Accounting Software Assessment

Accounting software can help your organization plan for and keep track of its budget. But in order to make the best decision about what type of software to buy, it's also important to understand how the software would work with the accounting, technology, and budgeting systems already in place. Use these questions to help you think through your accounting software needs.

1. Does your organization have someone on staff doing your accounting? If so, is your accounting system computerized?
2. If the accounting system is not computerized, do you think it should be? Why?
3. What kind(s) of accounting software does your organization use?
4. Is your computerized accounting system currently working well?
5. Would your accounting system be adequate with a 25 percent increase in volume?
6. Is the accounting staff able to keep your organization's accounts accurately and easily?
7. Do your computers run the accounting software adequately?
8. Does your organization need to upgrade to a newer version of your current program or even a different program? If so, what program do you need?
9. How many computers will not be able to run the new software?

Before you start looking at fund accounting software, make a list of the features that you are looking for. Most of the programs on the market can produce basic fund financial statements, but each of them has strengths and weaknesses. Some questions to ask yourself include:

1. Do you need fundraising software, accounting software, or both? If you need both, do they need to be connected? Why?
2. How many funds do you have? How independent are they? How many accounting transactions do you have each month?
3. Do you have specific reporting requirements from your funders?
4. Can you support the software internally, or are you going to need long-term help from the consultant who installs it?
5. What is your budget for this project?
6. Is your connection fast enough that using an ASP (Application Service Provider) such as eTapestry.com or LocalVoice could be a viable solution for your organization?