Grant Management & Compliance
Software-independent guidance for managing grant finances, compliance, audits, risk, and subawards.
28 articles
How to Track Grant Award, Cash, Revenue, Expenses, and Remaining Balance
Keep the award, promised funding, cash received, recognized revenue, grant spending, and remaining balances separate so dashboards and funder reports answer the right question.
Cost Allocation Methods Explained
Understand common methods for allocating shared costs across multiple grants, and when each method fits.
How to Allocate Expenses Across Multiple Grants
When one expense benefits several grants, you need a fair, documented way to split it. This guide covers allocation methods, examples, and common audit problems.
Setting Up Indirect Cost Rates
Learn how indirect cost rates work for grants and where to enter a grant's rate and cap in GrantLink.
Funding Shares, Matching, and Cost Share Tracking for Grants
Understand funding shares, match, cost share, in-kind contributions, and program income, and how to track them in GrantLink without changing your QuickBooks Online setup.
Grant Closeout Process: Complete Guide
Learn the steps to close a grant: final reports, financial reconciliation, property, record retention, and funder communication.
Tracking Restricted vs Unrestricted Funds
Understand the difference between net assets with and without donor restrictions and how to track restricted grant funds.
Understanding Net Assets Released from Restriction
Understand when donor restrictions are satisfied and how releases are presented as reclassifications between the two GAAP net-asset classes.
Preparing for Grant Audits
Learn how nonprofits can prepare for Single Audits, funder reviews, and internal audit requests without rebuilding reports in spreadsheets.
Maintaining Audit-Ready Documentation
Learn how to organize and keep grant documentation so it is ready for review at any time.
Nonprofit Month-End Close Checklist
A month-end close checklist for nonprofits that manage grants, restricted funds, and funder reporting requirements.
Grant Compliance Checklist for Nonprofits
Use this checklist to cover documentation, allowable costs, reporting, property, subawards, and federal requirements for your grants.
What is Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)? Complete Guide
MTDC is the base for the federal de minimis indirect cost rate and a common base in negotiated rate agreements. Learn what it includes, what it excludes, and how to calculate it.
Functional Expense Allocation Methods for Nonprofits
Nonprofit financial statements must show expenses by function and by nature. Learn methods and practices for allocating costs to program, management and general, and fundraising.
Time and Effort Reporting for Federal Grants
Understand the federal standards for documenting salaries and wages charged to federal awards, without relying on outdated forms or certification schedules.
Single Audit Requirements Explained (2026 Guide)
If your nonprofit spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year, you need a Single Audit. Learn what that means and how to prepare.
Uniform Guidance 2024+ Update for Nonprofits
The 2024 Uniform Guidance changes to the Single Audit threshold, MTDC, the de minimis rate, and equipment, and the status of the 2026 proposed rewrite.
Grant Risk Assessment: Best Practices for Nonprofits
Learn how to find grant risks early, rate them, and plan responses that protect your organization and its funding.
Subaward Management and Monitoring for Nonprofits
Learn how to manage subawards as a pass-through entity, from deciding whether a partner is a subrecipient or a contractor to risk assessment, monitoring, and federal reporting.
Free Grant Tracking Templates (Excel & Google Sheets)
Need to track grants but not ready for software? Download a free Excel workbook that also opens in Google Sheets, with overview, budget, expense, and reporting calendar sheets.
Do I Need Grant Management Software? Decision Guide
Spreadsheets, QuickBooks, or dedicated software? This guide helps you decide what fits your nonprofit's grant management needs.
Grant Management Software for QuickBooks: Compare Your Options
Compare QuickBooks alone, controlled spreadsheets, a post-award tool connected to QuickBooks, and replacement accounting systems for nonprofit grant management.
GrantHub Alternative for QuickBooks Users (2026)
GrantHub shut down on January 31, 2026. Compare grant tracking options for nonprofits that use QuickBooks Online and choose the right fit.
Federal Award Intake and Compliance Matrix for Nonprofits
Turn a federal award package into assigned controls, deadlines, QuickBooks tracking, and lasting evidence, and keep agency duties separate from recipient duties.
How to Prepare and Reconcile the SF-425 from QuickBooks Online
Prepare an SF-425 from QuickBooks Online with an award-specific mapping, a cumulative rollforward, a transaction-level tie-out, and a support package for the reviewer.
Federal Cash Management and Drawdown Controls in QuickBooks Online
Control federal advances, reimbursements, and drawdowns with a worksheet for each award, a QuickBooks tie-out, a cash forecast, and a four-way reconciliation.
Federal Budget Revisions and Prior Approval
Federal grant budget revisions require prior written approval for changes listed in 2 CFR 200.308(f), including scope, objectives, and key personnel identified in the award. Cost-specific rules and applicable agency transfer restrictions can also require approval.
Correcting Federal Grant Cost Transfers in QuickBooks Online
A step-by-step way to correct federal grant charges in QuickBooks Online while keeping the original record and checking reports, draws, payroll, fringe, and indirect costs.