Top Nonprofit Accounting Services Providers for 2025
Introduction
In today’s nonprofit landscape, nonprofit accounting services and bookkeeping services play a key role. They help manage a nonprofit’s finances, maintain compliance, and support its mission.
This article reviews leading nonprofit accounting providers and explains key features like fund accounting, donation tracking, and financial reports.
It highlights why reliable accounting services matter for effective financial management in a nonprofit organization.
In this guide, you will discover how to choose and use nonprofit accounting services effectively:
- Discover leading nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping services providers.
- Review essential features for nonprofit accounting and reporting.
- Compare accounting services side by side.
- Follow practical tips to choose the right provider.
- Find quick answers to common questions about nonprofit accounting services.
We begin with an overview of nonprofit accounting services.
Top Nonprofit Accounting Service Providers
Nonprofit accounting services provide effective fund accounting and donation tracking to ensure your organization is always audit-ready. For more insights, see our nonprofit accounting guide.
Nonprofit accounting services and bookkeeping services provide fund accounting, donation and grant tracking, and timely financial statements to help your nonprofit organization stay audit-ready.
For more background, see our nonprofit accounting guide.
Provider 1: CARR, RIGGS & INGRAM (CRI)
Carr, Riggs & Ingram offers a dedicated nonprofit practice with nationwide reach, providing bookkeeping services, outsourced controller support, assurance, and tax accounting services for nonprofit organizations.
Best fit for nonprofit organizations that want one firm to manage monthly close, board-ready financial statements, and audit needs under a single accounting services relationship.
Provider 2: CLA NONPROFIT SERVICES
CLA combines managed nonprofit accounting services, outsourced CFO support, and assurance under one operating model tailored to nonprofit organizations.
Best fit for nonprofits that want scalable day-to-day bookkeeping services and accounting, plus advisory depth for budgeting, dashboards, and board communication.
Provider 3: FORVIS MAZARS
Forvis Mazars (formerly BKD CPAs & Advisors) brings national assurance strength and deep nonprofit accounting and advisory experience.
Best fit for larger or fast-growing nonprofit organizations that need complex audits and single audits, multi-entity reporting, and strong governance and internal-control frameworks.
Additional Providers or Options
Other options include boutique accounting services firms and freelance professionals who specialize in nonprofit accounting services for smaller organizations.
These providers offer tailored support for small nonprofits and their specific financial statements, bookkeeping, and reporting needs.
Many emphasize scalable processes and standardized nonprofit financial reporting for organizations with multiple programs or locations.
These accounting services help ensure compliance and deliver essential financial statements and supporting documents on time.
Comparing features such as fund accounting, donation tracking, and integrated bookkeeping services helps you choose the right provider.
Each option offers tailored nonprofit accounting services that support growth and streamline your nonprofit’s financial management.
Key Features to Look for in Nonprofit Accounting Services
Nonprofit accounting services and bookkeeping services help manage your nonprofit’s financial records accurately, ensure compliance, and build donor trust in day-to-day operations.
Fund Accounting and Donation Tracking
Effective providers offer strong fund accounting systems that manage earmarked and restricted funds efficiently.
They also include features for accurate donation tracking to continuously monitor contributions and update your nonprofit’s financial records.
These systems improve transparency and accountability in your day-to-day nonprofit accounting and reporting.
Financial Reporting and Compliance
Providers should produce clear and accurate financial statements for your nonprofit organization to support budgeting and strategic decisions.
They help your nonprofit comply with tax regulations and reporting requirements, including annual IRS filings such as Form 990.
Reliable financial statements provide executive directors with the insights necessary for effective oversight.
“Precision in reporting builds trust and strengthens your organization’s mission,” reflects our CPA expertise.
At the standards level, review FASB ASC 958 for not-for-profit accounting guidance and the IRS Form 990 Instructions for annual filing requirements that affect your nonprofit’s financial reporting.
Pricing Insights and Scalability
Consider pricing models that fit your nonprofit budget and growth plans.
Services should provide options tailored for small nonprofits while maintaining high quality.
Scalable solutions ensure that as your organization grows, your chosen nonprofit accounting provider grows with you.
These pricing and budgeting strategies offer a clear path to sustainable nonprofit financial management through tailored accounting services.
Integrations for Day-to-Day Operations
Seamless integrations with existing systems are essential for streamlining your day-to-day financial processes.
Choose services that seamlessly integrate with your existing software to boost operational efficiency.
These integrations make work easier for accounting and finance teams, leading to smoother transactions, faster reporting, and more reliable nonprofit financial statements.
Comparison of Nonprofit Accounting Services Providers
This section compares key features of leading nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping services in straightforward, actionable terms.
Detailed Comparison
Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI) delivers full-spectrum nonprofit accounting services, financial statement audits, single audits, Form 990 preparation, outsourced accounting services, and board-focused financial reporting. Its nonprofit practice emphasizes fund and grant accounting, disciplined monthly close processes, budgeting support, and compliance reviews aligned with GAAP and grantor requirements. CRI fits nonprofit organizations that want a single team to handle assurance work plus ongoing bookkeeping services and controller-level support.
CLA Nonprofit Services combines managed nonprofit accounting services, outsourced CFO support, and assurance into one operating model tailored for mission-driven nonprofit organizations. CLA’s team supports grant tracking, restricted-fund releases, budget-to-actual financial statements, and dashboards for executives and boards. CLA fits nonprofits seeking scalable day-to-day bookkeeping services and accounting, with higher-end advisory and audit capacity under one roof.
Forvis Mazars brings a national assurance footprint and deep nonprofit advisory experience across financial statement audits, Uniform Guidance and other single audits, program cost allocation, internal controls, and data-driven financial reporting. Its teams help complex nonprofit organizations with multi-entity reporting, audit readiness, requested-items (PBC) lists, and policy and control frameworks that can withstand funder and regulator scrutiny. Forvis Mazars fits larger or fast-growing nonprofits that need deep assurance capabilities along with governance support, data analytics, and technical nonprofit accounting expertise.
Quick Pros and Cons
CRI – Pros: One-stop continuity from bookkeeping/controller through audit and tax; practical monthly-close playbooks and board-ready packages.
CRI – Cons: Heavier assurance timelines can lengthen start dates in busy season; engagement scope must be well-defined to lock pricing.
CLA – Pros: Strong managed accounting and outsourced CFO bench; reliable cadence for budget vs. actuals and KPI dashboards.
CLA – Cons: National demand can affect scheduling windows; advanced analytics may require an add-on scope.
Forvis Mazars – Pros: Deep assurance and single-audit expertise; robust internal-control and policy frameworks for grant and funder compliance.
Forvis Mazars – Cons: Enterprise-grade rigor can come with higher fees and more documentation lift for client teams.
Tips for Choosing the Right Nonprofit Accounting Services
Considerations for Small Nonprofits
Prioritize clean monthly bookkeeping, reconciliations, donation and grant tracking, and on-time Form 990 over advanced analytics.
Ask for fixed-fee packages, a documented monthly-close checklist, and sample board reports to gauge day-to-day fit.
Make sure the provider supports your current accounting stack and provides a low-friction migration plan if you move to a new system.
Strategic Needs for Larger Organizations
Look for proven capacity with financial statement audits, single audits, restricted-fund releases, cost allocations, and multi-entity consolidations.
Request a calendarized delivery plan (PBC list, interim testing, draft dates, board presentations) and named escalation paths.
Evaluate their ability to translate complex results into narrative insights for boards, funders, and program leaders.
Evaluating Service Flexibility and Integration
Verify integrations with your donor CRM, payroll, expense management, banking, and document workflow tools to reduce manual entry.
Confirm standards for month-end close, review/approval chains, internal controls, and documentation retention.
Choose a partner that can scale from bookkeeping to controller/CFO and into assurance as your mission grows, so you don’t outgrow your provider mid-grant cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nonprofit Accounting Services
This section answers common questions about specialized accounting for nonprofits.
What makes nonprofit accounting different from other types of accounting?
Nonprofits use specialized practices called nonprofit accounting that distinguish them from other organizations.
Nonprofits need accurate fund accounting and strict adherence to compliance standards.
How do I choose between different accounting service providers?
Evaluate providers by checking their nonprofit accounting services and confirming they provide clear pricing insights.
Evaluate options that cater to small nonprofits and align with the specific scale and complexity of your organization.
What additional services should non-profits consider?
Many organizations benefit from additional services like CFO services to support strategic decisions.
Strong financial management is vital for the success of any nonprofit organization.
Conclusion: Optimizing Nonprofit Accounting Services for Your Organization
The right nonprofit accounting services enable accurate fund accounting, reliable donation tracking, board-ready financial reporting, and strict compliance.
Summary of Key Insights
We reviewed providers offering scalable support that keeps fund accounting and grant tracking audit-ready.
Our comparison highlighted faster grant compliance support, clearer budget-to-actual reporting, and executive-ready board packages.
With a structured delivery model built around Discovery, Foundation, and Partnership, we provide proactive guidance and reliable monthly outcomes.
Technology-enabled workflows improve transparency, reduce manual effort, and strengthen governance without added jargon.
Next Steps for Your Organization
Use the comparisons and tips above to shortlist providers that match your size, systems, and regulatory requirements.
Align scope, calendarized deliverables, and reporting cadence to streamline monthly close and improve compliance.
Contact our team to get expert help tailoring a right-sized plan for your nonprofit.
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About the Author
Steve Barkmeier CPA
It’s rare for even the largest accounting firms to be able to offer the expertise Steve brings to our clients. After 30 years of leadership positions in corporate tax departments at billion-dollar companies, including serving as the Vice President of Tax at the second largest newspaper chain in the United States, he joined WhippleWood in 2015.
