines grant tracking with fund accounting.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
The best grant management tools are built into your accounting system. When you record an expense against a grant, it automatically updates the grant budget, the general ledger, and your financial reports. Alignmint handles this natively — no syncing or imports needed.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
Fund accounting tracks all restricted and unrestricted funds across your organization. Grant management is a subset — it focuses specifically on tracking grant budgets, spending, deliverables, and funder reporting requirements. You need both, and they work best when they're in the same system.
From: Grant Management Software: Simplify Nonprofit Grant Tracking
Fund tracking software helps nonprofits monitor how money is allocated and spent across different funds — general operating, restricted, temporarily restricted, endowment, and program-specific. It ensures donor restrictions are honored, grant budgets aren't overspent, and fund balances are accurate in real time.
Fund tracking is one component of fund accounting. Fund accounting is the complete financial management system for nonprofits — including the chart of accounts, journal entries, financial statements, and reporting. Fund tracking specifically refers to monitoring fund balances, restrictions, and spending against budgets.
QuickBooks can approximate fund tracking using classes or locations, but it wasn't designed for it. You can't easily generate fund-specific financial statements, track restricted vs. unrestricted balances, or prevent overspending of restricted funds. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software handles this natively.
Every transaction is tagged with a fund code. When a restricted gift is received, it's credited to that specific fund. When expenses are incurred against that fund, they're debited from it. The software maintains a running balance for each fund and can alert you if spending approaches the restriction limit.
Nonprofit grant management encompasses the entire lifecycle of grant funding — from identifying opportunities through application, award, implementation, and reporting. It includes tracking spending against grant budgets, maintaining compliance documentation, and filing required reports.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Nonprofits track grant spending by assigning each grant its own fund in their accounting system. Every expense charged to the grant is tagged with the fund code, maintaining a running balance. Fund accounting software generates grant-specific financial reports showing exactly how each dollar was used.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software with fund accounting handles grant tracking natively. Each grant gets its own fund with budget tracking, spending alerts, and compliance reporting. Alignmint includes grant management alongside donor CRM and volunteer tools in one platform.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) sets the accounting rules nonprofits must follow. The key standard is ASC 958, which governs how nonprofits classify net assets, report functional expenses, disclose liquidity, and present financial statements. Compliance is required for audited financials and expected by grantors and donors.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
FASB requires nonprofits to classify net assets as either 'with donor restrictions' (funds restricted by donors for specific purposes or time periods) or 'without donor restrictions' (funds available for general use). This replaced the old three-category system of unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
Yes. Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint generates FASB-compliant statements automatically — including net asset classification, functional expense allocation, and liquidity disclosures. Generic software like QuickBooks doesn't support these nonprofit-specific requirements natively.
From: FASB Compliant Accounting: What Nonprofits Need to Know
Form 990 is an annual information return that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. It reports your organization's mission, programs, finances, governance, and compensation. It's a public document — donors, grantors, and watchdog organizations use it to evaluate your nonprofit.
From: Form 990 Filing Software: Simplify Nonprofit Tax Compliance
Late filing incurs penalties of $20/day (up to $10,000 for small organizations, more for large ones). If you fail to file for three consecutive years, the IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status. Reinstatement requires a new application and can take months.
From: Form 990 Filing Software: Simplify Nonprofit Tax Compliance
Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for gross receipts under $50,000. Form 990-EZ for gross receipts under $200,000 and assets under $500,000. Full Form 990 for larger organizations. Churches and certain religious organizations are generally exempt from filing.
From: Form 990 Filing Software: Simplify Nonprofit Tax Compliance
Yes. Form 990 filing software pulls financial data directly from your accounting system to pre-populate the return. It handles the complex schedules, validates for common errors, and supports electronic filing. This reduces preparation time from weeks to hours and significantly reduces errors.
From: Form 990 Filing Software: Simplify Nonprofit Tax Compliance
Most nonprofits must file Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N annually with the IRS. If you have employees, you file quarterly payroll returns (Form 941). If you earn unrelated business income, you file Form 990-T. Many states also require annual reports and charitable solicitation registrations.
If you fail to file Form 990 for three consecutive years, the IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status. Reinstatement requires a new application, legal fees, and months of waiting. Late filings also incur penalties of $20/day (up to $10,000 for small organizations, more for large ones).
Compliance software automates Form 990 preparation by pulling data directly from your accounting system, tracks filing deadlines with reminders, maintains audit trails for every transaction, generates the financial statements auditors need, and stores all documents securely for the required retention period.
Tax-exempt nonprofits don't pay federal income tax on mission-related activities. However, they may owe Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) on income from activities unrelated to their mission, payroll taxes for employees, and state/local taxes depending on jurisdiction. They must also file annual information returns (Form 990) to maintain their exemption.
A donor-ready financial report is a clear, visual summary of how your nonprofit used donor funds. Unlike internal accounting reports, donor reports focus on outcomes and impact — showing donors what their gifts accomplished, with easy-to-understand charts and personalized fund-specific details.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
At minimum, annually (often paired with year-end giving statements). Major donors and grantors typically expect quarterly reports. Some organizations send brief impact updates monthly via email. The key is consistency — set a schedule and stick to it.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
An executive summary, program highlights with outcomes data, a financial summary showing revenue and expenses by program, fund-specific reporting for restricted gifts, and a thank-you with an invitation to stay engaged. Use visuals — charts and photos — not dense tables.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
Yes. Platforms like Alignmint that combine donor CRM and fund accounting can generate personalized donor reports automatically — pulling each donor's giving history, the funds they supported, and how those funds were used. This turns a weeks-long manual process into minutes.
From: Donor-Ready Financial Reports: Impress Your Supporters
Nonprofit bookkeeping software handles day-to-day financial tasks like recording transactions, reconciling bank accounts, managing accounts payable and receivable, and generating basic reports. Modern nonprofit software combines bookkeeping with higher-level accounting functions like fund tracking and financial statements.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Yes. Every transaction in a nonprofit potentially affects multiple funds. When you record a donation, you need to know which fund receives it, whether it's restricted, and if it relates to a specific grant. Generic bookkeeping tools like Wave or QuickBooks don't handle this natively.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions — data entry, bank reconciliation, receipt management. Accounting is the higher-level work — financial statements, budgeting, analysis, and compliance reporting. Modern nonprofit software like Alignmint combines both in one platform.
From: Nonprofit Bookkeeping Software: Simplify Your Financial Management
Donation tracking software automates the process of recording, categorizing, and reporting on charitable gifts. It tracks who gave, how much, when, to which fund, and through what channel — then generates receipts, acknowledgments, and reports automatically.
Yes. Purpose-built donation tracking software automatically generates IRS-compliant tax receipts and year-end giving statements. It includes the donor's name, gift amount, date, and a statement about whether goods or services were provided in exchange.
Absolutely. When donation tracking is separate from accounting, someone must manually enter every gift into your books — matching it to the correct fund, donor, and account. Integrated platforms like Alignmint create the journal entry automatically when a gift is recorded.
The three most common models are Model A (Direct Project) where the sponsor owns and operates the project, Model C (Pre-Approved Grant) where the sponsor makes grants to an independent organization, and Model F (Group Exemption) where multiple organizations share a group exemption letter. Each has different accounting and compliance requirements.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Model A requires the sponsor to recognize all revenue and expenses on their own books. Model C treats disbursements as grants reported on Schedule I of Form 990. Model F organizations maintain their own books under the group exemption. The accounting treatment for revenue recognition, expense reporting, and Form 990 filing differs significantly between models.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Model A (Direct Project) is the most common for new projects and grassroots organizations. Model C (Pre-Approved Grant) is common for more established organizations that want operational independence. Model F (Group Exemption) is used primarily by denominations, federated organizations, and national networks with local chapters.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Fiscal sponsors must file Form 990 reporting all sponsored project activity, maintain data isolation between organizations, document fee calculations, ensure each project furthers their exempt purpose, track expenditure responsibility for Model C sponsors, and maintain audit-ready records for every entity.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
Yes. If a fiscal sponsor fails to maintain proper oversight, commingles funds between organizations, or allows sponsored projects that don't further their exempt purpose, the IRS can revoke their 501(c)(3) status — affecting every sponsored organization under their umbrella.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
Purpose-built fiscal sponsor software automates compliance by enforcing data isolation between organizations, calculating fees automatically, generating consolidated Form 990 data, maintaining audit trails, and providing role-based access so sponsored org directors only see their own data.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
In 2020, Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack that exposed donor data — names, contact information, and in some cases Social Security numbers and financial details — at thousands of nonprofits, hospitals, and universities. Blackbaud paid a ransom, delayed notifying affected organizations, and settled with the FTC for $49.5 million.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Ask your software provider about encryption (at rest and in transit), data isolation between organizations, backup frequency, incident response plans, and compliance certifications. If they can't give you clear answers, that's a red flag.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Look for data encryption, isolated databases per organization, regular backups, transparent security practices, a clear incident response plan, and a provider that doesn't store sensitive data longer than necessary. Alignmint keeps each organization's data completely separate and encrypted.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Requirements vary by state, but most states require background checks for anyone working with minors in a supervised capacity — including church volunteers in children's ministry, youth groups, VBS, and nursery programs. Even where not legally mandated, insurance policies and denominational guidelines typically require volunteer screening.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
At minimum, screen all volunteers who work with children and youth (Sunday school teachers, VBS leaders, nursery workers, youth group leaders), volunteers who transport congregants, volunteers who handle church finances, and anyone with unsupervised access to vulnerable populations. Many churches screen all regular volunteers regardless of role.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Basic background checks through providers like Sterling Volunteers or Protect My Ministry cost $10–$25 per volunteer. For a church with 50 volunteers screened annually, budget $500–$1,250 per year. Many denominations negotiate group rates for member churches. Some churches include screening costs in their insurance budget.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Not all nonprofits are legally required to run background checks, but it is strongly recommended — especially for organizations working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many states mandate screening for youth-serving programs. Even without a legal mandate, background checks reduce liability, satisfy insurance requirements, and build trust with families and funders.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
A standard volunteer background check typically includes a criminal history search (county, state, and/or federal), sex offender registry check, and identity verification. Enhanced checks may add education verification, employment history, driving records, and credit checks depending on the volunteer role.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Most basic background checks return results within 1–3 business days. County-level criminal searches may take 3–7 days depending on the jurisdiction. Some providers like Checkr offer near-instant results for basic checks. Plan for 3–5 business days on average.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Volunteer background check software helps nonprofits screen volunteers by running criminal history, sex offender registry, and identity verification checks. The best solutions also track check status (pending, approved, expired), send renewal reminders, and integrate with your volunteer CRM so coordinators always know who is cleared to serve.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Requirements vary by state and activity. Most states require background checks for volunteers working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many grant funders and insurance policies also require volunteer screening. Even when not legally required, background checks are a best practice that reduces organizational liability.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Basic background checks typically cost $10–$30 per volunteer through providers like Sterling, Checkr, or GoodHire. Some providers offer nonprofit discounts. The cost of not screening — potential lawsuits, insurance claims, and reputational damage — far exceeds the screening cost.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Charity compliance software helps nonprofits track and manage regulatory requirements — Form 990 filings, state registrations, restricted fund rules, FASB reporting standards, and audit preparation. It replaces spreadsheet-based compliance tracking with automated reminders, built-in reporting, and audit trails.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Charities must file IRS Form 990 annually, maintain state charitable solicitation registrations, follow FASB accounting standards (ASC 958), track restricted fund spending per donor intent, produce audited financial statements if required by state law or grantors, and maintain proper documentation for tax-deductible donations.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Compliance software maps your chart of accounts to Form 990 line items, tracks functional expense allocation (program vs. admin vs. fundraising), monitors board governance data, and generates the financial schedules needed for filing. Purpose-built nonprofit software like Alignmint does this automatically from your transaction data.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Yes. Even small nonprofits must file Form 990-EZ or 990-N annually, track restricted fund spending, and maintain records for tax-deductible donations. Missing three consecutive Form 990 filings results in automatic revocation of tax-exempt status. Compliance software prevents these costly oversights.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
The IRS approves Form 1023-EZ applications in 2-4 weeks. Full Form 1023 applications take 3-6 months, sometimes longer for complex organizations. Before you can file with the IRS, you need to incorporate in your state (1-4 weeks) and get an EIN (instant online). Total timeline from start to IRS approval: 2-8 months.
Form 1023-EZ is a simplified online application for small nonprofits with projected gross receipts under $50,000/year and total assets under $250,000. It costs $275 and is approved in weeks. The full Form 1023 is required for larger organizations, costs $600, requires detailed narratives and financial projections, and takes 3-6 months for approval.
You can file the paperwork yourself, but most states require at least 3 board members (directors) for a nonprofit corporation. You'll need other people involved in governance even if you're the primary founder and operator. Some states allow as few as 1 director.
IRS denial is uncommon if your application is complete and your purpose qualifies. Common reasons for denial include insufficient detail about activities, purpose that doesn't qualify under 501(c)(3), or private benefit concerns. You can appeal a denial or resubmit with corrections. Consider consulting a nonprofit attorney if your first application is rejected.
Nonprofit bylaws must include board structure and terms, officer roles and duties, meeting requirements (quorum, notice, frequency), conflict of interest policy, amendment procedures, and a dissolution clause directing assets to another 501(c)(3). The IRS requires a copy of your bylaws with your Form 1023 application.
No. Bylaws are an internal governing document — they are not filed with the Secretary of State. However, the IRS requires a copy with your Form 1023 or 1023-EZ application, and banks may ask for a copy when you open an account.
Review your bylaws annually and update them whenever your governance structure changes — new board size, different officer roles, updated meeting procedures, or changes to your fiscal year. Amendments typically require a board vote as specified in the bylaws themselves.
Articles of incorporation are the legal document filed with your state's Secretary of State that officially creates your nonprofit corporation. They include your organization's name, purpose, registered agent, dissolution clause, and incorporator information. The IRS requires specific language in your articles for 501(c)(3) eligibility.
The IRS requires two clauses: (1) a purpose clause stating the organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3), and (2) a dissolution clause stating that assets will be distributed to another 501(c)(3) organization upon dissolution.
Yes. Most states allow amendments by filing an articles of amendment with the Secretary of State and paying a fee. If you need to add IRS-required language that was missing from your original filing, amend your articles before submitting Form 1023.
Form 1023-EZ applications are typically approved in 2-4 weeks. Full Form 1023 applications take 3-6 months. Complex cases or applications with incomplete information may take longer. Respond promptly to any IRS follow-up questions to avoid additional delays.
No. You must incorporate as a nonprofit corporation in your state and obtain an EIN before filing Form 1023 or 1023-EZ with the IRS. Your articles of incorporation are a required attachment.
Most states require at least 3 board members for a nonprofit corporation. Some states allow as few as 1. The IRS prefers at least 3 independent directors for 501(c)(3) organizations. Best practice is 5-15 members depending on your organization's size and complexity.
From: Nonprofit Board of Directors: Requirements & Best Practices
Board members are typically unpaid volunteers. They can be reimbursed for reasonable expenses related to board service (travel, meals during meetings). Some organizations pay a modest stipend, but this must be disclosed on Form 990 and should be below market rates to avoid private benefit concerns.
From: Nonprofit Board of Directors: Requirements & Best Practices
Yes, but it raises governance concerns. The IRS looks unfavorably on boards where a majority of members are related. Best practice is to limit related individuals to no more than one-third of the board. Some states have specific rules about related directors.
From: Nonprofit Board of Directors: Requirements & Best Practices
Form 990 is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends. For calendar-year organizations (January-December), the deadline is May 15. You can request a 6-month extension by filing Form 8868, but you must file it before the original deadline.
From: Form 990 for New Nonprofits: What to Know Before Your First Filing
It depends on your gross receipts: Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for gross receipts under $50,000, Form 990-EZ for gross receipts between $50,000-$200,000 and assets under $500,000, or the full Form 990 for larger organizations. Most new nonprofits start with Form 990-N or 990-EZ.
From: Form 990 for New Nonprofits: What to Know Before Your First Filing
Most nonprofits incorporate in the state where they will primarily operate. Unlike for-profit corporations, there's rarely an advantage to incorporating in a different state (like Delaware). Incorporating in your home state simplifies compliance, state tax exemptions, and charitable solicitation registration.
Processing time varies by state — from same-day (online filing states like California and Texas) to 4-8 weeks (paper-only states). Many states offer expedited processing for an additional fee. Check your state's specific timeline in the guide below or use our Nonprofit Startup Checklist.
Many states allow online filing through their Secretary of State website. Online filing is typically faster and may cost the same or slightly more than paper filing. Check your state's specific options in the guide below.
Yes. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches up to $100K in annual donations that includes real fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning. Most other 'free' options are either limited trials, basic bookkeeping tools without fund accounting, or freemium products that charge for essential features.
QuickBooks does not offer a free plan. Even if it did, QuickBooks lacks fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit financial statements. Churches need purpose-built software that understands funds, tithes, and designated gifts.
At minimum: fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, donation tracking with year-end giving statements, nonprofit financial statements (Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities), and multi-fund reporting. Bonus features include volunteer management, event planning, and digital waivers.
QuickBooks was designed for businesses that track profit and loss. Churches need fund accounting — separate tracking of restricted funds like building campaigns, missions, and benevolence. QuickBooks classes don't enforce restrictions, maintain separate balances, or generate fund-level financial statements.
Fund accounting is an accounting method that tracks money by purpose rather than by profit. Each fund (general, building, missions, benevolence) has its own assets, liabilities, and balance. When a member designates a gift for the building fund, fund accounting ensures that money is tracked and used only for that purpose.
Alignmint offers true fund accounting designed for churches — with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, automatic fund balance tracking, and donation tracking with year-end giving statements. The Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations.
Churches should use purpose-built software that records every gift by donor, amount, date, fund designation, and payment method. The software should generate automatic tax receipts, year-end giving statements, and fund-specific reports. Manual spreadsheets and paper envelopes create errors and compliance risk.
Yes. Churches are required to provide written acknowledgment for any single contribution of $250 or more. Year-end giving statements serve as this acknowledgment for all gifts throughout the year. Members need these statements to claim their charitable tax deduction.
When a member designates a gift for a specific purpose (building fund, missions, benevolence), that designation is legally binding. Commingling restricted and unrestricted funds is a compliance violation that can result in loss of donor trust, audit findings, and potential legal consequences.
ChurchTrac offers basic income and expense tracking but does not include true fund accounting with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, or automatic fund balance tracking. Alignmint includes full fund accounting designed for churches.
ChurchTrac pricing starts around $50/month for small churches. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning — features that require paid add-ons or separate tools with ChurchTrac.
ChurchTrac works for very small churches with basic needs. However, it lacks fund accounting, digital waivers, and modern event management. Churches that need restricted fund tracking, volunteer hour logging, or integrated communications typically outgrow ChurchTrac quickly.
Yes. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches up to $100K in annual donations that includes real fund accounting, donation tracking with year-end giving statements, volunteer management, and event planning. No credit card required and no time limit.
Even small churches need fund accounting (tracking restricted vs. unrestricted funds), donation tracking with tax receipts, year-end giving statements, basic financial reports for the board, and bank reconciliation. Spreadsheets can handle this temporarily, but purpose-built software saves 5-10 hours per month.
No. QuickBooks does not offer a free plan, and even paid versions lack fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit financial statements. Churches need purpose-built software that understands funds, tithes, and designated gifts.
No. Planning Center focuses on worship planning, check-ins, groups, and registrations. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 support. Churches using Planning Center need separate accounting software. Alignmint includes full church accounting alongside CRM and volunteer tools.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Yes. Some churches use Planning Center for worship planning and Alignmint for accounting, donations, and volunteer management. However, Alignmint's all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and keeps all your data in one place.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Planning Center uses per-app pricing — each module (People, Giving, Groups, etc.) is a separate subscription. A full suite can cost $200-400+/month. Alignmint's Starter plan is free and includes accounting, CRM, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Realm (by ACS Technologies) includes basic financial tracking but does not offer true fund accounting with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, or automatic fund balance tracking. Alignmint provides full fund accounting designed for churches.
Realm pricing starts around $100/month for small churches and increases with congregation size. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning.
Realm works for churches already in the ACS Technologies ecosystem. However, it can be complex to set up and lacks modern features like digital waivers, AI-powered queries, and integrated event ticketing. Alignmint offers a simpler, more modern alternative with a free tier.
Churches manage volunteers through recruitment, scheduling, background checks, hour tracking, and recognition. The best approach uses volunteer management software that centralizes profiles, tracks hours, manages compliance (background checks and training), and connects volunteer data to your accounting for in-kind contribution reporting.
Yes. Churches that work with children and vulnerable populations have legal and insurance obligations around volunteer screening. Background checks, training requirements, and supervision ratios are typically required by insurance policies and often by state law.
Many churches use standalone tools like SignUpGenius or VolunteerHub, but these create data silos. Alignmint includes volunteer management alongside accounting and donor CRM — so volunteer hours automatically connect to your financial records for FASB in-kind contribution reporting.
Churches should send year-end giving statements by January 31st. This gives members time to use them for tax filing. The IRS requires written acknowledgment for gifts of $250 or more, and year-end statements serve as this acknowledgment for all gifts throughout the year.
IRS requirements include: the church's name, the amount of each cash contribution (or description of non-cash contributions), a statement about whether goods or services were provided in exchange, the date of each contribution, and a good-faith estimate of the value of any goods or services provided.
Yes. Purpose-built church accounting software like Alignmint generates year-end giving statements automatically from your donation records. It pulls every gift by donor, formats the statement with all IRS-required information, and lets you send them by email or print them for mailing — in minutes instead of days.
Multi-campus churches need software that gives each location its own giving records, expenses, volunteers, and fund balances while providing the central office with consolidated financial statements, unified donor records, and cross-campus reporting. Purpose-built multi-entity platforms handle this natively.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
Yes. Alignmint's multi-entity architecture lets each campus operate independently with its own data while giving the central office a consolidated view. Campus pastors see only their location's data. The executive team sees everything. No separate accounts or manual consolidation needed.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
No. Separate accounting systems create data silos, require manual consolidation, and make cross-campus reporting impossible. Multi-entity platforms like Alignmint manage all campuses from one account with true data isolation and one-click consolidated reporting.
From: Multi-Campus Church Accounting: One Platform for Every Location
Requirements vary by state, but most states require background checks for anyone working with minors in a supervised capacity — including church volunteers in children's ministry, youth groups, VBS, and nursery programs. Even where not legally mandated, insurance policies and denominational guidelines typically require volunteer screening.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
At minimum, screen all volunteers who work with children and youth (Sunday school teachers, VBS leaders, nursery workers, youth group leaders), volunteers who transport congregants, volunteers who handle church finances, and anyone with unsupervised access to vulnerable populations. Many churches screen all regular volunteers regardless of role.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Basic background checks through providers like Sterling Volunteers or Protect My Ministry cost $10–$25 per volunteer. For a church with 50 volunteers screened annually, budget $500–$1,250 per year. Many denominations negotiate group rates for member churches. Some churches include screening costs in their insurance budget.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Fiscal sponsor management software is purpose-built technology for 501(c)(3) organizations that provide tax-exempt status to multiple sponsored projects. It lets you manage all organizations from one account with complete data privacy, consolidated reporting, and automatic fee allocation.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Fiscal sponsors need multi-entity management with data isolation, consolidated reporting across all orgs, automatic fee calculation, and role-based access. Generic tools force expensive workarounds like separate accounts or risky shared accounts.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Essential features include one-account multi-org management, true data isolation between entities, consolidated financial reporting, automatic monthly fee calculation, role-based access controls, per-org fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, and a single subscription covering unlimited organizations.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Multi-entity nonprofit accounting is the practice of managing financial records, reporting, and compliance for multiple nonprofit organizations from a single platform. Instead of running separate accounting systems for each entity, a multi-entity approach keeps each organization's data private while giving administrators a consolidated view across all entities.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
QuickBooks requires a separate account and subscription for each nonprofit entity. Managing 15 organizations means 15 logins, 15 bills, and no consolidated reporting. Some organizations use QuickBooks 'classes' as a workaround, but this creates compliance risk because there is no true data isolation between entities.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
Multi-fund accounting tracks multiple restricted and unrestricted funds within a single organization — for example, a building fund and a scholarship fund. Multi-entity accounting manages separate organizations, each with their own complete set of books, donors, and operations. A fiscal sponsor needs both: multi-entity to separate each sponsored nonprofit, and multi-fund within each entity to track restricted gifts.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
Fiscal sponsors typically manage accounting for multiple organizations using one of three approaches: separate accounts per entity (expensive and disconnected), a single account with classes or departments (risky and messy), or purpose-built multi-entity nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint that provides true data isolation, consolidated reporting, and automatic fee allocation from one account.
From: Multi-Entity Nonprofit Accounting: Managing Multiple Orgs
Fiscal sponsorship is best for new projects that need to start quickly, test an idea, or operate for a limited time. Starting a 501(c)(3) is better for organizations with long-term plans, a board ready to govern, and the resources to manage compliance. Many organizations start with fiscal sponsorship and transition to their own 501(c)(3) later.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
A fiscal sponsorship arrangement can be set up in 2-4 weeks. Filing for 501(c)(3) status takes 3-12 months for IRS approval, plus time to incorporate, draft bylaws, and assemble a board. Fiscal sponsorship lets you accept tax-deductible donations immediately.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
Fiscal sponsors charge 5-15% of revenue as an ongoing fee. Starting a 501(c)(3) costs $2,000-$5,000+ upfront (legal fees, IRS filing fee, state registrations) plus ongoing compliance costs. For projects under $100K/year, fiscal sponsorship is often more cost-effective.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
Fiscal sponsorship fees typically range from 5-15% of revenue. Large, established projects with high revenue pay 5-7%. Standard arrangements run 8-10%. Newer projects or those requiring significant administrative support pay 10-15%. Some sponsors also charge flat monthly fees or tiered rates.
Most fiscal sponsors calculate fees as a percentage of each sponsored organization's monthly revenue. The fee is applied to gross contributions received, then deducted before disbursing funds to the project. Purpose-built software automates this calculation and creates the journal entries automatically.
Yes. Many fiscal sponsors use tiered fee structures based on revenue volume, project complexity, or the level of administrative support provided. Some charge higher rates for new projects and reduce fees as the project matures. The key is documenting the fee structure in each sponsorship agreement.
The three most common models are Model A (Direct Project) where the sponsor owns and operates the project, Model C (Pre-Approved Grant) where the sponsor makes grants to an independent organization, and Model F (Group Exemption) where multiple organizations share a group exemption letter. Each has different accounting and compliance requirements.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Model A requires the sponsor to recognize all revenue and expenses on their own books. Model C treats disbursements as grants reported on Schedule I of Form 990. Model F organizations maintain their own books under the group exemption. The accounting treatment for revenue recognition, expense reporting, and Form 990 filing differs significantly between models.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Model A (Direct Project) is the most common for new projects and grassroots organizations. Model C (Pre-Approved Grant) is common for more established organizations that want operational independence. Model F (Group Exemption) is used primarily by denominations, federated organizations, and national networks with local chapters.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship Accounting Requirements: Model A vs C vs F
Look for a sponsor with experience in your issue area, transparent fee structures (5-15% is typical), clear communication about their sponsorship model (A, C, or F), strong financial management practices, and technology that gives you visibility into your project's finances. Avoid sponsors with vague fees or no written agreement.
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Start with the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS) directory, community foundations in your area, and organizations working in your issue area. Ask other nonprofit leaders for referrals. Interview at least 2-3 potential sponsors before committing.
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Key questions include: What sponsorship model do you use? What is your fee structure? How quickly can I access funds? What financial reports will I receive? What software do you use for accounting? How many projects do you currently sponsor? Can I speak with current sponsored projects as references?
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Fiscal sponsors must file Form 990 reporting all sponsored project activity, maintain data isolation between organizations, document fee calculations, ensure each project furthers their exempt purpose, track expenditure responsibility for Model C sponsors, and maintain audit-ready records for every entity.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
Yes. If a fiscal sponsor fails to maintain proper oversight, commingles funds between organizations, or allows sponsored projects that don't further their exempt purpose, the IRS can revoke their 501(c)(3) status — affecting every sponsored organization under their umbrella.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
Purpose-built fiscal sponsor software automates compliance by enforcing data isolation between organizations, calculating fees automatically, generating consolidated Form 990 data, maintaining audit trails, and providing role-based access so sponsored org directors only see their own data.
From: Fiscal Sponsor Compliance Checklist: What Every Sponsor Must Track
Fiscal sponsorship software must handle multi-entity management, data isolation between organizations, consolidated reporting, automatic fee calculation, role-based access, per-org fund accounting, and a single subscription covering all sponsored nonprofits.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Fiscal sponsors need to manage multiple organizations from one account with complete data privacy between each. Generic tools force workarounds like separate accounts (expensive) or shared accounts with classes (risky).
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Purpose-built fiscal sponsor software automatically calculates monthly fees based on each sponsored org's actual revenue, applies the correct fee percentage, and creates the journal entries — eliminating the manual spreadsheet process that most sponsors currently use.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Alignmint is the only platform built from the ground up for fiscal sponsors. It provides true multi-entity management from one account, automatic fee calculation, consolidated reporting, and per-org data isolation — without requiring separate subscriptions for each sponsored nonprofit.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
QuickBooks requires a separate account for each sponsored organization, with no consolidated reporting, no automatic fee calculation, and no data isolation. Managing 15 orgs means 15 logins and 15 bills. Purpose-built fiscal sponsor platforms solve all of these problems.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Generic tools like QuickBooks cost $30-80/month per organization — so 15 orgs could cost $450-1,200/month just for accounting. Alignmint offers a single subscription that covers unlimited organizations with consolidated reporting and automatic fee allocation.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Use multi-entity nonprofit software that lets you manage all organizations from one account with complete data isolation between each. Each org gets its own donors, finances, and operations while you get consolidated reporting and a one-click org switcher. Alignmint is built for this use case.
QuickBooks requires a separate account and subscription for each organization. Managing 15 nonprofits means 15 logins, 15 bills, and no consolidated reporting. Purpose-built multi-entity platforms like Alignmint manage unlimited organizations from one account.
Multi-entity nonprofit management is the practice of overseeing multiple nonprofit organizations from a single system. It's used by fiscal sponsors, umbrella organizations, denominational offices, and networks of affiliated nonprofits. The key requirements are data isolation, consolidated reporting, and role-based access.
Nonprofit umbrella organization software is purpose-built technology for organizations that oversee multiple nonprofits — fiscal sponsors, denominational offices, federated charities, and parent organizations with chapters. It manages all entities from one account with data isolation, consolidated reporting, and role-based access.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Umbrella organization software adds multi-entity management with true data isolation between each org, consolidated reporting across all entities, automatic fee allocation, and a one-click org switcher — all from one subscription.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Fiscal sponsors managing sponsored projects, denominational offices overseeing local churches, federated charities (like United Way affiliates), parent organizations with local chapters, and any nonprofit network that needs centralized oversight with decentralized operations.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Fiscal sponsorship is a formal arrangement where an existing 501(c)(3) organization extends its tax-exempt status to your project. Donors give to the fiscal sponsor with your project designated, and the sponsor handles financial administration, tax filing, and compliance. You focus on your mission.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship for New Projects: Skip the 501(c)(3) Paperwork
Fiscal sponsors typically charge 5-15% of revenue as an ongoing fee. Some also charge an application fee of $0-500. For projects under $100K/year, the sponsor fee is usually less than the cost of maintaining your own 501(c)(3) — accounting, tax prep, state registrations, and compliance.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship for New Projects: Skip the 501(c)(3) Paperwork
Yes. Many organizations start with fiscal sponsorship and transition to their own 501(c)(3) when they grow. Plan for 6-12 months of overlap to handle the IRS application, asset transfer, donor communication, and grant transfers.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship for New Projects: Skip the 501(c)(3) Paperwork
Volunteer management software helps nonprofits recruit, track, schedule, and communicate with volunteers. It includes volunteer CRM profiles, hour tracking, scheduling, communication tools, and reporting. Advanced platforms add digital waivers, background check tracking, and integration with accounting.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
FASB requires nonprofits to report the value of specialized volunteer services. When volunteer hour tracking connects to your accounting system, you can automatically calculate and record in-kind contributions — eliminating manual spreadsheet work and ensuring compliance.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
Alignmint is the only platform that includes volunteer management alongside fund accounting and donor CRM in one system. Volunteer hours automatically connect to your financial records for FASB in-kind contribution reporting. The Starter plan is free.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
Nonprofits track volunteer hours using software that logs time by volunteer, project, and activity. The best systems include self-service portals where volunteers log their own hours, manager approval workflows, and automatic calculation of in-kind contribution value for FASB reporting.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
Volunteer hour tracking is important for FASB in-kind contribution reporting, grant applications (demonstrating community support), board reports, insurance compliance, and volunteer recognition. Organizations that track hours can quantify the dollar value of volunteer contributions.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
FASB (ASC 958) requires nonprofits to recognize the value of donated services that create or enhance nonfinancial assets, or require specialized skills that would otherwise be purchased. Tracking volunteer hours with activity categorization is essential for determining which hours qualify.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
Yes. Digital waivers with electronic signatures are legally binding under the federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). They're actually stronger than paper waivers because they include timestamps, IP addresses, and tamper-proof records that paper can't provide.
The most common are liability waivers (for events and activities), photo/video release forms, medical release forms (for youth programs), background check consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and codes of conduct. The specific waivers you need depend on your programs and activities.
Yes. Modern digital waiver platforms are mobile-friendly — volunteers can sign from any device (phone, tablet, or computer) without downloading an app. The best platforms let volunteers sign before they arrive, eliminating clipboard lines at check-in.
In an integrated platform like Alignmint, signed waivers are stored directly on the volunteer's profile. You can require waiver completion before event check-in, filter volunteers by waiver status, and track expiration dates for annual renewals — all from the same system.
Churches manage volunteers through recruitment, scheduling, background checks, hour tracking, and recognition. The best approach uses volunteer management software that centralizes profiles, tracks hours, manages compliance (background checks and training), and connects volunteer data to your accounting for in-kind contribution reporting.
Yes. Churches that work with children and vulnerable populations have legal and insurance obligations around volunteer screening. Background checks, training requirements, and supervision ratios are typically required by insurance policies and often by state law.
Many churches use standalone tools like SignUpGenius or VolunteerHub, but these create data silos. Alignmint includes volunteer management alongside accounting and donor CRM — so volunteer hours automatically connect to your financial records for FASB in-kind contribution reporting.
Yes. Alignmint combines fund accounting, donor CRM, and volunteer management in a single platform. Most competitors focus on one or two of these areas, forcing nonprofits to buy and maintain separate tools.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Historically, software vendors specialized. CRM companies built donor tools. Accounting companies built financial tools. Volunteer platforms built scheduling tools. No one built all three together because it's technically complex. Alignmint was designed from day one to unify all three.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
A typical stack costs $250-450 per month: $99+ for a CRM like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect, $30-99 for accounting like QuickBooks or Aplos, and $0-50 for volunteer management like SignUpGenius. That doesn't include the 15-25 hours per month your team spends syncing data between them.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Yes. Most platforms support CSV imports for donor records, financial data, and volunteer lists. Alignmint's setup team helps with migration at no extra cost, including data cleanup and field mapping.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Volunteer scheduling software helps nonprofits create events, publish signup calendars, manage shifts, and track attendance. The best tools include QR code check-in, automatic hour tracking, skill matching, waitlist management, and analytics — replacing email chains and spreadsheet sign-ups.
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
SignUpGenius offers a free tier for basic event sign-ups. For nonprofits that need scheduling connected to accounting, CRM, and hour tracking, Alignmint's free Starter plan includes volunteer management (the full Volunteer Scheduler with public calendars and QR check-in requires Pro or Enterprise).
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
Some do. Alignmint's Volunteer Scheduler automatically credits hours when volunteers check in via QR code — based on the event's start and end time. Most standalone tools like SignUpGenius and VolunteerHub require separate hour logging.
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
Requirements vary by state, but most states require background checks for anyone working with minors in a supervised capacity — including church volunteers in children's ministry, youth groups, VBS, and nursery programs. Even where not legally mandated, insurance policies and denominational guidelines typically require volunteer screening.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
At minimum, screen all volunteers who work with children and youth (Sunday school teachers, VBS leaders, nursery workers, youth group leaders), volunteers who transport congregants, volunteers who handle church finances, and anyone with unsupervised access to vulnerable populations. Many churches screen all regular volunteers regardless of role.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Basic background checks through providers like Sterling Volunteers or Protect My Ministry cost $10–$25 per volunteer. For a church with 50 volunteers screened annually, budget $500–$1,250 per year. Many denominations negotiate group rates for member churches. Some churches include screening costs in their insurance budget.
From: Church Volunteer Background Check Requirements: What You Need to Know
Not all nonprofits are legally required to run background checks, but it is strongly recommended — especially for organizations working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many states mandate screening for youth-serving programs. Even without a legal mandate, background checks reduce liability, satisfy insurance requirements, and build trust with families and funders.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
A standard volunteer background check typically includes a criminal history search (county, state, and/or federal), sex offender registry check, and identity verification. Enhanced checks may add education verification, employment history, driving records, and credit checks depending on the volunteer role.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Most basic background checks return results within 1–3 business days. County-level criminal searches may take 3–7 days depending on the jurisdiction. Some providers like Checkr offer near-instant results for basic checks. Plan for 3–5 business days on average.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Volunteer background check software helps nonprofits screen volunteers by running criminal history, sex offender registry, and identity verification checks. The best solutions also track check status (pending, approved, expired), send renewal reminders, and integrate with your volunteer CRM so coordinators always know who is cleared to serve.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Requirements vary by state and activity. Most states require background checks for volunteers working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many grant funders and insurance policies also require volunteer screening. Even when not legally required, background checks are a best practice that reduces organizational liability.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Basic background checks typically cost $10–$30 per volunteer through providers like Sterling, Checkr, or GoodHire. Some providers offer nonprofit discounts. The cost of not screening — potential lawsuits, insurance claims, and reputational damage — far exceeds the screening cost.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
A public volunteer signup calendar is a web page where your nonprofit publishes volunteer opportunities. Visitors can browse events by date, see details (time, location, skills needed, spots remaining), and sign up directly — without emailing a coordinator or creating an account. It's the volunteer equivalent of an event ticketing page.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
In most systems, no. Volunteers can sign up with just their name and email address. After signing up, they receive a confirmation email with event details and (in systems like Alignmint) a unique QR code for check-in on event day.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
Share the calendar URL on your website, social media, email newsletters, and community boards. Add the link to your email signature and volunteer recruitment materials. For SEO, ensure the page has proper meta tags, structured data, and descriptive content so it appears in local search results for volunteer opportunities.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
Each volunteer receives a unique QR code (displayed on their phone or printed). On event day, a coordinator opens the check-in scanner on their phone or tablet, scans the volunteer's code, and the system confirms attendance with audio feedback. Hours are automatically credited based on the event's scheduled duration.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
No. Volunteers receive their QR code via email or through the Volunteer Portal — they simply show it on their phone screen. The coordinator scans it using the check-in interface on any device with a camera. No app downloads required for either party.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
Most systems include a manual fallback. In Alignmint, coordinators can search for the volunteer by name and mark them as attended manually. The system still tracks their hours automatically based on the event duration.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
Nonprofit event management software helps organizations plan, promote, and run events like galas, auctions, retreats, and camps. The best platforms include ticket sales, registration, check-in, and automatic revenue tracking — all connected to your accounting and donor CRM.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
Eventbrite is great for general events, but it doesn't connect to your accounting system, donor CRM, or fund tracking. Revenue has to be manually entered, attendees aren't linked to donor profiles, and there's no way to allocate event income to specific funds. Purpose-built nonprofit software handles all of this automatically.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
Standalone event platforms charge $50-200/month plus per-ticket fees (Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket). All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include event management on every plan — including the free Starter plan — with no per-ticket fees beyond standard Stripe processing.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
The best option depends on your needs. For nonprofits that want ticketing integrated with accounting and donor CRM, Alignmint is the most complete solution — with no per-ticket fees. For standalone ticketing, Eventbrite is popular but charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket and doesn't connect to your accounting.
Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket. For a 200-person gala at $100/ticket, that's $1,098 in platform fees alone. All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include ticketing with no per-ticket fees — you only pay Stripe's standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30).
Yes. When ticketing is separate from accounting, someone has to manually enter event revenue into your books after every event — allocating to the correct fund, matching to donor profiles, and reconciling payouts. Integrated platforms handle all of this automatically.
AI-powered donor analytics uses machine learning to analyze donor behavior, predict future giving, and surface insights that would be impossible to find manually. It can score donors by likelihood to give, upgrade, or lapse — helping you focus your efforts where they'll have the most impact.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Even small nonprofits benefit from basic AI features like lapsed donor alerts, giving trend analysis, and automated segmentation. You don't need a data science team — modern platforms like Alignmint build AI insights directly into the CRM so anyone can use them.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
AI models analyze patterns in your historical data — giving frequency, gift amounts, recency, email engagement, event attendance, and demographics. Based on these patterns, the model assigns scores predicting each donor's likelihood to give again, increase their gift, or stop giving.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Standalone AI analytics tools can cost $500-$5,000+/month. But many modern CRM platforms include AI features in their standard subscription. Alignmint includes AI-powered insights (via Minty AI) as part of the platform at no additional cost.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
AI in nonprofit accounting is used for natural language data queries (ask questions about your finances in plain English), automated transaction categorization, anomaly detection, and generating narrative board reports from financial data.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
No. AI is a tool that makes your team faster, not a replacement for financial expertise. It can surface data and flag issues, but it cannot make judgment calls about accounting treatment, interpret complex FASB standards, or represent your organization in an audit.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
When implemented properly, yes. Look for platforms with org-level data isolation, role-based AI responses, no training on your data, and real-time processing. Alignmint's Minty AI respects your permission model and never uses your data to train AI models.
From: AI in Nonprofit Accounting: What It Can (and Can't) Do
AI nonprofit accounting software combines traditional fund accounting capabilities — restricted fund tracking, Form 990 reporting, FASB-compliant statements — with AI features like natural language queries, automated transaction categorization, and anomaly detection. The key difference from generic AI tools is that it understands fund accounting.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Alignmint is the most complete AI nonprofit accounting platform, with built-in Minty AI that queries your actual financial data. It includes fund accounting, donor CRM, and AI features in one system with a free Starter plan. Generic tools like QuickBooks AI don't understand funds, grants, or Form 990.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Yes. AI that understands your chart of accounts can check for missing data across Form 990 line items, flag incomplete sections, and suggest corrections — reducing preparation time and the back-and-forth with your CPA at year-end.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Alignmint is the only nonprofit platform with a built-in AI assistant (Minty AI) that queries your actual fund accounting, donor, and volunteer data in real time. Virtuous has Momentum for donor insights but no fund accounting underneath. Aplos offers basic data visualization but no natural language AI. Blackbaud and Bloomerang have no built-in AI features.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
Virtuous Momentum is an AI-powered donor insights tool built into the Virtuous CRM. It helps with donor scoring and engagement predictions. However, Virtuous does not include fund accounting, so Momentum cannot answer questions about fund balances, grant spending, or Form 990 readiness.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
No. AI is a tool that makes your finance team faster — not a replacement for proper fund accounting. AI without real accounting data underneath is just a chatbot. Look for platforms where AI is built into your actual financial system, not layered on top as an add-on.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
Aplos pricing starts at ~$39/month for the Lite plan (basic accounting only). The Core plan (~$59/month) adds donor management and online giving. The Advanced plan (~$79+/month) includes full reporting. There's no free tier — unlike Alignmint which is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Yes. Aplos offers true fund accounting with restricted and unrestricted fund tracking, which is a significant advantage over QuickBooks. However, its reporting is more limited than enterprise tools, and high-volume organizations may find it struggles with large transaction counts.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Limited scalability for high-volume organizations, basic CRM features compared to dedicated donor management tools, reporting that may require manual exports for advanced analysis, no built-in payroll, and some third-party integrations require workarounds.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Alignmint is the closest alternative — it also combines fund accounting and donor management in one platform, but adds volunteer management, event tools, advanced email marketing, and AI-powered insights. It also has a free Starter plan. Bloomerang is a CRM-only alternative with stronger donor analytics but no accounting.
From: Aplos Accounting Software: How It Compares for Nonprofits
Blackbaud doesn't publish pricing publicly. Most organizations report paying $5,000-$50,000+ per year depending on modules, users, and customization. Implementation costs can add another $10,000-$100,000+. You'll need to request a custom quote from Blackbaud's sales team.
No. Blackbaud CRM is designed for large organizations with dedicated IT staff and significant budgets. Small and mid-size nonprofits typically find it too complex, too expensive, and too slow to implement. Purpose-built platforms like Alignmint are a better fit.
Not directly. Blackbaud CRM is a fundraising and donor management platform. For accounting, you'd need Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT — a separate product with its own subscription. This means managing two systems and syncing data between them.
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It combines donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing in a single system — without the enterprise complexity or pricing.
Raiser's Edge NXT uses custom pricing. Annual subscriptions typically range from $5,000-$50,000+ depending on database size and features. Implementation adds $5,000-$25,000+, and training is an additional fee. It's one of the most expensive nonprofit CRM options on the market.
No. Raiser's Edge NXT is CRM-only. For accounting, Blackbaud sells Financial Edge NXT as a separate product with a separate subscription. This means donations entered in RE NXT must be synced or re-entered in Financial Edge — creating the double-entry problem that integrated platforms like Alignmint eliminate.
Partially. RE NXT has a cloud-based web interface, but many advanced features still require the desktop database view. It's a hybrid approach — not a fully modern cloud application. Some users find the dual-interface confusing.
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform without enterprise complexity, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It includes donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing — all in one system with a free Starter plan.
Blackbaud uses custom pricing. Typical annual costs range from $5,000-$100,000+ depending on which products you use, your database size, and add-on modules. Implementation adds another $5,000-$50,000+. Training and premium support are additional fees.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
The main products are Raiser's Edge NXT (donor CRM and fundraising), Luminate Online (digital fundraising and peer-to-peer), Financial Edge NXT (accounting — sold separately), JustGiving (crowdfunding), and Blackbaud CRM (enterprise-grade constituent management). Each is a separate subscription.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
Generally no. Blackbaud's products are designed for mid-sized to large organizations with dedicated staff and significant budgets. Small nonprofits typically find the cost, complexity, and implementation time prohibitive. Purpose-built platforms like Alignmint are a better fit for smaller organizations.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
For nonprofits that want CRM and accounting in one platform without enterprise complexity, Alignmint is the most modern alternative. It includes donor management, fund accounting, volunteer tools, event planning, and marketing — all in one system with a free Starter plan.
From: Blackbaud Fundraising Software: Enterprise Tools for Nonprofits
Aplos pricing starts at ~$59/month for the Core plan which includes basic donor management and online giving. The Advanced plan with better reporting is ~$79+/month. There's no free tier — unlike Alignmint which is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
Yes. Aplos includes fund accounting integrated with donor management, which is a significant advantage over CRM-only tools like Bloomerang. However, Aplos lacks volunteer management, event tools, and advanced email marketing that all-in-one platforms like Alignmint include.
Aplos is designed for small to mid-sized nonprofits. Organizations with high transaction volumes, complex segmentation needs, or large donor databases may find Aplos's reporting and analytics too limited. Larger nonprofits typically need more advanced tools.
Alignmint offers the most similar integrated approach (CRM + accounting in one) but with more features including volunteer management, event tools, and AI. Bloomerang is a CRM-only alternative with stronger donor analytics but no accounting. QuickBooks + a separate CRM is another option but creates integration headaches.
QuickBooks can handle basic bookkeeping for nonprofits, but it wasn't designed for fund accounting. It can't natively track restricted vs. unrestricted funds, generate FASB-compliant financial statements, produce donor giving statements, or manage grant budgets. Most nonprofits using QuickBooks rely on workarounds and spreadsheets to fill these gaps.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
No true fund accounting. QuickBooks tracks income and expenses, but it doesn't support the fund-based accounting that nonprofits need to track restricted gifts, grant budgets, and net asset classifications. You can approximate it with classes, but it's error-prone and doesn't generate proper nonprofit financial statements.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
Export your chart of accounts, transactions, and contacts from QuickBooks as CSV files. Import them into your new platform. Set up your fund structure and map accounts to the correct funds. Most purpose-built platforms like Alignmint offer migration support to make the transition smooth.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
For nonprofits, yes. Alignmint includes fund accounting, donor CRM, online giving, volunteer management, and grant tracking in one platform. QuickBooks requires separate add-ons or tools for each of these functions. Alignmint also has a free Starter plan for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: QuickBooks for Nonprofits Alternative: Why Consider Alignmint?
The most common reasons are cost (implementation + customization + admin salaries), complexity (requires dedicated staff to manage), and the lack of built-in accounting. Many nonprofits find they're paying enterprise prices for a platform that still requires separate tools for fund accounting, email marketing, and event management.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
Salesforce offers 10 free licenses through their Power of Us program. However, the free licenses only cover the base CRM. Most nonprofits need paid add-ons for email marketing, advanced reporting, and online donations. Implementation and customization costs typically run $10,000-$50,000+, and you'll likely need a paid Salesforce admin.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
Yes. Salesforce allows you to export all contacts, donations, and custom objects as CSV files. Most modern CRM platforms can import this data. Alignmint's team provides migration assistance on Pro and Enterprise plans.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
It depends on your needs. If you want CRM and fund accounting in one platform, Alignmint is the best fit. If you only need donor management, Bloomerang is simpler. If you need enterprise-scale CRM without accounting, DonorPerfect or Virtuous are options.
From: Salesforce Nonprofit CRM Alternative: Simpler, Smarter Solutions
QuickBooks was designed for businesses that track profit and loss. Nonprofits need fund accounting — tracking restricted, unrestricted, and temporarily restricted funds separately. QuickBooks lacks fund-level financial statements, restricted fund enforcement, and Form 990 mapping.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software like Alignmint includes fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, and Form 990 support. Alignmint also adds donor CRM, volunteer management, and event tools in one platform with a free Starter plan.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
QuickBooks generates Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet reports designed for businesses. It cannot generate the Statement of Activities, Statement of Financial Position, or Statement of Functional Expenses required by FASB for nonprofits without significant manual workarounds.
From: Better Than QuickBooks for Nonprofits: Why Purpose-Built Wins
Common reasons include high costs ($5,000-$100,000+/year), long implementation timelines (6-18 months), complex interfaces requiring dedicated staff, opaque pricing with hidden fees, the 2020 data breach that exposed donor data at thousands of nonprofits, and the need for multiple separate products to cover CRM, accounting, and fundraising.
From: Blackbaud Alternative for Nonprofits: Modern Software Without the Bloat
Alignmint is the most modern Blackbaud alternative, combining fund accounting, donor CRM, volunteer management, event ticketing, and AI in one platform. It offers transparent pricing, a free Starter plan, and same-day setup — compared to Blackbaud's months-long implementation.
From: Blackbaud Alternative for Nonprofits: Modern Software Without the Bloat
Generally no. Blackbaud's products are designed for large organizations with dedicated IT and finance staff. Small nonprofits typically find the cost, complexity, and implementation time prohibitive. Modern platforms like Alignmint offer comparable features at a fraction of the cost.
From: Blackbaud Alternative for Nonprofits: Modern Software Without the Bloat
Common reasons include limited reporting capabilities, lack of multi-entity support, no built-in volunteer management, basic CRM features, and the need for a more modern platform that combines accounting and donor management in one system.
From: Aplos Alternative: When You've Outgrown Entry-Level Tools
Alignmint is the most complete Aplos alternative, offering fund accounting, donor CRM, volunteer management, event ticketing, and AI — all in one platform with a free Starter plan. It addresses the gaps Aplos leaves without adding separate tools.
From: Aplos Alternative: When You've Outgrown Entry-Level Tools
Aplos offers fund accounting and basic donor management starting around $60-75/month. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes more features — volunteer tools, event management, digital waivers, and AI-powered queries.
From: Aplos Alternative: When You've Outgrown Entry-Level Tools
Yes, but most 'free' plans are either time-limited trials or severely restricted. Alignmint offers a permanent free Starter plan with fund accounting, donor CRM, volunteer management, events, and AI — for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations. No credit card required.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Wave offers free basic bookkeeping but has no fund accounting or nonprofit features. Alignmint's free Starter plan includes true fund accounting with a pre-built chart of accounts mapped to Form 990, restricted fund tracking, and FASB-compliant reporting.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Small nonprofits under $100K in annual donations can run their entire operation on Alignmint's free Starter plan — including accounting, donor management, volunteer tracking, events, and AI. Larger organizations will need a paid plan for higher volume and advanced features.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Fiscal sponsorship software must handle multi-entity management, data isolation between organizations, consolidated reporting, automatic fee calculation, role-based access, per-org fund accounting, and a single subscription covering all sponsored nonprofits.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Fiscal sponsors need to manage multiple organizations from one account with complete data privacy between each. Generic tools force workarounds like separate accounts (expensive) or shared accounts with classes (risky).
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Purpose-built fiscal sponsor software automatically calculates monthly fees based on each sponsored org's actual revenue, applies the correct fee percentage, and creates the journal entries — eliminating the manual spreadsheet process that most sponsors currently use.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsorship Software in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
Alignmint is the only platform built from the ground up for fiscal sponsors. It provides true multi-entity management from one account, automatic fee calculation, consolidated reporting, and per-org data isolation — without requiring separate subscriptions for each sponsored nonprofit.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
QuickBooks requires a separate account for each sponsored organization, with no consolidated reporting, no automatic fee calculation, and no data isolation. Managing 15 orgs means 15 logins and 15 bills. Purpose-built fiscal sponsor platforms solve all of these problems.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Generic tools like QuickBooks cost $30-80/month per organization — so 15 orgs could cost $450-1,200/month just for accounting. Alignmint offers a single subscription that covers unlimited organizations with consolidated reporting and automatic fee allocation.
From: Best Fiscal Sponsor Accounting Platforms in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Yes. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches up to $100K in annual donations that includes real fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning. Most other 'free' options are either limited trials, basic bookkeeping tools without fund accounting, or freemium products that charge for essential features.
QuickBooks does not offer a free plan. Even if it did, QuickBooks lacks fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit financial statements. Churches need purpose-built software that understands funds, tithes, and designated gifts.
At minimum: fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, donation tracking with year-end giving statements, nonprofit financial statements (Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities), and multi-fund reporting. Bonus features include volunteer management, event planning, and digital waivers.
ChurchTrac offers basic income and expense tracking but does not include true fund accounting with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, or automatic fund balance tracking. Alignmint includes full fund accounting designed for churches.
ChurchTrac pricing starts around $50/month for small churches. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning — features that require paid add-ons or separate tools with ChurchTrac.
ChurchTrac works for very small churches with basic needs. However, it lacks fund accounting, digital waivers, and modern event management. Churches that need restricted fund tracking, volunteer hour logging, or integrated communications typically outgrow ChurchTrac quickly.
No. Planning Center focuses on worship planning, check-ins, groups, and registrations. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 support. Churches using Planning Center need separate accounting software. Alignmint includes full church accounting alongside CRM and volunteer tools.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Yes. Some churches use Planning Center for worship planning and Alignmint for accounting, donations, and volunteer management. However, Alignmint's all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and keeps all your data in one place.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Planning Center uses per-app pricing — each module (People, Giving, Groups, etc.) is a separate subscription. A full suite can cost $200-400+/month. Alignmint's Starter plan is free and includes accounting, CRM, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Planning Center: Accounting + Ministry in One Platform
Realm (by ACS Technologies) includes basic financial tracking but does not offer true fund accounting with restricted fund enforcement, fund-level financial statements, or automatic fund balance tracking. Alignmint provides full fund accounting designed for churches.
Realm pricing starts around $100/month for small churches and increases with congregation size. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for churches up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donation tracking, volunteer management, and event planning.
Realm works for churches already in the ACS Technologies ecosystem. However, it can be complex to set up and lacks modern features like digital waivers, AI-powered queries, and integrated event ticketing. Alignmint offers a simpler, more modern alternative with a free tier.
No. Virtuous is a responsive fundraising CRM focused on donor engagement and marketing automation. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 preparation. You need separate accounting software. Alignmint combines CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
Virtuous uses custom pricing starting around $400-600/month for small organizations. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes both CRM and fund accounting.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
Virtuous is designed for mid-sized to large nonprofits with dedicated marketing staff. Small organizations often find the cost and complexity excessive. Alignmint offers a simpler, more affordable alternative with CRM, accounting, and volunteer tools in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Virtuous: Which Nonprofit CRM Is Right for You?
No. DonorPerfect is a donor management CRM. It does not include fund accounting, financial statements, or Form 990 preparation. You need separate accounting software. Alignmint combines donor CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
DonorPerfect starts at $99/month for up to 1,000 records. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes both CRM and fund accounting. Adding separate accounting software to DonorPerfect increases total cost significantly.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
DonorPerfect is a capable CRM for small nonprofits focused on donor management. But if you also need accounting, volunteer tracking, or event management, you'll need additional tools. Alignmint provides all of these in one platform with a free tier.
From: Alignmint vs DonorPerfect: Fund Accounting Meets Donor Management
No. Bloomerang is a CRM-only platform focused on donor management and retention. You need separate accounting software (like QuickBooks or Aplos) for fund accounting, financial reporting, and Form 990 preparation. Alignmint includes both CRM and fund accounting in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
Bloomerang starts at $125/month for up to 1,000 records. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations and includes CRM, fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management. When you add the cost of separate accounting software to Bloomerang, Alignmint is significantly more affordable.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
Bloomerang is a solid CRM for small nonprofits that only need donor management. But if you also need accounting, volunteer tracking, or event management, you'll need additional tools — adding cost and complexity. Alignmint combines all of these in one platform.
From: Alignmint vs Bloomerang: CRM + Accounting in One Platform
A donation page builder is software that lets nonprofits create branded online giving pages without coding. You customize the design, set suggested gift amounts, add recurring giving options, and embed the page on your website or share a direct link. The best builders include payment processing, donor data capture, and analytics.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Costs vary widely. Donorbox charges 1.75% per transaction plus payment processing fees. Classy starts around $299/month. GiveForms is free with a 1% fee. Alignmint includes a donation page builder in every plan — free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations, with no platform transaction fees.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Yes. Most donation page builders offer embeddable forms or widgets you can add to your website. Alignmint provides both standalone donation pages with custom URLs and embeddable forms that match your site's branding.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Essential features include custom branding, suggested gift amounts, recurring giving options, mobile-responsive design, donor data capture, tax receipt generation, analytics and conversion tracking, and low or no platform fees. Bonus features include A/B testing, peer-to-peer fundraising, and integration with your CRM.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Most CRMs like Bloomerang and DonorPerfect don't include a donation page builder — you need a separate tool like Donorbox or Classy. Alignmint includes a drag-and-drop donation page builder alongside its donor CRM, fund accounting, and marketing tools, so you don't need a separate vendor.
From: Donation Page Builder for Nonprofits: Create Branded Giving Pages That Convert
Alignmint is the only nonprofit platform with a built-in AI assistant (Minty AI) that queries your actual fund accounting, donor, and volunteer data in real time. Virtuous has Momentum for donor insights but no fund accounting underneath. Aplos offers basic data visualization but no natural language AI. Blackbaud and Bloomerang have no built-in AI features.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
Virtuous Momentum is an AI-powered donor insights tool built into the Virtuous CRM. It helps with donor scoring and engagement predictions. However, Virtuous does not include fund accounting, so Momentum cannot answer questions about fund balances, grant spending, or Form 990 readiness.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
No. AI is a tool that makes your finance team faster — not a replacement for proper fund accounting. AI without real accounting data underneath is just a chatbot. Look for platforms where AI is built into your actual financial system, not layered on top as an add-on.
From: AI for Nonprofit Financial Management: What's Real vs. Hype in 2026
Blackbaud doesn't publish pricing publicly. Based on nonprofit reports, Raiser's Edge NXT typically costs $4,000-$15,000/year, Financial Edge NXT runs $5,000-$20,000/year, and Blackbaud CRM starts around $15,000-$50,000+/year. Add implementation fees of $5,000-$100,000+ and you're looking at a significant first-year investment.
From: The Hidden Cost of Blackbaud: What Small Nonprofits Actually Pay
Blackbaud uses a quote-based pricing model where costs vary by organization size, database records, modules selected, and contract length. This makes it difficult to compare costs upfront. Most modern nonprofit software platforms publish transparent pricing on their websites.
From: The Hidden Cost of Blackbaud: What Small Nonprofits Actually Pay
For most small nonprofits (under $5M in revenue), Blackbaud's cost and complexity exceed what's needed. Between subscription fees, implementation, training, and add-ons, first-year costs often reach $15,000-$40,000. Modern platforms like Alignmint offer comparable features with a free Starter plan and Pro pricing starting at $499/month.
From: The Hidden Cost of Blackbaud: What Small Nonprofits Actually Pay
Blackbaud's most affordable product is typically eTapestry, their entry-level donor management tool, starting around $100-$150/month. However, it's limited in features and doesn't include accounting. For CRM and accounting together, you'd need Raiser's Edge NXT plus Financial Edge NXT — a combined cost of $10,000-$30,000+/year.
From: The Hidden Cost of Blackbaud: What Small Nonprofits Actually Pay
Volunteer scheduling software helps nonprofits create events, publish signup calendars, manage shifts, and track attendance. The best tools include QR code check-in, automatic hour tracking, skill matching, waitlist management, and analytics — replacing email chains and spreadsheet sign-ups.
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
SignUpGenius offers a free tier for basic event sign-ups. For nonprofits that need scheduling connected to accounting, CRM, and hour tracking, Alignmint's free Starter plan includes volunteer management (the full Volunteer Scheduler with public calendars and QR check-in requires Pro or Enterprise).
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
Some do. Alignmint's Volunteer Scheduler automatically credits hours when volunteers check in via QR code — based on the event's start and end time. Most standalone tools like SignUpGenius and VolunteerHub require separate hour logging.
From: Best Volunteer Scheduling Software for Nonprofits in 2026
Volunteer background check software helps nonprofits screen volunteers by running criminal history, sex offender registry, and identity verification checks. The best solutions also track check status (pending, approved, expired), send renewal reminders, and integrate with your volunteer CRM so coordinators always know who is cleared to serve.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Requirements vary by state and activity. Most states require background checks for volunteers working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many grant funders and insurance policies also require volunteer screening. Even when not legally required, background checks are a best practice that reduces organizational liability.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Basic background checks typically cost $10–$30 per volunteer through providers like Sterling, Checkr, or GoodHire. Some providers offer nonprofit discounts. The cost of not screening — potential lawsuits, insurance claims, and reputational damage — far exceeds the screening cost.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Background Check Software: What to Look For
Nonprofit accounting software is purpose-built to handle fund accounting, restricted gift tracking, FASB-compliant reporting, and donor integration. Unlike business accounting tools like QuickBooks, it tracks stewardship (how resources are used by purpose) rather than profit and loss.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
You can, but you'll hit limitations quickly. QuickBooks doesn't support true fund accounting, can't generate a Statement of Functional Expenses, and doesn't track restricted fund balances natively. Most nonprofits that start with QuickBooks eventually switch to purpose-built software as they grow.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
They're closely related. Fund accounting is the methodology — tracking resources by purpose rather than profit. Nonprofit accounting software is the tool that implements fund accounting along with other nonprofit-specific features like donor integration, Form 990 support, and grant tracking.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in annual donations) to $59-159/month (Aplos) to $500-2,000+/month (Blackbaud). Always compare the total cost — if the accounting software doesn't include CRM, email, and events, you'll pay for those separately.
From: Nonprofit Accounting Software: Why Your Organization Needs Specialized Tools
Fund accounting software is a specialized accounting system designed for nonprofits, governments, and other organizations that need to track resources by purpose rather than profit. It separates your finances into funds — each with its own restrictions, budgets, and reporting — so you always know exactly how donor and grant dollars are being used.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
QuickBooks is built for businesses that track profit and loss. Nonprofits need to track stewardship — how resources are used according to donor intent. QuickBooks uses 'classes' to approximate fund tracking, but it can't generate a Statement of Functional Expenses, track restricted fund balances in real time, or handle inter-fund transfers properly. Purpose-built fund accounting software handles all of this natively.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Regular (for-profit) accounting focuses on one bottom line: net income. Fund accounting tracks multiple 'bottom lines' — one for each fund. Every transaction is tagged to a specific fund, and the system tracks whether those funds are restricted or unrestricted. This ensures donor-restricted dollars are never spent on the wrong purpose.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations) to $59-159/month (Aplos) to $500-2,000+/month (Blackbaud Financial Edge). The real cost comparison should include CRM, email, and event tools if the accounting platform doesn't include them.
From: Fund Accounting Software for Nonprofits: A Complete Guide
Fund accounting is a specialized accounting method that tracks resources by their intended purpose rather than by profit and loss. Each fund (restricted, unrestricted, temporarily restricted) has its own assets, liabilities, and balance. It ensures donor restrictions are honored and organizations can demonstrate accountability.
Regular accounting tracks profit and loss for business owners. Nonprofits don't have profit — they have stewardship obligations. Fund accounting ensures restricted gifts are used as intended, financial statements meet FASB requirements, and organizations can report to donors, grantors, and regulators on how every dollar was used.
The three main types are unrestricted funds (available for any purpose), temporarily restricted funds (designated for a specific purpose or time period), and permanently restricted funds (endowments where only the income can be used). FASB classifies these as net assets 'with donor restrictions' and 'without donor restrictions.'
Nonprofit CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) software centralizes all your donor and supporter data — contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement. It's designed for nonprofit workflows like gift tracking, receipting, segmentation, and stewardship automation.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Business CRMs track sales pipelines and customer revenue. Nonprofit CRMs track donations, pledges, fund designations, giving statements, and donor stewardship. A business CRM like HubSpot or Salesforce can be adapted for nonprofits, but purpose-built nonprofit CRMs work out of the box.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Ideally, yes. When CRM and accounting are separate, every donation gets entered twice and you spend hours reconciling. An integrated platform like Alignmint records each gift once and automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter) to $99-$500/month (Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Virtuous) to $10,000-$50,000+/year (Blackbaud, Salesforce). Always compare the total cost including accounting software, email tools, and event platforms if the CRM doesn't include them.
From: Choosing the Best Nonprofit CRM Software for High-Transactional Teams
Donor management software (also called a nonprofit CRM) centralizes all your donor data — contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement — in one system. It automates thank-you emails, generates giving statements, and provides analytics to help you raise more and retain donors longer.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
In the nonprofit world, they're essentially the same thing. A CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) tracks all your relationships — donors, volunteers, members, and contacts. Donor management software is a CRM focused specifically on fundraising workflows like gift tracking, receipting, and stewardship.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $99-$500+/month for platforms like Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or Virtuous. Enterprise platforms like Blackbaud or Salesforce can cost $10,000-$50,000+ per year. The real cost comparison should include accounting software if the CRM doesn't include it.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Ideally, yes. When your CRM and accounting are separate systems, every donation gets entered twice and you spend hours reconciling. An integrated platform like Alignmint records each gift once and automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports.
From: Donor Management Software: Streamline Your Fundraising
Centralize all donor data in a CRM that tracks contact info, giving history, communications, and engagement. Automate thank-you emails and receipts. Segment donors by giving level and engagement for targeted outreach. The key is having one system where you can see every donor's complete relationship with your organization.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Yes. When your CRM and accounting are separate, you're maintaining two sets of records and manually reconciling them. An integrated system means every donation automatically updates the donor profile, the general ledger, and your financial reports — no double entry.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Monthly, at minimum. Bank reconciliation catches errors, prevents fraud, and ensures your financial reports are accurate. With software that imports bank transactions automatically, reconciliation takes minutes instead of hours.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
At minimum: a balance sheet, income statement (statement of activities), and budget vs. actual report. Many boards also want a cash flow statement, fund balance summary, and program expense breakdown. These should be generated monthly or quarterly.
From: How to Manage Nonprofit Donors and Finances: A Practical Guide
Donor database software is a specialized tool that stores, organizes, and analyzes information about your nonprofit's donors and supporters. It tracks contact info, giving history, communications, event attendance, and volunteer involvement — giving you a complete picture of each donor's relationship with your organization.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
A donor database focuses on storing and organizing donor information. A CRM (Constituent Relationship Management) goes further with communication tools, stewardship automation, and relationship management features. Most modern platforms combine both — Alignmint includes donor database, CRM, and fund accounting in one system.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $99-$500+/month for platforms like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect. Enterprise solutions like Blackbaud can cost $5,000-$50,000+/year. Compare the total cost including any separate accounting or email tools you'd need.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Yes. Most donor database platforms accept CSV imports. You can upload your donor list, giving history, and custom fields. Alignmint's import tool maps your spreadsheet columns to database fields automatically. It's a good opportunity to clean up duplicates and outdated records.
From: Donor Database Software: Organize and Grow Your Nonprofit
Online donation software lets nonprofits accept gifts through their website or custom donation pages. It handles payment processing, receipt generation, recurring gift management, and donor data — then syncs everything with your CRM and accounting system.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Most platforms charge a monthly fee plus a per-transaction fee (typically 2.2-3.5% + $0.30 per transaction). Some platforms like Alignmint include online giving as part of their all-in-one subscription with no additional monthly fee for the donation page itself.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Three things have the biggest impact: a mobile-friendly donation page with minimal form fields, suggested giving amounts (anchored to your average gift size), and a prominent recurring giving option. Nonprofits that offer recurring giving see 2-3x higher lifetime donor value.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Absolutely. If online gifts don't flow automatically into your accounting system, someone has to enter them manually — which creates delays, errors, and reconciliation headaches. The best platforms record the donation, update the donor profile, and create the journal entry in one step.
From: Online Donation Software: Boost Your Nonprofit's Giving
Many nonprofits still use Excel spreadsheets, but purpose-built tools like Alignmint, Aplos, and Sage Intacct offer fund-specific budgeting with real-time tracking. The best tools integrate budgeting with your accounting system so budget vs. actual reports generate automatically.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Start with prior year actuals, estimate revenue (donations, grants, earned income), allocate expenses by program and function, build in contingency reserves, get board approval, then monitor monthly. The key is tracking by fund — each restricted fund and grant should have its own budget.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Yes. Each restricted fund and grant should have its own budget line items. This ensures you don't overspend restricted money and can report accurately to grantors. Fund-level budgeting is a core feature of nonprofit accounting software.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Monthly, at minimum. Review budget vs. actual for each program and fund. Flag any categories where spending exceeds 90% of budget. Adjust projections quarterly based on actual revenue and expense trends.
From: Nonprofit Budgeting Tools: Plan and Track Your Mission
Donor stewardship is the process of building and maintaining relationships with your supporters after they give. It includes thanking donors promptly, keeping them informed about impact, recognizing their contributions, and inviting continued engagement. Good stewardship is the single biggest factor in donor retention.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
The average nonprofit loses 50-60% of first-time donors. Good stewardship dramatically improves retention. It costs 5-10x more to acquire a new donor than to retain an existing one, and loyal donors give more over time — often including your organization in their estate plans.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
Automated thank-you emails triggered by gift entry, donor journey tracking (first gift to major donor), personalized segmentation, task reminders for personal outreach, impact reporting tools, and recognition tracking. The best platforms integrate stewardship with CRM and accounting so everything is connected.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
Within 48 hours, ideally instantly. Automated thank-you emails should send immediately when a gift is recorded. For major donors ($1,000+), follow up with a personal phone call within a week. Speed of acknowledgment is one of the strongest predictors of whether a donor will give again.
From: Donor Stewardship Software: Build Lasting Relationships
Staff costs are typically 60-80% of a nonprofit's budget. Without payroll integration, someone manually enters payroll journal entries every pay period — allocating salaries across funds, programs, and grants. Integration automates this, eliminating errors and saving hours per month.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Staff who work on grant-funded programs must have their salary and benefits allocated to the correct grant budget. This is typically done by percentage (e.g., 50% to Grant A, 30% to Grant B, 20% to general operations) based on time tracking. Payroll integration automates these allocations.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Common providers include Gusto, ADP, and Paychex. The key is whether the payroll provider integrates with your accounting system to automatically post journal entries with fund allocations. All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include payroll integration natively.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Yes. While nonprofits are exempt from income tax, they must withhold and remit employee payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, federal and state income tax). Some states exempt 501(c)(3) organizations from state unemployment tax (SUTA), but federal unemployment tax (FUTA) exemption applies to most 501(c)(3)s.
From: Nonprofit Payroll Integration: Streamline Staff Management
Nonprofit grant management encompasses the entire lifecycle of grant funding — from identifying opportunities through application, award, implementation, and reporting. It includes tracking spending against grant budgets, maintaining compliance documentation, and filing required reports.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Nonprofits track grant spending by assigning each grant its own fund in their accounting system. Every expense charged to the grant is tagged with the fund code, maintaining a running balance. Fund accounting software generates grant-specific financial reports showing exactly how each dollar was used.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
Purpose-built nonprofit accounting software with fund accounting handles grant tracking natively. Each grant gets its own fund with budget tracking, spending alerts, and compliance reporting. Alignmint includes grant management alongside donor CRM and volunteer tools in one platform.
From: Nonprofit Grant Management: From Application to Reporting
CRM donor management is the practice of using a Customer Relationship Management system to track donor interactions, giving history, communication preferences, and engagement. It centralizes all supporter data so your team can build stronger relationships and make data-driven fundraising decisions.
Ideally, yes. When CRM and accounting are separate, donations recorded in your CRM don't automatically create journal entries in your books. Integrated platforms like Alignmint connect every gift to both the donor record and the correct fund — eliminating double entry and reconciliation errors.
Nonprofit donor management is the practice of cultivating meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters. It goes beyond tracking gifts to understanding donor motivations, communicating effectively, and creating experiences that inspire continued generosity.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
The key drivers of donor retention are timely thank-yous (within 48 hours), regular impact reporting, personalized communication, and making donors feel like partners in your mission. Organizations that prioritize relationships over transactions typically achieve 60-70% retention vs. the 45% average.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
Donor management software (nonprofit CRM) centralizes supporter data, tracks interactions, automates communications, and provides analytics. Alignmint combines donor management with fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform with a free Starter plan.
From: Nonprofit Donor Management: Building Lasting Relationships
Donor management is the practice of cultivating meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters. It includes tracking giving history, managing communications, segmenting donors for targeted outreach, and measuring retention — all with the goal of increasing donor lifetime value.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
The average nonprofit donor retention rate is around 45%. Organizations with strong donor management practices — timely thank-yous, impact reporting, and personalized communication — typically achieve 60-70% retention. Every 10% improvement in retention can significantly increase lifetime revenue.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
Nonprofits use donor management software (also called nonprofit CRM) to centralize supporter data, track interactions, automate communications, and analyze giving patterns. Alignmint combines donor management with fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management in one platform.
From: Donor Management for Nonprofits: Best Practices & Tools
Donation management software is a specialized tool that helps nonprofits track, process, and report on charitable contributions. It records donor information, gift amounts, fund designations, and payment methods — and generates tax receipts, acknowledgment letters, and fundraising reports.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
The best donation management software does. When a gift is recorded, it should automatically create the corresponding journal entry in your fund accounting system — crediting the correct fund and updating your financial statements in real time. Alignmint handles this natively.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
Essential features include gift entry and batch processing, automatic tax receipt generation, pledge tracking, recurring gift management, fund designation, donor communication tools, and reporting. Integration with fund accounting is critical to avoid double data entry.
From: Donation Management Software: The Complete Nonprofit Guide
Donor manager software is a database system designed for charitable organizations that stores donor contact information, records giving history, tracks interactions, and helps manage relationships at scale. It's also called donor management software or nonprofit CRM.
Pricing varies widely. Basic tools start at $50-100/month, mid-tier platforms run $100-300/month, and enterprise solutions cost $500+/month. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan that includes donor management alongside fund accounting, volunteer tools, and event management.
Ideally, yes. When donor management and accounting are in the same platform, every gift automatically creates a journal entry in the correct fund. This eliminates double data entry, reduces errors, and gives you a complete picture of each donor's financial relationship with your organization.
Nonprofit organization software encompasses the tools that help charitable organizations manage operations — from finances and fundraising to donor relationships and program delivery. Modern platforms combine accounting, CRM, volunteer management, and event tools in one system to eliminate data silos.
From: Nonprofit Organization Software: All-in-One Solutions for 2025
Alignmint is the most complete all-in-one nonprofit platform, combining fund accounting, donor CRM, volunteer management, event ticketing, digital waivers, and AI in one system. It eliminates the need for separate accounting, CRM, and volunteer tools — with a free Starter plan.
From: Nonprofit Organization Software: All-in-One Solutions for 2025
The average nonprofit uses 4-7 separate software tools — accounting, CRM, email marketing, volunteer management, event registration, and more. This creates data silos, double entry, and reconciliation headaches. All-in-one platforms reduce this to one system.
From: Nonprofit Organization Software: All-in-One Solutions for 2025
The best accounting program for nonprofits includes fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, and Form 990 support. Alignmint offers all of these with a free Starter plan for organizations up to $100K in annual donations.
QuickBooks can handle basic bookkeeping, but it lacks fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit-specific financial statements. Most nonprofits outgrow QuickBooks quickly and switch to purpose-built nonprofit accounting software.
All-in-one nonprofit management software combines fund accounting, donor CRM, donation tracking, volunteer management, event planning, and marketing into a single platform. Instead of paying for and managing 4-6 separate tools, you use one system where everything is connected.
From: All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software: The Future of Mission-Driven Work
For most nonprofits, yes. Best-of-breed tools (separate CRM, separate accounting, separate email) create data silos that require manual syncing. All-in-one platforms eliminate that problem. The exception is very large organizations with highly specialized needs in one area.
From: All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software: The Future of Mission-Driven Work
Prices vary widely. Enterprise platforms like Blackbaud can cost $5,000+ per year. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations, with Pro plans starting at $499/month for larger organizations. The real comparison is the total cost of all the separate tools you'd replace.
From: All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software: The Future of Mission-Driven Work
Yes. Most all-in-one platforms support CSV imports for donor data, donation history, and chart of accounts. Alignmint's team provides migration assistance on Pro and Enterprise plans, including data cleanup and validation.
From: All-in-One Nonprofit Management Software: The Future of Mission-Driven Work
Nonprofit financial software encompasses the tools organizations use to manage their complete financial picture — from daily transactions and fund accounting to budgeting, financial reporting, and strategic planning. It's designed for the unique requirements of mission-driven organizations.
Business software optimizes for profit tracking. Nonprofit financial software optimizes for stewardship — tracking restricted funds, generating FASB-compliant statements, supporting Form 990 preparation, and reporting on program effectiveness. The regulatory environment and reporting requirements are fundamentally different.
Essential features include fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, FASB-compliant financial statements, Form 990 support, grant management, budgeting with budget-vs-actual reporting, donor management, and audit-ready record keeping. The best platforms also include CRM, volunteer tools, and event management.
For small nonprofits, Alignmint offers the best combination of features and price — it's free for organizations up to $100K in annual donations and includes true fund accounting, donor management, and financial reporting. Aplos is another option if you only need accounting, but it charges $59+/month and doesn't include CRM or volunteer tools.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
You can, but it's not ideal. QuickBooks doesn't support fund accounting natively — it uses 'classes' which aren't the same as true funds. You can't track restricted vs. unrestricted balances properly, and your financial statements won't meet nonprofit accounting standards without significant manual adjustments.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Yes. Alignmint's Starter plan is free for nonprofits with up to $100K in annual donations and includes fund accounting, donor CRM, and financial reporting. Wave is free but designed for small businesses, not nonprofits — it lacks fund accounting and donor management entirely.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Yes. If you receive any restricted gifts, grants, or designated donations, you're required to track them separately from general operating funds. This is a nonprofit accounting standard, not optional. Fund accounting software makes this automatic instead of manual.
From: Best Accounting Software for Small Nonprofits: 2025 Guide
Cloud-based fund accounting software runs on remote servers and is accessed via the internet — no software to install or servers to maintain. It tracks restricted, unrestricted, and temporarily restricted funds, generates FASB-compliant reports, and lets your team access financials from any device.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Yes. Leading cloud providers offer enterprise-grade security including 256-bit encryption, SOC 2 compliance, automatic backups, and multi-factor authentication. Cloud accounting is generally more secure than on-premise software because the provider handles security updates and monitoring 24/7.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Cloud software is accessed via the internet from any device, updates automatically, and requires no IT infrastructure. On-premise software is installed on your computers, requires manual updates and backups, and can only be accessed from the office. Cloud is cheaper, more accessible, and more secure for most nonprofits.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
Prices range from free (Alignmint Starter, up to $100K in donations) to $39-$200/month for platforms like Aplos or QuickBooks. Enterprise solutions like Sage Intacct or Blackbaud Financial Edge can cost $10,000-$50,000+/year. Cloud pricing is typically subscription-based with no upfront hardware costs.
From: Cloud-Based Fund Accounting for Charities: Modern Solutions
A nonprofit CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is a database platform that centralizes information about donors, volunteers, members, and other supporters. It tracks interactions, giving history, communications, and engagement to help your team build stronger relationships and raise more money.
Pricing ranges from free (Alignmint Starter) to $500+/month for enterprise platforms like Virtuous or Blackbaud. Mid-tier options like Bloomerang and DonorPerfect run $100-300/month. The total cost should include any separate accounting software you need, since most CRMs don't include it.
Donor tracking software records and monitors every gift and interaction with your supporters. It answers the question: who gave what, when, and why? It tracks giving history, communication touchpoints, event attendance, and engagement — helping you identify trends and optimize fundraising.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Donation tracking focuses on the gifts themselves — amounts, dates, funds, and receipts. Donor tracking focuses on the people — their giving patterns, engagement history, communication preferences, and relationship with your organization. The best software does both.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Yes. By tracking giving patterns, you can identify at-risk donors (those whose giving frequency or amount is declining), lapsed donors (who haven't given recently), and upgrade candidates (who are giving more over time). This data drives targeted outreach that improves retention.
From: Donor Tracking Software: Monitor Every Gift & Interaction
Membership software helps nonprofits track dues-paying members alongside traditional donors. It manages member records, dues payments, renewal cycles, benefits, and engagement — providing a complete picture of your supporter relationships.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
Members pay dues in exchange for benefits (access, discounts, community). Donors make charitable gifts with no expectation of return. Many nonprofits have both, and the best software tracks both relationships in one system so you can see the full picture.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
Ideally, yes. Membership dues often have different accounting treatment than donations — dues may not be tax-deductible, while donations are. Integrated platforms like Alignmint handle both correctly, creating the right journal entries for each transaction type.
From: Membership Software for Nonprofits: Manage Members & Donors Together
An enterprise fundraising CRM is a comprehensive donor management platform designed for mid-sized to large nonprofits. It offers advanced segmentation, multi-channel campaign management, major gift tracking, custom workflows, real-time analytics, and integration with accounting and other systems.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
When your donor base exceeds 5,000-10,000 contacts, you process 500+ donations per month, you run multi-channel campaigns, you manage major donor portfolios, or your current CRM can't keep up with your reporting and automation needs.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
Traditional enterprise CRMs like Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT cost $5,000-$50,000+/year plus implementation. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud starts free but quickly scales to $10,000+/year with required add-ons. Modern platforms like Alignmint offer enterprise-level features at a fraction of the cost, including a free Starter plan.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
Most don't. Blackbaud sells accounting (Financial Edge) as a separate product. Salesforce has no accounting at all. This means donations get entered twice — once in the CRM and once in accounting. Alignmint is one of the few platforms that includes both CRM and fund accounting in one system.
From: Enterprise Fundraising CRM for Nonprofits: What to Look For
AI-powered donor analytics uses machine learning to analyze donor behavior, predict future giving, and surface insights that would be impossible to find manually. It can score donors by likelihood to give, upgrade, or lapse — helping you focus your efforts where they'll have the most impact.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Even small nonprofits benefit from basic AI features like lapsed donor alerts, giving trend analysis, and automated segmentation. You don't need a data science team — modern platforms like Alignmint build AI insights directly into the CRM so anyone can use them.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
AI models analyze patterns in your historical data — giving frequency, gift amounts, recency, email engagement, event attendance, and demographics. Based on these patterns, the model assigns scores predicting each donor's likelihood to give again, increase their gift, or stop giving.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Standalone AI analytics tools can cost $500-$5,000+/month. But many modern CRM platforms include AI features in their standard subscription. Alignmint includes AI-powered insights (via Minty AI) as part of the platform at no additional cost.
From: AI-Powered Nonprofit Donor Analytics: Smarter Fundraising
Most churches use either QuickBooks (which lacks fund accounting), a church-specific tool like ChurchTrac or Aplos, or an all-in-one platform like Alignmint that combines accounting with donor management, volunteer tools, and event planning. The right choice depends on your church's size and complexity.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Yes. Churches receive designated gifts (building fund, missions, youth ministry) that must be tracked separately from general tithes and offerings. Fund accounting tracks each fund with its own balance and restrictions. Without it, you risk spending restricted money on the wrong things — which is a compliance violation.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
You can, but it's not ideal. QuickBooks doesn't support fund accounting natively. It uses 'classes' which can't track true fund balances or restrictions. Your financial statements won't be formatted for nonprofit reporting, and you'll need separate software for donor management and giving statements.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Church accounting software with built-in donor management can generate IRS-compliant giving statements automatically. The system pulls each donor's total giving for the year, formats it with your church's EIN and the required tax language, and lets you email or print statements in bulk.
From: Church Accounting Software: Features for Modern Ministries
Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches with up to $100K in annual donations. It includes member tracking, donation management, volunteer tools, and event planning. ChurchTrac is another low-cost option, though it lacks fund accounting and marketing tools.
Yes. A CRM helps you track members, manage giving, send communications, and organize volunteers in one place. Without one, churches rely on spreadsheets and disconnected tools that create data silos and extra work for staff.
Most church CRMs focus only on member management and giving. Alignmint is different — it combines CRM with true fund accounting, so you can track tithes, offerings, restricted funds, and generate financial reports from the same platform.
Most CRMs let you import member and donation data from a CSV file. Alignmint's team can help you migrate your data during setup, so you don't lose any history.
Volunteer management software helps nonprofits recruit, track, schedule, and communicate with volunteers. It includes volunteer CRM profiles, hour tracking, scheduling, communication tools, and reporting. Advanced platforms add digital waivers, background check tracking, and integration with accounting.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
FASB requires nonprofits to report the value of specialized volunteer services. When volunteer hour tracking connects to your accounting system, you can automatically calculate and record in-kind contributions — eliminating manual spreadsheet work and ensuring compliance.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
Alignmint is the only platform that includes volunteer management alongside fund accounting and donor CRM in one system. Volunteer hours automatically connect to your financial records for FASB in-kind contribution reporting. The Starter plan is free.
From: Nonprofit Volunteer Management Software: The Complete Guide
Nonprofits track volunteer hours using software that logs time by volunteer, project, and activity. The best systems include self-service portals where volunteers log their own hours, manager approval workflows, and automatic calculation of in-kind contribution value for FASB reporting.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
Volunteer hour tracking is important for FASB in-kind contribution reporting, grant applications (demonstrating community support), board reports, insurance compliance, and volunteer recognition. Organizations that track hours can quantify the dollar value of volunteer contributions.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
FASB (ASC 958) requires nonprofits to recognize the value of donated services that create or enhance nonfinancial assets, or require specialized skills that would otherwise be purchased. Tracking volunteer hours with activity categorization is essential for determining which hours qualify.
From: Volunteer Hour & Time Tracking Software for Nonprofits: Free Tools & Best Practices
Yes. Digital waivers with electronic signatures are legally binding under the federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). They're actually stronger than paper waivers because they include timestamps, IP addresses, and tamper-proof records that paper can't provide.
The most common are liability waivers (for events and activities), photo/video release forms, medical release forms (for youth programs), background check consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and codes of conduct. The specific waivers you need depend on your programs and activities.
Yes. Modern digital waiver platforms are mobile-friendly — volunteers can sign from any device (phone, tablet, or computer) without downloading an app. The best platforms let volunteers sign before they arrive, eliminating clipboard lines at check-in.
In an integrated platform like Alignmint, signed waivers are stored directly on the volunteer's profile. You can require waiver completion before event check-in, filter volunteers by waiver status, and track expiration dates for annual renewals — all from the same system.
Nonprofit event management software helps organizations plan, promote, and run events like galas, auctions, retreats, and camps. The best platforms include ticket sales, registration, check-in, and automatic revenue tracking — all connected to your accounting and donor CRM.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
Eventbrite is great for general events, but it doesn't connect to your accounting system, donor CRM, or fund tracking. Revenue has to be manually entered, attendees aren't linked to donor profiles, and there's no way to allocate event income to specific funds. Purpose-built nonprofit software handles all of this automatically.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
Standalone event platforms charge $50-200/month plus per-ticket fees (Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket). All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include event management on every plan — including the free Starter plan — with no per-ticket fees beyond standard Stripe processing.
From: Nonprofit Event Management Software: Plan, Sell, Track
The best option depends on your needs. For nonprofits that want ticketing integrated with accounting and donor CRM, Alignmint is the most complete solution — with no per-ticket fees. For standalone ticketing, Eventbrite is popular but charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket and doesn't connect to your accounting.
Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket. For a 200-person gala at $100/ticket, that's $1,098 in platform fees alone. All-in-one platforms like Alignmint include ticketing with no per-ticket fees — you only pay Stripe's standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30).
Yes. When ticketing is separate from accounting, someone has to manually enter event revenue into your books after every event — allocating to the correct fund, matching to donor profiles, and reconciling payouts. Integrated platforms handle all of this automatically.
Yes. Emails with video thumbnails see 2-3x higher click-through rates, and adding video to a donation page can increase conversion rates by 20-30%. The key is authenticity — a 60-second phone video from a board member outperforms a polished production.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
No. Modern smartphones shoot excellent video. Use natural lighting near a window, keep backgrounds simple, and add captions with free tools like Kapwing or Descript. Donors respond to real people sharing real stories, not polished corporate productions.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
The best approach is a donation page builder that lets you embed video directly alongside your donation form. Alignmint's drag-and-drop builder supports video embeds, progress bars, testimonials, and Stripe checkout — all on one page.
From: Video Fundraising: Why Personal Appeals Raise More Money
A high-converting donation page has a clear impact-focused headline, suggested gift amounts, a prominent recurring giving option, minimal form fields, mobile-first design, trust signals (SSL, payment processor logo, 501(c)(3) status), and an immediate thank-you confirmation with email receipt.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
As few as possible. Every additional field reduces conversion. Essential fields are name, email, and payment info. Only add phone and address if needed for tax receipts. Remove 'How did you hear about us?' and lengthy comment boxes.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
Yes. Adding a video to your donation page can increase conversion rates by 20-30%. Use a short (60-90 second) impact story or personal appeal to reinforce the emotional connection right before the donor enters payment info.
From: Nonprofit Donation Page Best Practices (With Examples)
MintBucks are Alignmint's unified marketing credit system. Instead of paying separately for email, SMS, and direct mail through different providers, you get one pool of credits that works across every channel — email (1 MintBuck), SMS (2), postcards (100), letters (200), and handwritten cards (600).
MintBucks power automated donor journeys across multiple channels. When a donor gives, they automatically receive a thank-you email, a 7-day impact update, a 30-day handwritten card, and ongoing engagement — all triggered without manual effort. Consistent multi-channel communication is the #1 driver of donor retention.
Every Alignmint plan includes a monthly MintBucks allocation. The Starter plan (free) includes enough credits for basic email communication. Paid plans include larger allocations for multi-channel campaigns. Additional MintBucks can be purchased as needed.
AI nonprofit accounting software combines traditional fund accounting capabilities — restricted fund tracking, Form 990 reporting, FASB-compliant statements — with AI features like natural language queries, automated transaction categorization, and anomaly detection. The key difference from generic AI tools is that it understands fund accounting.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Alignmint is the most complete AI nonprofit accounting platform, with built-in Minty AI that queries your actual financial data. It includes fund accounting, donor CRM, and AI features in one system with a free Starter plan. Generic tools like QuickBooks AI don't understand funds, grants, or Form 990.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Yes. AI that understands your chart of accounts can check for missing data across Form 990 line items, flag incomplete sections, and suggest corrections — reducing preparation time and the back-and-forth with your CPA at year-end.
From: AI Nonprofit Accounting Software: The Complete 2026 Guide
Fiscal sponsor management software is purpose-built technology for 501(c)(3) organizations that provide tax-exempt status to multiple sponsored projects. It lets you manage all organizations from one account with complete data privacy, consolidated reporting, and automatic fee allocation.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Fiscal sponsors need multi-entity management with data isolation, consolidated reporting across all orgs, automatic fee calculation, and role-based access. Generic tools force expensive workarounds like separate accounts or risky shared accounts.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Essential features include one-account multi-org management, true data isolation between entities, consolidated financial reporting, automatic monthly fee calculation, role-based access controls, per-org fund accounting with restricted fund tracking, and a single subscription covering unlimited organizations.
From: The Complete Guide to Fiscal Sponsor Management Software
Fiscal sponsorship is best for new projects that need to start quickly, test an idea, or operate for a limited time. Starting a 501(c)(3) is better for organizations with long-term plans, a board ready to govern, and the resources to manage compliance. Many organizations start with fiscal sponsorship and transition to their own 501(c)(3) later.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
A fiscal sponsorship arrangement can be set up in 2-4 weeks. Filing for 501(c)(3) status takes 3-12 months for IRS approval, plus time to incorporate, draft bylaws, and assemble a board. Fiscal sponsorship lets you accept tax-deductible donations immediately.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
Fiscal sponsors charge 5-15% of revenue as an ongoing fee. Starting a 501(c)(3) costs $2,000-$5,000+ upfront (legal fees, IRS filing fee, state registrations) plus ongoing compliance costs. For projects under $100K/year, fiscal sponsorship is often more cost-effective.
From: Fiscal Sponsorship vs. Starting a 501(c)(3): Which Is Right for Your Project?
Fiscal sponsorship fees typically range from 5-15% of revenue. Large, established projects with high revenue pay 5-7%. Standard arrangements run 8-10%. Newer projects or those requiring significant administrative support pay 10-15%. Some sponsors also charge flat monthly fees or tiered rates.
Most fiscal sponsors calculate fees as a percentage of each sponsored organization's monthly revenue. The fee is applied to gross contributions received, then deducted before disbursing funds to the project. Purpose-built software automates this calculation and creates the journal entries automatically.
Yes. Many fiscal sponsors use tiered fee structures based on revenue volume, project complexity, or the level of administrative support provided. Some charge higher rates for new projects and reduce fees as the project matures. The key is documenting the fee structure in each sponsorship agreement.
Look for a sponsor with experience in your issue area, transparent fee structures (5-15% is typical), clear communication about their sponsorship model (A, C, or F), strong financial management practices, and technology that gives you visibility into your project's finances. Avoid sponsors with vague fees or no written agreement.
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Start with the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors (NNFS) directory, community foundations in your area, and organizations working in your issue area. Ask other nonprofit leaders for referrals. Interview at least 2-3 potential sponsors before committing.
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Key questions include: What sponsorship model do you use? What is your fee structure? How quickly can I access funds? What financial reports will I receive? What software do you use for accounting? How many projects do you currently sponsor? Can I speak with current sponsored projects as references?
From: How to Choose a Fiscal Sponsor: A Guide for New Projects
Yes, but most 'free' plans are either time-limited trials or severely restricted. Alignmint offers a permanent free Starter plan with fund accounting, donor CRM, volunteer management, events, and AI — for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations. No credit card required.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Wave offers free basic bookkeeping but has no fund accounting or nonprofit features. Alignmint's free Starter plan includes true fund accounting with a pre-built chart of accounts mapped to Form 990, restricted fund tracking, and FASB-compliant reporting.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Small nonprofits under $100K in annual donations can run their entire operation on Alignmint's free Starter plan — including accounting, donor management, volunteer tracking, events, and AI. Larger organizations will need a paid plan for higher volume and advanced features.
From: Best Free Nonprofit Software in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
Use multi-entity nonprofit software that lets you manage all organizations from one account with complete data isolation between each. Each org gets its own donors, finances, and operations while you get consolidated reporting and a one-click org switcher. Alignmint is built for this use case.
QuickBooks requires a separate account and subscription for each organization. Managing 15 nonprofits means 15 logins, 15 bills, and no consolidated reporting. Purpose-built multi-entity platforms like Alignmint manage unlimited organizations from one account.
Multi-entity nonprofit management is the practice of overseeing multiple nonprofit organizations from a single system. It's used by fiscal sponsors, umbrella organizations, denominational offices, and networks of affiliated nonprofits. The key requirements are data isolation, consolidated reporting, and role-based access.
Nonprofit umbrella organization software is purpose-built technology for organizations that oversee multiple nonprofits — fiscal sponsors, denominational offices, federated charities, and parent organizations with chapters. It manages all entities from one account with data isolation, consolidated reporting, and role-based access.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Regular nonprofit software is designed for a single organization. Umbrella organization software adds multi-entity management with true data isolation between each org, consolidated reporting across all entities, automatic fee allocation, and a one-click org switcher — all from one subscription.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Fiscal sponsors managing sponsored projects, denominational offices overseeing local churches, federated charities (like United Way affiliates), parent organizations with local chapters, and any nonprofit network that needs centralized oversight with decentralized operations.
From: Nonprofit Umbrella Organization Software: What It Is and How to Choose
Churches should use purpose-built software that records every gift by donor, amount, date, fund designation, and payment method. The software should generate automatic tax receipts, year-end giving statements, and fund-specific reports. Manual spreadsheets and paper envelopes create errors and compliance risk.
Yes. Churches are required to provide written acknowledgment for any single contribution of $250 or more. Year-end giving statements serve as this acknowledgment for all gifts throughout the year. Members need these statements to claim their charitable tax deduction.
When a member designates a gift for a specific purpose (building fund, missions, benevolence), that designation is legally binding. Commingling restricted and unrestricted funds is a compliance violation that can result in loss of donor trust, audit findings, and potential legal consequences.
Yes. Alignmint offers a free Starter plan for churches up to $100K in annual donations that includes real fund accounting, donation tracking with year-end giving statements, volunteer management, and event planning. No credit card required and no time limit.
Even small churches need fund accounting (tracking restricted vs. unrestricted funds), donation tracking with tax receipts, year-end giving statements, basic financial reports for the board, and bank reconciliation. Spreadsheets can handle this temporarily, but purpose-built software saves 5-10 hours per month.
No. QuickBooks does not offer a free plan, and even paid versions lack fund accounting, restricted fund tracking, and nonprofit financial statements. Churches need purpose-built software that understands funds, tithes, and designated gifts.
Churches should send year-end giving statements by January 31st. This gives members time to use them for tax filing. The IRS requires written acknowledgment for gifts of $250 or more, and year-end statements serve as this acknowledgment for all gifts throughout the year.
IRS requirements include: the church's name, the amount of each cash contribution (or description of non-cash contributions), a statement about whether goods or services were provided in exchange, the date of each contribution, and a good-faith estimate of the value of any goods or services provided.
Yes. Purpose-built church accounting software like Alignmint generates year-end giving statements automatically from your donation records. It pulls every gift by donor, formats the statement with all IRS-required information, and lets you send them by email or print them for mailing — in minutes instead of days.
A nonprofit CRM with accounting is a single platform that combines donor management (tracking gifts, relationships, and communications) with fund accounting (tracking revenue by fund, generating financial statements, and preparing Form 990 reports). Instead of using separate tools for each function, everything lives in one system.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Historically, no single platform did both well. CRM vendors focused on donor relationships while accounting vendors focused on financial compliance. Nonprofits cobbled together stacks — Bloomerang plus QuickBooks, DonorPerfect plus Aplos — because there wasn't a better option. That's changing.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Most nonprofits report saving 15-25 hours per month when they switch from separate systems to a unified platform. That time was previously spent on double data entry, reconciliation between systems, and manually generating reports that pull from multiple sources.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines donor CRM, fund accounting, volunteer management, event ticketing, marketing tools, and AI in one platform. Every donation automatically updates the donor profile and creates the journal entry. Free for nonprofits up to $100K in annual donations.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint supports data imports from most major CRM and accounting platforms. You can upload spreadsheets of donor records, giving history, and financial data. The setup team helps with migration at no extra cost.
From: Nonprofit CRM with Accounting: Why One Platform Changes Everything
Yes. Alignmint combines fund accounting, donor CRM, and volunteer management in a single platform. Most competitors focus on one or two of these areas, forcing nonprofits to buy and maintain separate tools.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Historically, software vendors specialized. CRM companies built donor tools. Accounting companies built financial tools. Volunteer platforms built scheduling tools. No one built all three together because it's technically complex. Alignmint was designed from day one to unify all three.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
A typical stack costs $250-450 per month: $99+ for a CRM like Bloomerang or DonorPerfect, $30-99 for accounting like QuickBooks or Aplos, and $0-50 for volunteer management like SignUpGenius. That doesn't include the 15-25 hours per month your team spends syncing data between them.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
Yes. Most platforms support CSV imports for donor records, financial data, and volunteer lists. Alignmint's setup team helps with migration at no extra cost, including data cleanup and field mapping.
From: How to Choose Nonprofit Software When You Need Accounting + CRM + Volunteer Management
In 2020, Blackbaud suffered a ransomware attack that exposed donor data — names, contact information, and in some cases Social Security numbers and financial details — at thousands of nonprofits, hospitals, and universities. Blackbaud paid a ransom, delayed notifying affected organizations, and settled with the FTC for $49.5 million.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Ask your software provider about encryption (at rest and in transit), data isolation between organizations, backup frequency, incident response plans, and compliance certifications. If they can't give you clear answers, that's a red flag.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Look for data encryption, isolated databases per organization, regular backups, transparent security practices, a clear incident response plan, and a provider that doesn't store sensitive data longer than necessary. Alignmint keeps each organization's data completely separate and encrypted.
From: Nonprofit Software Security: What the Blackbaud Data Breach Means for Your Organization
Not all nonprofits are legally required to run background checks, but it is strongly recommended — especially for organizations working with children, elderly, or vulnerable populations. Many states mandate screening for youth-serving programs. Even without a legal mandate, background checks reduce liability, satisfy insurance requirements, and build trust with families and funders.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
A standard volunteer background check typically includes a criminal history search (county, state, and/or federal), sex offender registry check, and identity verification. Enhanced checks may add education verification, employment history, driving records, and credit checks depending on the volunteer role.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Most basic background checks return results within 1–3 business days. County-level criminal searches may take 3–7 days depending on the jurisdiction. Some providers like Checkr offer near-instant results for basic checks. Plan for 3–5 business days on average.
From: How to Run Volunteer Background Checks for Your Nonprofit
Nonprofit vendor management software helps organizations track the companies and contractors they pay — vendor profiles, tax IDs (EIN/SSN) for 1099 reporting, payment terms, and expenditure history. When integrated with fund accounting, vendor payments are automatically tracked by fund, account, and program.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
Yes. Nonprofits must issue IRS Form 1099-NEC to unincorporated vendors (sole proprietors, LLCs, partnerships) paid $600 or more during the tax year for services. This includes contractors, consultants, freelancers, and some service providers. Vendor management software that stores tax IDs and tracks expenditure totals simplifies 1099 preparation.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
When vendor profiles are integrated with your accounting system, every expense and bill payment is linked to a specific vendor. This creates automatic expenditure totals for 1099 reporting, proper fund assignment for restricted spending, and complete audit trails from payment to vendor to general ledger.
From: Nonprofit Vendor Management Software: Track Vendors, 1099s, and Payments
A public volunteer signup calendar is a web page where your nonprofit publishes volunteer opportunities. Visitors can browse events by date, see details (time, location, skills needed, spots remaining), and sign up directly — without emailing a coordinator or creating an account. It's the volunteer equivalent of an event ticketing page.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
In most systems, no. Volunteers can sign up with just their name and email address. After signing up, they receive a confirmation email with event details and (in systems like Alignmint) a unique QR code for check-in on event day.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
Share the calendar URL on your website, social media, email newsletters, and community boards. Add the link to your email signature and volunteer recruitment materials. For SEO, ensure the page has proper meta tags, structured data, and descriptive content so it appears in local search results for volunteer opportunities.
From: Public Volunteer Signup Calendar: Let Volunteers Self-Schedule
Each volunteer receives a unique QR code (displayed on their phone or printed). On event day, a coordinator opens the check-in scanner on their phone or tablet, scans the volunteer's code, and the system confirms attendance with audio feedback. Hours are automatically credited based on the event's scheduled duration.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
No. Volunteers receive their QR code via email or through the Volunteer Portal — they simply show it on their phone screen. The coordinator scans it using the check-in interface on any device with a camera. No app downloads required for either party.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
Most systems include a manual fallback. In Alignmint, coordinators can search for the volunteer by name and mark them as attended manually. The system still tracks their hours automatically based on the event duration.
From: QR Code Check-In for Volunteer Events: How It Works and Why It Matters
Charity compliance software helps nonprofits track and manage regulatory requirements — Form 990 filings, state registrations, restricted fund rules, FASB reporting standards, and audit preparation. It replaces spreadsheet-based compliance tracking with automated reminders, built-in reporting, and audit trails.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Charities must file IRS Form 990 annually, maintain state charitable solicitation registrations, follow FASB accounting standards (ASC 958), track restricted fund spending per donor intent, produce audited financial statements if required by state law or grantors, and maintain proper documentation for tax-deductible donations.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Compliance software maps your chart of accounts to Form 990 line items, tracks functional expense allocation (program vs. admin vs. fundraising), monitors board governance data, and generates the financial schedules needed for filing. Purpose-built nonprofit software like Alignmint does this automatically from your transaction data.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
Yes. Even small nonprofits must file Form 990-EZ or 990-N annually, track restricted fund spending, and maintain records for tax-deductible donations. Missing three consecutive Form 990 filings results in automatic revocation of tax-exempt status. Compliance software prevents these costly oversights.
From: Charity Compliance Software: What Nonprofits Need to Stay Audit-Ready
The full process takes 3-12 months. Incorporating in your state takes 1-4 weeks. Getting an EIN is instant (online) or 4 weeks (by mail). IRS Form 1023-EZ takes 2-4 weeks for approval; the full Form 1023 takes 3-6 months. State registrations add another 2-8 weeks depending on your state.
Total startup costs range from $400 to $1,200+. State incorporation fees range from $0 to $125+. The IRS charges $275 for Form 1023-EZ or $600 for the full Form 1023. Optional costs include a registered agent ($100-300/year) and state charitable solicitation registration ($0-$300). Use our free cost calculator at /start-nonprofit/cost-calculator for a state-specific estimate.
No, but it helps. Many small nonprofits file their own incorporation paperwork and Form 1023-EZ without legal assistance. If your organization is complex — multiple programs, significant assets, or unusual governance — a nonprofit attorney can save time and prevent costly mistakes. Budget $1,500-5,000 for legal assistance if you go that route.
Yes. Nonprofit employees — including founders — can receive reasonable compensation for their work. The IRS requires that compensation be 'reasonable and not excessive' compared to similar roles at similar organizations. Board members are typically unpaid volunteers, though they can be reimbursed for expenses.
A nonprofit is a type of corporation organized under state law. A 501(c)(3) is a federal tax-exempt designation from the IRS. You must first incorporate as a nonprofit in your state, then apply to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status. Not all nonprofits are 501(c)(3)s — there are also 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), and other designations.
Total one-time costs range from $275 to $1,200+. The minimum is a $275 IRS Form 1023-EZ filing fee plus your state incorporation fee ($0-125). If you file the full Form 1023, the IRS fee is $600. Optional costs include a registered agent ($100-300/year), legal assistance ($1,500-5,000), and charitable solicitation registration ($0-300 per state).
Not entirely. The IRS charges a minimum of $275 for Form 1023-EZ. Some states charge $0 for incorporation (like Kansas), but most charge $25-125. You can minimize costs by filing everything yourself, using free accounting software like Alignmint's Starter plan, and skipping optional costs like a registered agent or attorney.
No. The IRS filing fee ($275 for 1023-EZ or $600 for full 1023) is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. This is why it's important to prepare a thorough application — use our Form 1023 Preparation Checklist to avoid common mistakes that lead to denial.
Annual costs include state annual report fees ($0-75), charitable solicitation renewal ($0-300 per state), Form 990 preparation ($0 with self-service software to $2,000+ with a CPA), registered agent renewal ($100-300), and accounting software ($0 with Alignmint Starter to $500+/month with other platforms). Total ongoing costs for a small nonprofit: $200-3,000/year.
A good nonprofit mission statement is specific (what problem you solve and for whom), measurable (how you'll know you're making an impact), concise (one to two sentences), and action-oriented (uses active verbs). It should be immediately understandable to someone who knows nothing about your organization.
From: How to Write a Nonprofit Mission Statement (With Examples)
They serve different functions. Your purpose statement appears in your articles of incorporation and uses IRS-approved legal language. Your mission statement is your public-facing description of what your organization does and why. The purpose statement is broad and legal; the mission statement is specific and inspiring.
From: How to Write a Nonprofit Mission Statement (With Examples)
The biggest difference is tax-deductible donations. Donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible for donors; donations to 501(c)(4) organizations are not. In exchange, 501(c)(4) organizations can engage in unlimited lobbying and some political activity, while 501(c)(3) organizations face strict limits.
From: 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Which Is Right for Your Organization?
Yes, but with limits. A 501(c)(3) can engage in lobbying as long as it's not a 'substantial part' of the organization's activities. The IRS safe harbor under Section 501(h) allows organizations to spend up to 20% of their first $500,000 in exempt purpose expenditures on lobbying, with decreasing percentages for larger budgets.
From: 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Which Is Right for Your Organization?
Not the same entity, but many organizations create affiliated entities — a 501(c)(3) for charitable and educational activities (with tax-deductible donations) and a 501(c)(4) for advocacy and political activities. The entities must maintain separate books, governance, and operations.
From: 501(c)(3) vs 501(c)(4): Which Is Right for Your Organization?
If you apply online at IRS.gov, you receive your EIN immediately. Online applications are available Monday-Friday, 7am-10pm Eastern Time. If you apply by mail (Form SS-4), expect 4 weeks. By fax, expect 4 business days.
No. Getting an EIN from the IRS is completely free. Be wary of third-party websites that charge fees to file on your behalf — you can apply directly at IRS.gov at no cost.
Yes. You should incorporate as a nonprofit in your state before applying for an EIN, because the IRS application asks for your date of incorporation and state. You need the EIN before filing Form 1023 for tax-exempt status.
Most nonprofits incorporate in the state where they will primarily operate. Unlike for-profit corporations, there's rarely an advantage to incorporating in a different state (like Delaware). Incorporating in your home state simplifies compliance, state tax exemptions, and charitable solicitation registration.
Processing time varies by state — from same-day (online filing states like California and Texas) to 4-8 weeks (paper-only states). Many states offer expedited processing for an additional fee. Check your state's specific timeline in the guide below or use our Nonprofit Startup Checklist.
Many states allow online filing through their Secretary of State website. Online filing is typically faster and may cost the same or slightly more than paper filing. Check your state's specific options in the guide below.
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