Not-for-Profit Organizations

Cherry Bekaert’s nonprofit accounting, tax, advisory, and audit services help tax-exempt organizations focus on their mission and objectives.  

On this page:

Not-for-Profit Accounting, Tax and Advisory Services That Support Your Mission

At Cherry Bekaert, we understand the distinct challenges not-for-profits face. We directly align ourselves with your mission, allowing us to offer meaningful guidance and strategic solutions that help you identify opportunities in all facets of your unique organization.

Cherry Bekaert has a dedicated not-for-profit team with extensive experience in the industry, which helps us better understand what you are trying to achieve and the obstacles and opportunities that may exist within your organization. Many of our team members serve in a voluntary capacity on boards and give resources to the causes they feel strongly about. Working with our team, you will find that we have a clear sense of your priorities, goals and objectives in support of your mission.

Not-for-Profit Organizations We Serve

Nonprofit organizations play an essential role in our communities and economy, filling the gap between the private sector and government services. At the same time, leaders face increasing pressure to deliver greater mission impact at lower cost. Cherry Bekaert’s Not-for-Profit group provides thoughtful and proactive solutions to help organizations digitally transform and navigate the ever-changing tax-exempt environment.

Our dedication to serving this sector includes a diverse range of the not-for-profit community, including:

  • Charitable Organizations
  • Charter Schools
  • Cultural & Arts Organizations
  • Foundations
  • Healthcare & Social Services
  • Independent Schools
  • Membership Organizations
  • Private & Public Foundations
  • Religious Organizations

Tailored Services for Not-for-Profit Organizations

Audit and Assurance for Not-for-Profits

In an environment of falling revenues, tightening budgets, and increasingly complex compliance restrictions, it is important to have the right nonprofit accountant providing the proper technical guidance, reducing the demands on government staff, and allowing entities to focus on their constituents. Cherry Bekaert’s Not-for-Profit team provides innovative and effective audit, assurance, and attestation services.

Digital Advisory and Advanced Analytics for Not-for-Profits

Using a digital environment with data-driven practices can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations’ operations and teams allowing a better focus on achievement of objectives and mission. Our priority is enabling not-for-profits to harness their full potential by optimizing data for better decision making, service delivery and keeping data safe.

Digital Transformation

  • Analytics-as-a-Service (AaaS)
  • Continuous Process Improvement
  • Digital Strategy & Organization Transformation Services
  • Data Analytics & Intelligence
  • Cost Optimization
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Systems Evaluation, Implementation & Support
  • Process Optimization & Workflow Automation Services
  • Organizational Alignment & Process Redesign

Technology Strategy and Implementation

  • Project & Program Management
  • IT System Requirements & Design
  • Project Assurance/Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V)
  • Budget System & Process Consulting
  • Procurement to Payment (P2P)
  • Built for Purpose Business Solutions & Technology
  • Procurement Support & Negotiations
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Systems Evaluation, Implementation & Support

Outsourced Accounting and Advisory for Not-for-Profits

Nonprofit Organization Outsourced Accounting

Cherry Bekaert’s Outsourced Accounting Services are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of organizations looking to improve efficiency, reduce costs and focus on core operations. By outsourcing your accounting to an experienced team of professionals, you will have access to specialized industry-specific knowledge, advanced technologies and compliance support for regulatory requirements. Services include:

Nonprofit Organization Co-Sourced Accounting

Cherry Bekaert’s Government & Public Sector Accounting Advisory team provides a comprehensive NFP Accounting-as-a-Service offering that helps not-for-profit organizations overcome staffing and technical challenges. Unlike many other professional services firms with significant not-for-profit accounting expertise, Cherry Bekaert has a dedicated team of professionals who only provide not-for-profit accounting advisory services. This provides governments with the confidence that their needs will not be placed second to competing audit regulatory deadlines.

Services provided as part of this offering include the following:

    • New Accounting Standards Implementation
    • Internal Controls Processes Review & Recommendations
    • Financial Statement Closing Assistance
    • Financial Statement Audit Readiness Assistance
    • Single Audit Readiness Assistance
    • Accounting Remediation & Support
    • Financial Statement Preparation
    • Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation
    • Training & Continuing Professional Education
    • Financial & Single Audit Finding Remediation
    • Board Governance Assessment & Recommendations
    • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation Remediation
    • Chart of Accounts Assessment & Development

Recruiting and Staffing for Not-for-Profits

Our industry-focused recruiting professionals specialize in offering comprehensive Recruiting & Staffing Solutions that cater to nonprofit organizations’ diverse needs within finance and accounting, human resources, and information technology. Services include:

  • Permanent Search & Placement
  • Temporary Staffing
  • Interim Senior-Level Management Placements
  • Executive Search

With an in-depth understanding of the unique requirements of these sectors, our professionals employ a tailored approach to identify, engage and secure top-tier talent. We meticulously evaluate candidates’ skill sets, experiences, and cultural fit to establish a seamless integration into your organization.

Risk Advisory and Cyber Security Support for Not-for-Profits

Nonprofit Organization Comprehensive Risk Advisory

Our team is comprised of advisory professionals with deep not-for-profit consulting experience with first-hand knowledge of organizations’ process, technology, rules and regulations.

Nonprofit Organization Cyber and Information Security Support

As nonprofits digitalize their processes, the threat of ransomware attacks and data breaches increases. Never has the protection of an organization’s data been more important, and the threats against it more present. Cyber breaches not only affect an organization’s finances but can impact operations and make it harder to measure results, and perhaps more importantly damage an organization’s reputation. Cherry Bekaert assists clients in identifying relevant cybersecurity risks and developing realistic solutions and plans to help minimize the likelihood and impact of systems and data being compromised.

 Tax Compliance and Planning Services for Not-for-Profits

Cherry Bekaert provides thoughtful and proactive tax compliance and consulting solutions to help organizations operate in the complex, rapidly evolving risk environment they face.

We help our nonprofit clients plan and execute tax strategies based on industry regulations and best practices to help enhance their ability to achieve their missions. Our services to our not-for-profit clients include:

Tax Compliance

  • Form 990 Series Returns (i.e., Form 990, 990-T, 990-PF, 990-EZ, 990-N)
  • State Tax Filings
  • Corporate & Partnership Returns for Affiliates
  • Foreign Information Filings, FBAR
  • Alternative Investment Review
  • IRS Representation

 Not-for-Profit Tax Consulting

  • Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) Planning & Evaluation
  • Exemption Risk From Nonexempt Activities
  • Governance & Policy Review
  • Applications for Exemption
  • Change In Public Charity/Foundation Status

 Transaction Consulting

  • Mergers, Acquisitions & Reorganizations
  • Joint Ventures With Not-for-Profit & Taxable Entities
  • Licensing & Affiliation Agreements
  • Financing Transactions (i.e., T/E Bonds & Tax Credit Eligibility)
  • Real Estate Transactions

 Other Tax Services

Audit and Assurance for Not-for-Profits

In an environment of falling revenues, tightening budgets, and increasingly complex compliance restrictions, it is important to have the right nonprofit accountant providing the proper technical guidance, reducing the demands on government staff, and allowing entities to focus on their constituents. Cherry Bekaert’s Not-for-Profit team provides innovative and effective audit, assurance, and attestation services.

Digital Advisory and Advanced Analytics for Not-for-Profits

Using a digital environment with data-driven practices can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations’ operations and teams allowing a better focus on achievement of objectives and mission. Our priority is enabling not-for-profits to harness their full potential by optimizing data for better decision making, service delivery and keeping data safe.

Digital Transformation

  • Analytics-as-a-Service (AaaS)
  • Continuous Process Improvement
  • Digital Strategy & Organization Transformation Services
  • Data Analytics & Intelligence
  • Cost Optimization
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Systems Evaluation, Implementation & Support
  • Process Optimization & Workflow Automation Services
  • Organizational Alignment & Process Redesign

Technology Strategy and Implementation

  • Project & Program Management
  • IT System Requirements & Design
  • Project Assurance/Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V)
  • Budget System & Process Consulting
  • Procurement to Payment (P2P)
  • Built for Purpose Business Solutions & Technology
  • Procurement Support & Negotiations
  • Enterprise Architecture
  • Systems Evaluation, Implementation & Support

Outsourced Accounting and Advisory for Not-for-Profits

Nonprofit Organization Outsourced Accounting

Cherry Bekaert’s Outsourced Accounting Services are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of organizations looking to improve efficiency, reduce costs and focus on core operations. By outsourcing your accounting to an experienced team of professionals, you will have access to specialized industry-specific knowledge, advanced technologies and compliance support for regulatory requirements. Services include:

Nonprofit Organization Co-Sourced Accounting

Cherry Bekaert’s Government & Public Sector Accounting Advisory team provides a comprehensive NFP Accounting-as-a-Service offering that helps not-for-profit organizations overcome staffing and technical challenges. Unlike many other professional services firms with significant not-for-profit accounting expertise, Cherry Bekaert has a dedicated team of professionals who only provide not-for-profit accounting advisory services. This provides governments with the confidence that their needs will not be placed second to competing audit regulatory deadlines.

Services provided as part of this offering include the following:

    • New Accounting Standards Implementation
    • Internal Controls Processes Review & Recommendations
    • Financial Statement Closing Assistance
    • Financial Statement Audit Readiness Assistance
    • Single Audit Readiness Assistance
    • Accounting Remediation & Support
    • Financial Statement Preparation
    • Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) Preparation
    • Training & Continuing Professional Education
    • Financial & Single Audit Finding Remediation
    • Board Governance Assessment & Recommendations
    • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation Remediation
    • Chart of Accounts Assessment & Development

Recruiting and Staffing for Not-for-Profits

Our industry-focused recruiting professionals specialize in offering comprehensive Recruiting & Staffing Solutions that cater to nonprofit organizations’ diverse needs within finance and accounting, human resources, and information technology. Services include:

  • Permanent Search & Placement
  • Temporary Staffing
  • Interim Senior-Level Management Placements
  • Executive Search

With an in-depth understanding of the unique requirements of these sectors, our professionals employ a tailored approach to identify, engage and secure top-tier talent. We meticulously evaluate candidates’ skill sets, experiences, and cultural fit to establish a seamless integration into your organization.

Risk Advisory and Cyber Security Support for Not-for-Profits

Nonprofit Organization Comprehensive Risk Advisory

Our team is comprised of advisory professionals with deep not-for-profit consulting experience with first-hand knowledge of organizations’ process, technology, rules and regulations.

Nonprofit Organization Cyber and Information Security Support

As nonprofits digitalize their processes, the threat of ransomware attacks and data breaches increases. Never has the protection of an organization’s data been more important, and the threats against it more present. Cyber breaches not only affect an organization’s finances but can impact operations and make it harder to measure results, and perhaps more importantly damage an organization’s reputation. Cherry Bekaert assists clients in identifying relevant cybersecurity risks and developing realistic solutions and plans to help minimize the likelihood and impact of systems and data being compromised.

 Tax Compliance and Planning Services for Not-for-Profits

Cherry Bekaert provides thoughtful and proactive tax compliance and consulting solutions to help organizations operate in the complex, rapidly evolving risk environment they face.

We help our nonprofit clients plan and execute tax strategies based on industry regulations and best practices to help enhance their ability to achieve their missions. Our services to our not-for-profit clients include:

Tax Compliance

  • Form 990 Series Returns (i.e., Form 990, 990-T, 990-PF, 990-EZ, 990-N)
  • State Tax Filings
  • Corporate & Partnership Returns for Affiliates
  • Foreign Information Filings, FBAR
  • Alternative Investment Review
  • IRS Representation

 Not-for-Profit Tax Consulting

  • Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) Planning & Evaluation
  • Exemption Risk From Nonexempt Activities
  • Governance & Policy Review
  • Applications for Exemption
  • Change In Public Charity/Foundation Status

 Transaction Consulting

  • Mergers, Acquisitions & Reorganizations
  • Joint Ventures With Not-for-Profit & Taxable Entities
  • Licensing & Affiliation Agreements
  • Financing Transactions (i.e., T/E Bonds & Tax Credit Eligibility)
  • Real Estate Transactions

 Other Tax Services

Case Study

Outsourced, Cloud-Based Accounting to Accommodate Manna Food Center’s Rapid Growth

Discover how we helped the higher Manna Food Center support an influx of community needs through outsourced accounting services.

Our Professionals

Connect With Us

Matthew Socha

Not-for-Profit Industry Leader

Partner, Cherry Bekaert LLP
Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Janette D. Schwartz

Not-for-Profit Outsourced Accounting Services Leader

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Contact Our Not-For-Profit Team Today!