Fund Based Accounting and Subscription

Accounting for funds, sometimes known simply as fund accounting, is a method of financial management used by charitable organisations and government entities. Accounting for funds has a different objective than accounting done in ordinary for-profit firms, which is maintaining accountability and keeping track of how money is utilised.

How Does Fund-based Accounting Work?

It contrasts with the accounting done in regular businesses, which monitors a company's profitability. Learning about fund accounting is beneficial whether you are affiliated with a nonprofit organisation or a donor who gives to different charities since it will help you understand the capital situation of many organisations. When the nature of the subscription account, they agree to make recurring monthly, quarterly, or annual financial contributions to the NPO.

Example of Fund-based Accounting

Fund accounting aims to handle contributions, financing from outside sources, or revenue from fundraising activities. The following are some examples of possible users of this system:

• Charitable organisations and institutions

• Sacred places of worship or religious establishments

• Regulatory bodies or administrative governments

• Hospitals and nursing facilities run by nonprofit organisations

• Establishments devoted to education

• Building blocks for artistic endeavours

What is a Subscription Account?

In the case of a non-profit group, the primary way they make money is through subscriptions. A member's subscription is the amount of money they pay to the organisation regularly to keep their membership. Members can pay it every month, every three months, every six months, or every year. In the Receipts and Payment Account, it will show up on the Receipts side after any subscription-related changes have been made.

When figuring out the number of subscriptions for the current period, advance subscriptions received for the current period in the previous period and outstanding subscriptions for the current period are added to the subscription received during the current period. On the other hand, the advance subscription received for the next accounting period during the current period and the outstanding subscription for the preceding period are subtracted from the subscription received during the current period.

Characteristics of Fund-based Accounting

The Elements of Fund-based Accounting

In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the essential aspects of fund-based accounting:

• Since the fund is handled and accounted for independently, its unique assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenditures must be kept track of.

• A limited fund must be established for any organisation that receives legally prohibited money from being used for any purpose.

• Typically, it is utilised by groups that do not seek financial gain.

• As government grants, private donations, and corporate sponsorships make up most of a nonprofit organisation's operating budget, these funds must be handled lawfully.

• All transactions about the special fund should be recorded on a fund-by-fund basis, with account consolidations included in the financial statement for the convenience of readers.

Fund-Based Accounting's Goals and Objectives

The following is a discussion of the purposes that fund-based accounting serves:

• Examine and contrast the actual financial results of the various activities with those planned for in the budget

• To thoroughly analyse the not-for-profit organisation's financial performance throughout the fiscal year

• To guarantee that the guidelines, regulations, and stipulations of the law are adhered to appropriately

• To guarantee that the money is used following the guidelines

• To maintain a record of both income and expenditures

• To evaluate how effectively money was spent on initiatives given the go-ahead

• The assets of a nonprofit organisation, minus its debts, create its capital fund. All of the organisation's regular operations can be carried out thanks to this fund, which was established through generous contributions, grants, and gifts.

• Such a fund is distinct from designated funds because it is not established to serve a particular objective.

Summary

In fund-based accounting, recurring and one-time revenue streams are separated into discrete pots of money. After everything has been categorised, the fund's account may start to be updated with the many transactions that pertain to it. It allows for easier monitoring of a particular fund's income and expenditures.

To guarantee that designated funds are utilised only for their intended purposes, this accounting is often used by nonprofit organisations, charity trusts, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), educational institutions, sports clubs, etc.