Overview
ACCT 345: Not-for-Profit Accounting provides an in-depth look at accounting concepts related to not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs), including financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, and financial statement analysis. An overview of accounting for registered charities is also included. This course provides a theoretical framework for NFPO accounting and applied knowledge, using authentic not-for-profit scenarios that require you to apply technical knowledge and relevant sections of the CPA Canada Handbook.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to
- describe the financial reporting obligations of NFPOs.
- describe the roles and responsibilities of members, the board of directors, employees, auditors, and volunteers.
- apply the deferral and restricted fund methods of recognizing revenue in NFPOs.
- prepare NFPO financial statements using fund accounting.
- apply relevant cost and revenue concepts in a not-for-profit setting.
- prepare an operating budget.
- prepare a balanced scorecard, strategy map, and matrix map in a not-for-profit setting.
- assess an NFPO’s liquidity, solvency, efficiency, and profitability using ratio analysis.
- describe the unique reporting requirements of registered charities.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ACCT 345, you must
- complete both assignments
- achieve at least D (50 percent) on the Final Examination
- achieve an overall composite grade of D (50 percent) for the course.
The following chart summarizes the evaluation activities and scheme for this course
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 30% |
| Assignment 2 | 30% |
| Final Examination | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Annand, D. (2025). Not-for-profit accounting (3rd ed.). Athabasca University.
Annand, D. (2025). Solutions manual to accompany Not-for-profit accounting (3rd ed.). Athabasca University.
: Access to this resource is provided through the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAPPLibrary.
Other Materials
All other course materials can be found online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ACCT 345 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the challenge examination.
| Activity | Weight |
| Online Examination | 100% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form