Using Accountedge for a church
Aaron Harris
via web
Does anyone use this software to track a church's accounts? How would I go about setting that up properly? Will I be able to print year-end donor giving statements?
via web
Does anyone use this software to track a church's accounts? How would I go about setting that up properly? Will I be able to print year-end donor giving statements?
Support Staff 2 Posted by Mike on 03 Jun, 2010 05:48 PM
Hello Aaron,
When setting up the software for a Church, most clients that I have come in contact with will use a combination of the Accounts List and our JOBS function to track everything that they need. When creating a file, there is a template for "Non-Profits" so that may give you a basic Accounts List layout for you to start with. With most people I speak with, they usually will setup individual Income accounts AND Expense accounts for the reasons they are receiving or spending donations/money (an income AND expesne for reconstruction, specific charities, any other projects). Then, they will go into our JOBS and setup ONE job for each of those same reasons. Every line item on every transaction in the software can be linked to a JOB so as you spend money and receive money for a specific job, you would associate the moneys with that job. In the end, you'll be able to see a P&L for each JOB you've entered transactions for, you'll be able to print transaction reports for each of your donors to see what they've given you, and you'll have your general Balance Sheet for reference.
I hope this helps you a bit. We do also recommend that you also reach out to any consultants that may be in your area as they may have a specific client that they can reference you to or can work with you on setting this up. You can search for consultants here: http://www.accountedge.com/locator/.
Mike Warren
Product Tour Guide
3 Posted by Ed O'Donnell on 27 Jan, 2011 05:33 AM
Hi Mike,
I wish you would create a more detailed description of how use MYOB AccountEdge for non-profits. For example, what's the best way to track donors? How to show Fund Balances? Can Equity accounts be renamed for non-profits? Financial statements for non-profits? Perhaps a detailed Guide for non-profits would be helpful.
Thanks,
Ed O'Donnell
4 Posted by Dan R on 05 Feb, 2011 04:24 AM
Hi Ed,
There is a lot of flexibility in AE, but you must also accept that it is not accounting software written specifically for non-profits.
Track Donors - donors give you money so they are "customers" and all the fields available and the identifiers and reminders can be used to track some data but it will never equal a donor/contact management program.
Fund balances can be tracked rather well with jobs (best to make them required on transactions via preferences)
All accounts can be renamed - the account # scheme (1xxxx assets, 2xxxx liability, etc) can not be changed.
The regular P&L and balance sheet reports can work okay (and can be tweaked in Excel) if you set up your accounts to fit your reporting needs.
:-)
Dan
5 Posted by Bob Bakke on 28 Sep, 2011 01:38 PM
We are considering AccountEdge for our church. Is there a consultant in the Minneapolis area?
I would highly recommend you consider selling a non-profit version (or at least a template). There are thousands of churches coming on-line as Mac-only orgs. They do not have great choices in Accounting software. There is a substantial market.
Support Staff 6 Posted by Mike on 30 Sep, 2011 06:36 PM
Hello Bob,
There is an Accounts List template that you can select for "Non-Profit Organization" when first creating a file. That may help with getting started. You'll still need to modify it to fit your business but it does provide a few concepts/ideas for accounts to have in your list.
You can always search for any consultants using our Community Locator. You can choose your state and what kind of help you're looking for. You'll find Thom Melcher is in Golden Valley, MN and his contact information to reach out to him.
Mike
Product Tour Guide
7 Posted by Aaron Harris on 30 Sep, 2011 09:24 PM
Sent from my iPhone
8 Posted by Dr. Bakke Robert on 30 Sep, 2011 09:35 PM
Bob Bakke
***@hillsidemn.org
o 952-831-5050
m 612-868-4331
9 Posted by Tom on 17 Mar, 2012 11:55 PM
Hi! A quick question in regards to Dan's detailed explanation. You say that the account scheme cannot be changed. For our purposes we do not have cost of sales the entire 5- series. We would like to use 5-0000 thru 5999 for restricted donations. That would enable us to use the corresponding 7- series for the expense end of things.
Support Staff 10 Posted by Mike on 19 Mar, 2012 03:36 PM
Tom,
It's possible, but I would imagine that it would throw off your Profit & Loss, and similar, reports. Can you explain what "restricted donations" are?
Mike
Product Tour Guide
11 Posted by Dan R on 20 Mar, 2012 05:40 AM
I think using the 5 series for income would not work. The deposits to those accounts would show as negative #s in the account list and the relationship between accounts for reports would not be as expected. What about using the 4xxxx income accounts and nesting & sectioning it off with a header account i.e.
40000 Income (Main Header)
41000 Regular Donations (Header)
41100 Fund Drive
41200 Memberships
41300 Etc
4900 Restricted Donations (Header)
49100 Whatever
49200 Etc