When should a conditional pledge to a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization be recognized?

A pledge is a promise, either written or verbal, to make a contribution at a later date.  In 1993, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 116, Accounting for Contributions Received and Contributions Made, that set down firm guidelines for pledge accounting. 

Determining What Pledges Should be Recorded

Written or Verbal:  Only written pledges may be recorded for financial statement purposes.  Written pledges must include the amount of the pledge, a defined payment schedule or due date, a designation if applicable, and signature of the donor.  E-mail correspondence will be considered as meeting the signature requirement.

Conditional or Unconditional:  Pledges are considered to be conditional if the donor has made their contribution contingent upon some future event.  For example, a donor might promise to give $1,000 if the University obtains a matching gift of $2,000 from other sources.  Under 116, only unconditional pledges may be recorded in the financial statements when the pledge is made.  There may be instances in which a donor may impose a condition that is virtually certain to be met such as "I will give you $1 million provided you give me a report on how the money is spent."  Since the probability is remote that the University would risk $1 million by not giving the donor a report, this would not be considered conditional and could be booked as a pledge.

Revocable and Irrevocable Gifts:  Many donors make planned gifts through their wills (bequests), living trusts, life insurance and other revocable arrangements that become irrevocable only at the donor's death.  Accounting standards do not allow revocable gifts to be booked as pledges.

Donor Advised Funds:  A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is treated like a public charity, so an individual who uses a DAF as a giving vehicle receives a charitable tax deduction at the time that personal assets are transferred to the DAF.  The funds are then controlled by the DAF, not by the individual.  This means that an individual who gives through a DAF cannot make a legally binding commitment on behalf of the DAF.  Therefore, money coming from a DAF cannot be booked as a pledge.  It should also be noted that a gift from a DAF cannot be used to pay down a donor's pledge.  A donor who plans on giving to the University through a DAF can sign a "non-binding gift intention" but this will not be booked as a pledge on the University's financial statements.  If it comes to the attention of University Relations that a donor intends to pay down their personal pledge with a DAF, then the finance office should be notified so that the pledge can be written off for financial statement purposes.

Restricted or Unrestricted:  Any pledges that are designated for current year WAF will not be recorded.  Under the premise that WAF is an annual drive, if the pledge has not been received as of June 30th (year end) it is reasonable to assume that the pledge is uncollectible.  All other designations will be included in the pledge schedule.

Minimum Threshold:  No pledges under $25,000 will be recorded for materiality purposes.

Procedures for Recording Pledges

Rather than recording new pledges and tracking pledge payments made against the receivable throughout the year, these entries are done once a year at year end.  After June 30th, University Relations has each of their Relationship Managers review all outstanding pledges to determine collectibility.  Once the listing of pledges has been finalized, it is sent to the Manager of Restricted Funds in the Finance Office.

The list is then reviewed to determine which pledges are new versus carry-forward and which pledges meet the minimum threshold.  For any pledges that meet the minimum threshold and are considered to be new, the Manager of Restricted Funds will request the supporting documentation from University Relations to ensure that all proper signatures are secured and to make sure there are no conditions surrounding the pledge.  The Manager of Restricted Funds will then complete the pledge roll-forward for any previously booked pledges, noting whether or not they have been paid, written off or reallocated to a different purpose.  This must be done on a pledge by pledge basis.

All pledges are considered to be restricted regardless of their designation once received.  The restriction is based upon time.  Recording pledges as unrestricted revenue may lead financial statement users to conclude incorrectly that these funds are currently available.  Once the pledge is received, the revenue is then considered to be "released from restriction."  Pledges whose ultimate designation are for the endowment will be recorded as permanently restricted revenue.  All other designations are recorded as temporarily restricted revenue.

Calculation of the Allowance for Uncollectible Pledges

The University books a 10% allowance for uncollectible pledges on the entire pledge receivable balance.  This 10% is calculated on the book value amount.

Calculation of the Discounted Pledge Amount

Pledges must be sorted as to the year in which we expect to receive payment.  Because pledges represent payments to be made in future periods, the present value of the future income must be determined before recording pledges in the financial statements.

Discount rates will be based upon the 3 year t-bill rate in effect in the year of the gift.  The historical data rates can be found at www.federalreserve.gov.

When should a conditiWhen should a conditional pledge to a nongovernmental not-for-profitorganization be recognized asrevenue?A. Immediately.B. When the cash is received.C When the pledge conditions are met.D. At the beginning of the next fiscal period.

Stanton College, a nongovernmental not-for-profit entity, received a building with no donor stipulations as to its use. Stanton does not have an accounting policy implying a time restriction on donated assets. What type of net assets should be increased when the building was received?I. Without donor restrictionsII. Temporarily restrictedIII. Permanently restricted

I only.Contributions without donor-imposed restrictions are reported as support that increases net assets without donor restrictions.

In its fiscal year ended June 30, Year 4, Barr College, a large nongovernmental not-for-profit entity, received $100,000 designated by the donor for scholarships for superior students. On July 26, Year 4, Barr selected the students and awarded the scholarships. How should the July 26 transaction be reported in Barr’s statement of activities for the year ended June 30, Year 5?

As both an increase and a decrease of $100,000 in net assets without donor restrictions.When the NFP received the contribution, it should have been classified as net assets with donor restrictions because it was to be used for a specified purpose. When the purpose is fulfilled, the restriction expires. The amount then should be reclassified as a decrease in net assets with donor restrictions and an increase in net assets without donor restrictions. When the scholarships are awarded, net assets without donor restrictions is decreased.

What is the appropriate characterization of the net assets of a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization?

Excess or deficiency of assets over liabilities.General-purpose financial reporting of an NFP organization is based on a net assets model. Net assets is the excess or deficiency of the assets of an NFP over its liabilities. Net assets are classified as (1) net assets without donor restrictions and (2) net assets with donor restrictions.

A nongovernmental not-for-profit entity discovered that equipment purchased on January 1, Year 1, for $650,000 was incorrectly expensed instead of capitalized. The equipment should have been depreciated (straight-line method) over 5 years with no salvage value. What amount should be recorded as equipment at January 1, Year 5, when the error was discovered?

$650,000.Any error related to a prior period discovered after the statements are available to be used must be reported as an error correction by restating the prior period statements. The carrying amounts of (1) assets, (2) liabilities, and (3) net assets at the beginning of the first period reported are restated for the cumulative effect of the error on the prior periods. Corrections of prior period errors must not be included in the change in net assets from operations for the current year. Equipment should be debited and unrestricted net assets should be credited for $650,000 for the purchase of the equipment. Also, accumulated depreciation should be credited and net assets without donor restrictions should be debited for $520,000 [($650,000 ÷ 5 years) × 4 years], the total accumulated depreciation that should have been recorded for Years 1 through 4.

Fenn Museum, a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization, had the following balances in its statement of activities:Education: $300,000Fundraising: 250,000Management and general: 200,000Research: 50,000Fenn reports support activities expenses of $500,000. Which of the following adjustments, if any, should be made to the reported amount?

$50,000 of decrease.The expenses of NFPs are classified by function: program services or support activities. An analysis also must be presented that disaggregates functional expense classifications by natural expense classifications (e.g., salaries, interest, rent, and depreciation). Program services relate to the NFP’s mission or service delivery objectives. Support activities are all other activities of an NFP: (1) management and general, (2) fundraising, and (3) membership development. Thus, the amount of expenses for support activities is $450,000 ($250,000 fundraising + $200,000 management and general). Education and research are most likely program services of the Fenn museum. The appropriate adjustment of the reported amount is a decrease of $50,000 ($500,000 – $450,000).

When should a conditional pledge to a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization be recognized as revenue?

When the pledge conditions are met.A contribution is one entity’s (1) unconditional, (2) voluntary, and (3) nonreciprocal transfer of assets to another entity (or a settlement of its liabilities). Assets include donations of services. Assets also include unconditional promises to give those items in the future. A donor-imposed condition specifies a future and uncertain event. Its occurrence or nonoccurence gives the donor a right of return or releases the donor from an obligation. Thus, a conditional promise to give is not recognized until the condition is substantially met. If the condition is not substantially met, a receipt of assets is accounted for as refundable.

Nongovernmental not-for-profit entities recognize a conditional promise to give when

The conditions are met.A conditional promise to give depends on the occurrence of a specified future uncertain event to establish the promisor’s obligation. It is recognized when the conditions are substantially met, i.e., when the conditional promise becomes unconditional. If the possibility is remote that the condition will not be met, the recognition criterion is satisfied.

The following information was reported by a nongovernmental not-for-profit entity at the end of its current fiscal year:Gross accounts receivableJanuary 1: $37,500December 31: 49,300Sales on account and cash sales: 359,000Uncollectible accounts: 2,000

No accounts receivable were written off or recovered during the year. If the direct method is used in the statement of cash flows, cash collected from customers is

$347,200.Collections from customers equal sales revenue adjusted for the change in gross accounts receivable and write-offs and recoveries. Because no accounts receivable were written off or recovered during the year, no adjustment for these transactions is needed. Accounts receivable increased by $11,800 ($49,300 – $37,500). This amount is an excess of revenue recognized over cash received. Cash collected from customers is $347,200 ($359,000 – $11,800).

Cancer Educators, a nongovernmental not-for-profit entity, incurred costs of $10,000 in its combined program services and fundraising activities. Which of the following cost allocations might Cancer Educators report in its statement of activities?Program services:Fundraising:

General Services:

$6,000.$4,000.$0NFPs must provide information about expenses reported by functional classification. An analysis also must be presented that disaggregates functional expense classifications by natural expense classifications (e.g., salaries, interest, rent, and depreciation). The $10,000 of costs should therefore be divided between program services and fundraising.

A donor gives $10,000 to a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization with instructions that it must be used to fund the organization’s general operating expenses during the following fiscal year. If the organization uses the minimum required presentation of net assets, the donation will increase

Net assets with donor restrictions.Restrictions may be for (1) support of operating activities; (2) investment for a specified term (term endowments); (3) use in a specified future period; (4) acquisition of long-lived assets; (5) assets (e.g., land or works of art) to be used for a specified purpose, preserved, and not sold; or (6) assets to be invested to provide permanent income (e.g., donor-restricted perpetual endowments). The contribution is donor-restricted to use for general operating expenses in the next fiscal year. Thus, the purpose restriction expires in the next period and the contribution increases net assets with donor restrictions.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a split-interest agreement?

At the end of the agreement, the remaining assets must be distributed by the trustee.A split-interest agreement is an arrangement under which a not-for-profit entity (NFP) may share benefits with others. It may be revocable or irrevocable. The period covered may be a specific number of years (or in perpetuity) or the remaining life of a designated individual or individuals. The assets are invested by the NFP, a trustee, or a fiscal agent, and distributions are made to beneficiaries during the term of the agreement. At the end of the agreement, the remaining assets are distributed to or retained by either the NFP or another beneficiary.

A nongovernmental not-for-profit entity discovered that equipment purchased on January 1, Year 1, for $450,000 was incorrectly expensed instead of capitalized. The equipment should have been depreciated (straight-line method) over 5 years with no salvage value. What is the required adjustment to net assets without donor restrictions at January 1, Year 5, when the error was discovered?

$90,000 credit.Any error related to a prior period discovered after the statements are available to be used must be reported as an error correction by restating the prior period statements. The carrying amounts of (1) assets, (2) liabilities, and (3) net assets at the beginning of the first period reported are adjusted for the cumulative effect of the error on the prior periods. Corrections of prior period errors must not be included in the change in net assets from operations for the current year. Accumulated depreciation should be credited and net assets without donor restrictions should be debited for $360,000 [($450,000 ÷ 5 years) × 4 years], the total accumulated depreciation that should have been recorded for Years 1 through 4. Also, equipment should be debited and net assets without donor restrictions should be credited for $450,000 for the purchase of the equipment. Thus, the net effect on net assets without donor restrictions is a $90,000 credit ($450,000 credit – $360,000 debit).

A nongovernmental not-for-profit entity reported cost of goods sold for its publications of $200,000 for the current year. Additional information is as follows:InventoryJanuary 1: $50,000December 31: $100,000Accounts PayableJanuary 1: $28,000December 31: $10,000What amount should be reported as cash paid to suppliers in the current-year statement of cash flows (direct method)?

$268,000.To reconcile cost of goods sold to cash paid to suppliers, a two-step adjustment is needed. First, purchases is calculated by adding the increase in inventory to cost of goods sold. Second, cash paid for goods sold is calculated by adding the decrease in accounts payable to purchases. Thus, cash paid for goods sold equals $268,000 [$200,000 + ($100,000 – $50,000) + ($28,000 – $10,000)].

Fact Pattern:Society is a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization. Recently, Food Company made an oral conditional promise to donate $20,000 to Society contingent upon its recognition as “best foundation of the year” by local government. The $20,000 is restricted to construction of a children’s library.In Year 1, to help Society win recognition, Food Company gave $5,000 to Society in advance. How should the event be reported on Society’s statement of financial position for Year 1?Assets:liabilities:

Net Assets with Donor Restrictions:

Increase Increase No effect.A donor-imposed condition specifies a future and uncertain event. Its occurrence or nonoccurence gives the donor a right of return or releases the donor from an obligation. A conditional promise to give is not recognized until the condition is substantially met. If the condition is not substantially met, a receipt of assets is accounted for as refundable. Accordingly, the amount of $5,000 should be recorded as a refundable advance (liability), and cash (asset) should be debited. No revenue is recognized. Net assets are not affected.

The following information pertains to a nongovernmental not-for-profit entity’s statement of activities for the 12 months just ended:Income from continuing operations: $110,000Error in the previous year’s statement of activities discovered during the current period: (20,000)Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle: 30,000The change in net assets from operations for the year is

$110,000.The cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and prior period errors has no effect on current period income. They must be accounted for retrospectively. Retrospective application requires the beginning balance of net assets to be adjusted for the cumulative effect of (1) applying a new principle and (2) errors on the prior period statement of activities. The change in net assets includes only income from continuing operations of $110,000.

On December 31, Year 3, Dahlia, a nongovernmental not-for-profit entity, purchased a vehicle with $15,000 unrestricted cash and received a donated second vehicle having a fair value of $12,000. Dahlia expects each vehicle to provide it with equal service value over each of the next five years and then to have no residual value. The donor stipulated a 5-year time restriction on the donated vehicle. In Dahlia’s Year 4 statement of activities, what depreciation expense should be included under changes in net assets without donor restrictions?

$5,400.The expiration of a restriction is recognized in the accounting records. Expiration occurs when the stipulated time has elapsed, the purpose of the restriction has been fulfilled, or both. All amounts released during the period are reported in the statement of activities as net assets released from restrictions. The effect is to increase one class of net assets (net assets without donor restrictions) and decrease another (net assets with donor restrictions). In the case of a long-lived depreciable asset, the donor’s time restriction expires as the economic benefits are used. Depreciation expense then is reported as a decrease in net assets without donor restrictions. Consequently, the NFP should record a decrease in net assets without donor restrictions related to depreciation of $5,400 [($15,000 + $12,000) ÷ 5-year useful life], given no residual value.

A nongovernmental not-for-profit entity has the following current information to be reflected in its statement of cash flows:A/R:January 1: $9,500December 31: $16,000Allowance for Bad Debts:January 1: $300December 31: $700Prepaid Rent Expense:January 1: $7,200December 31: $4,400A/P: January 1: $8,700December 31: $10,700The current-year change in net assets is $55,000. Net cash provided by operating activities in the statement of cash flows should be

$53,700.The change in net assets should be adjusted for the effects of items properly included in its determination but having either a different effect or no effect on net operating cash flow. The increase in gross accounts receivable should be subtracted. The increase indicates that revenues exceeded cash received. The increase in the allowance for bad debts should be added. This amount is a noncash expense. The decrease in prepaid rent expense should be added. The cash was paid in a prior period, but the expense is recognized currently as a noncash item. The increase in accounts payable should be added. It indicates that liabilities and related expenses were recognized without cash outflows. The net cash provided by operating activities is therefore $53,700.$55,000 Change in net assets(6,500) Increase in gross AR 400 Increase in allowance for bad debts 2,800 Decrease in prepaid rent 2,000 Increase in accounts payable $53,700 Changes in Net Assets

A nongovernmental not-for-profit entity discovered that a $600,000 rent payment on January 1, Year 1, was expensed instead of recorded as prepaid rent. The prepaid rent is to be amortized over a 3-year rental period. What is the adjustment, if any, to prepaid rent on the cash flow statement (indirect method) dated December 31, Year 3?

$200,000 Decrease.Any error related to a prior period discovered after the statements are available to be used must be reported as an error correction by restating the prior period statements. The carrying amounts of (1) assets, (2) liabilities, and (3) net assets at the beginning of the first period reported are adjusted for the cumulative effect of the error on the prior periods. Corrections of prior period errors must not be included in the change in net assets from operations for the current year. Thus, rent expense should not be adjusted for prior-period errors. The correction is to restate the prior-period statements or beginning net assets. The amount of $200,000 is the annual rent expense. This noncash expense is included in the change in net assets for Year 3 net income. It is therefore added in the reconciliation to net cash flow from operating activities.

A voluntary health and welfare entity (VHWE) included the following costs in its statement of activities for the year:Fundraising: $250,000Administrative: 50,000Research: 120,000Medicine: 230,000Biomedical services: 90,000The total of functional expenses for program services is

$440,000.A VHWE is an NFP. All NFPs report expenses for program services and supporting activities. An analysis also must be presented that disaggregates functional expense classifications by natural expense classifications (e.g., salaries, interest, rent, and depreciation). Program services distribute goods and services to beneficiaries, customers, or members to fulfill the purposes of the entity. Support activities are all other activities. Thus, the amount of expenses for program services is $440,000 ($120,000 research + $230,000 medicine + $90,000 biomedical services).

In Year 2, the Nord Association, a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization, received a $100,000 contribution to fund scholarships for medical students. The donor stipulated that only the interest earned on the contribution be used for the scholarships. Interest earned in Year 2 of $15,000 was used to award scholarships in Year 3. What amount should Nord report as net assets with donor restrictions at the end of Year 2?

$115,000.The donee may use up or expend the donation of interest as specified. It is satisfied by the passage of time or by actions of the donee. Accordingly, the interest earned on the contribution is donor restricted until the donee awards the scholarships (appropriated for expenditure with all time and purpose restrictions met). The scholarships are not awarded until Year 3, so the interest is donor restricted at the end of Year 2. Because the donor stipulated that only the interest earned may be used, the $100,000 contribution is to be invested in perpetuity and therefore is donor restricted.