CPA Exam Lab
All patterns
Not-for-profit

The NFP Reporting Rules

ASU 2016-14 sets the mechanics: a functional expense analysis for every NFP, the liquidity disclosure, and netted investment return.

How the exam words it

The playbook

  1. 1Every NFP presents an analysis of expenses by function and nature (in a statement, schedule, or notes), split between program services and supporting activities.
  2. 2The liquidity disclosure counts financial assets available within one year, excluding both donor-restricted amounts and board-designated amounts.
  3. 3Investment return is reported net of external and direct internal investment expenses.
  4. 4Underwater endowments disclose fair value, original gift amount, the deficiency, and the spending policy, and the deficiency stays within net assets with donor restrictions.

The trap

Counting board-designated reserves as available for general expenditure. They are technically without donor restrictions, but the board has set them aside, so the liquidity disclosure excludes them.

How the exam varies it

The same pattern, re-skinned along these axes:

Which requirement: functional analysis, liquidity, investment return, or underwater endowmentsClassification rule versus disclosure detail versus a computationWhat is required versus what is merely permitted

Drill this pattern

8 questions of The NFP Reporting Rules from across the AUD topics. Clear it by getting 5 right with a streak of 3.

Shows up in 2 FAR topics