You probably didnÔÇÖt start a nonprofit to stare at spreadsheets and Google things like ÔÇ£how to record an in-kind donation.ÔÇØ But proper accounting (and the analysis it lets you do) is crucial to the survival of your organization.

10 Steps to a Successful Audit. Plan ahead. Stay up-to-date on accounting standards. Assess changes in activities. Learn from the past. Develop a timeline and assign responsibility. Organize data. Ask questions. Perform a self-review.

Starting a nonprofit organization can be an inspiring way to give back to your community and help those in need. However, it is important to understand all of the steps involved in this process before moving forward.