If you’re running a nonprofit or church in Delta County, you’ve probably had to figure out a lot on your own — managing donations, balancing your programs with your budget, and trying to keep up with reporting.
But church and nonprofit bookkeeping isn’t the same as small business bookkeeping. From designated funds to grant tracking to board reporting, there are unique needs that many business-focused bookkeepers simply don’t deal with.
Here’s where having a bookkeeper who specializes in nonprofit and church accounting can save you time, reduce risk, and help you focus on what matters most: your mission.
1. Designated and Restricted Funds Need to Be Tracked Clearly
Most nonprofits and churches receive funds that are set aside for specific purposes — whether it’s a grant for a youth program, a capital campaign, or a donor-restricted gift for a food pantry. That money has to be tracked separately and carefully, not just dropped into your general budget.
If these funds aren’t tracked properly, it creates confusion. You might overspend from a restricted fund without realizing it — or lose track of whether a grant was used the way it was supposed to be. This makes reporting harder and puts trust with your board, donors, or grantors at risk.
A business-focused bookkeeper likely isn’t used to handling this. Fund accounting requires a different structure — not just categories, but mini “budgets within the budget.”
We set up your books to show exactly what’s available in each fund, so you always know where you stand.
2. Donation and Grant Records Have to Be Accurate and Easy to Report
Whether you’re sending donor statements at year-end, preparing for a grant audit, or just trying to stay transparent with supporters, your records need to be complete and consistent.
That includes:
- Tracking individual donations or pledges
- Keeping clean grant spending records
- Recording in-kind donations
- Making sure reports match your accounting system
We’ve worked with organizations who had to spend hours recreating reports for their funders because things weren’t recorded properly from the beginning.
With the right systems in place, these reports can be pulled quickly and easily — and your team can spend more time focusing on programs, not paperwork.
3. Payroll and Contractor Payments Have Unique Rules
Many nonprofits have a mix of employees, volunteers, and independent contractors. In some cases, like churches, you may also have housing allowances or parsonage arrangements that need special attention.
But even outside of church settings, there are payroll and tax issues that come up more often in nonprofits:
- Classifying staff vs. contractors
- Handling grant-funded positions correctly
- Tracking time by project or funding source
- Filing accurate 1099s and W-2s
We help make sure payroll is done right — not just to meet IRS rules, but to support your team and stay on budget.
4. Boards and Funders Need Clear Financial Reports
Your board members want to do their job well — and they can’t make good decisions if they don’t understand the financial reports. Same goes for donors, grantors, and community partners.
We build reports that speak your board’s language — showing what’s been spent, what’s left in each fund or grant, and how things compare to your budget. No accounting degree required.
5. Tax-Exempt Doesn’t Mean Exempt from Rules
Even if you don’t file income taxes, there are still a lot of financial requirements to stay on top of:
- 1099 filings
- Giving statements
- Grant reporting
- Form 990 (for most nonprofits)
- Internal controls and audit readiness
We make sure your books are clean and ready — not just at tax time, but all year long. Check out our full list of services.
Support That’s Built Around Your Mission
Whether you’re leading a church, running a youth center, managing a food pantry, or organizing community outreach, you deserve a bookkeeping system that works for your kind of organization.
At Western Slopes Bookkeeping, we specialize in helping local nonprofits and churches in Delta County stay organized, confident, and ready to grow. We understand fund tracking, grant management, donor reporting, and the kind of flexibility nonprofit leaders need.
Let’s Connect
📍 Based in Delta County, CO
🕊️ Supporting local nonprofits and churches
📩 Contact us for a free consultation
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