ALM Associates Group

Nonprofit Resources

Financial Clarity for Mission-Driven Leaders

Practical guides, frameworks, and insights to help nonprofit executives and finance teams build stronger financial foundations.

Knowledge built from the field

These resources draw directly from our work with nonprofits across Texas, California, and Ohio. Whether you're a first-time executive director or a seasoned CFO, you'll find actionable guidance here — written in plain language, not accounting jargon.

Bookkeeping6 min read

The Nonprofit Chart of Accounts: A Starter Guide

Your chart of accounts is the backbone of your financial system. Get it right from the start — or learn how to restructure one that's grown unwieldy.

What you'll learn

  • Why fund accounting differs from standard bookkeeping
  • How to structure accounts for restricted vs. unrestricted funds
  • Common chart of accounts mistakes nonprofits make
  • When to restructure — and how to do it without losing history
Compliance8 min read

Audit-Ready All Year: A Month-by-Month Checklist

Audit preparation shouldn't start three weeks before your auditors arrive. This guide walks you through the year-round habits that make audit season routine.

What you'll learn

  • The 12-month audit readiness calendar
  • Documents every nonprofit should maintain continuously
  • How to prepare your team for auditor interviews
  • What to do with audit findings — and how to prevent recurrence
Governance5 min read

Board Financial Reporting: What Your Board Actually Needs

Most board financial reports contain too much data and not enough insight. Learn how to give your board what they need to govern effectively — in 15 minutes or less.

What you'll learn

  • The three statements every board should review monthly
  • How to present variance analysis without overwhelming trustees
  • Dashboard formats that drive better board conversations
  • Red flags your board should always be watching for
Internal Controls7 min read

Internal Controls for Small Nonprofits: A Practical Framework

You don't need a large staff to have strong internal controls. This guide shows how small nonprofits can protect themselves from fraud and error with limited resources.

What you'll learn

  • The minimum internal controls every nonprofit needs
  • Segregation of duties when you only have two people
  • Cash handling procedures that reduce risk
  • How to document controls for auditors and funders
Grant Management6 min read

Managing Restricted Funds: Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes

Restricted funds are one of the most common sources of compliance problems for nonprofits. Learn how to track, report, and spend restricted dollars correctly.

What you'll learn

  • The difference between temporarily and permanently restricted funds
  • How to set up your accounting system to track restrictions
  • Grant reporting: what funders are actually looking for
  • What happens when you spend restricted funds incorrectly — and how to fix it
Financial Strategy5 min read

Building a Reserve Fund: Why Every Nonprofit Needs One

An operating reserve is one of the most important financial tools a nonprofit can have — and one of the most neglected. Here's how to build one, even on a tight budget.

What you'll learn

  • What an operating reserve is and how much you need
  • How to build a reserve policy your board will approve
  • Strategies for growing reserves when cash is tight
  • How funders view organizations with strong reserves

Nonprofit Finance Glossary

Key terms, plain language

The accounting and finance terms every nonprofit leader should know — explained without jargon.

Have a question not covered here?

Our team is happy to talk through your specific situation. Schedule a free discovery call and get answers tailored to your organization.