Vermont nonprofit bookkeeping built for your mission

Your nonprofit exists to make a difference, and your nonprofit bookkeeping should make that easier, not harder. Select Bookkeeper Advisory is a Vermont-based remote accounting team that keeps your financials organized, your grants tracked, and your board confident in every report.

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A nonprofit worker supporting a woman in need.

What makes nonprofit bookkeeping different

Nonprofits operate under a fundamentally different financial framework than for-profit businesses. There is no owner’s equity. Instead, you manage net assets, track restricted and unrestricted funds separately, and report on how every dollar was used in relation to your mission. A nonprofit bookkeeper needs to understand fund accounting, grant compliance reporting, IRS Form 990 preparation support, and how to produce financial statements that satisfy both your board and your funders. Getting this wrong creates delayed grant reimbursements, audit findings, and board members who can’t read the financials they are approving.

Nonprofit bookkeeping services

Fund accounting & grant tracking

We set up and maintain your books using proper fund accounting, so restricted grants, unrestricted donations, and program-specific funds are tracked separately. When a funder asks where their money went, you’ll have the answer ready.

Nonprofit financial statements

Your board needs clear, accurate nonprofit financial statements they can use to make decisions. We produce Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities, and Statement of Functional Expenses on your schedule, ready for board meetings, funder reports, and 501(c)(3) compliance.

Monthly bookkeeping & reconciliation

Bank reconciliations, transaction categorization, accounts payable and receivable. We close your books every month so you start the next one with clean, up-to-date records. No more scrambling at year-end.

Audit preparation & compliance

When audit season arrives, you won’t be digging through boxes. We maintain organized records year-round and prepare the documentation your auditors need, including schedules, reconciliations, and supporting details for your Form 990.

A caregiver attending to a resident of a senior residential home.

QuickBooks for nonprofits, configured for your mission

Most nonprofit QuickBooks files run on a default configuration that was never designed for fund-based tracking, grant accounting, or 501(c)(3) reporting. We configure yours with a nonprofit chart of accounts, classes for program tracking and projects for grant tracking, and reporting templates that produce the statements your board and funders expect.

  • Nonprofit chart of accounts tailored to your programs
  • Class and project tracking for grants and restricted funds
  • Donor and funder reporting templates
  • Bank, credit card, and third-party app integrations
  • Staff training on day-to-day transaction entry

Nonprofits we serve

Health & social services

Community health centers, mental health providers, social service agencies

Education & Youth programs

After-school programs, youth development, art schools

Associations

Trade associations, professional member organizations, homeowners associations

Advocacy & civic groups

Policy organizations, civic engagement groups, community foundations

Animal welfare

Animal shelters, rescue organizations, wildlife conservation groups

Communication Union Districts

Build and manage broadband to underserved communities

What Our Clients Are Saying

  • As a leader of a nonprofit, working with Select Bookkeeper has made my job more manageable and has helped our organization grow. Darlene is professional, informed, and always responsive. It’s a pleasure to work with a local bookkeeper who cares about our business and has the know-how to keep our important work behind the scenes timely and compliant. 
    Thanks for all you do!
    Sarah
  • Darlene Palmer has been doing our books for a couple of years. Darlene makes it so easy to work with her. Her work is excellent, and without issue. Darlene’s a pleasure to know and I’m so grateful for her skills and excellent work!
    Jennifer H.
    CEO non-profit 501c3
  • I have been working with Darlene Palmer for the past 4 years and she is a Total Joy. Punctual Professional Always Pleasant and Responsive
    Hands Down Darlene is the Best Bookkeeper I have EVER worked with, and I spent 35 years on Wall Street as a Trading Desk Manager and Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager.
    You’re The Best!!
    Thank You
    Jack D.
  • Several years ago, my homeowners association, which runs a water system for its members, was seeking someone to do bookkeeping to help out our treasurer, me. Darlene was recommended by one of our Executive Board members. I reached out and she responded quickly. We could not be happier with her work for us! She is extremely responsive and just does not make mistakes. She handles all the bill paying and prepares regular financial statements. She also manages the annual assessment process by sending out invoices and collecting the payments. The members of the Executive Board are very happy with Darlene’s work, and we also find that what she charges for her services is very reasonable. I have not met Darlene in person, but I deal with her all the time. Personally, she has made my life much easier and is a pleasure to work with.
    D.V.
  • I had the pleasure of interning with Darlene at Select Bookkeeper when completing my
    Bookkeeping Certificate from the Community College of Vermont. From the very first day,
    Darlene demonstrated a remarkable blend of professionalism, expertise, and a genuine
    commitment to my growth and learning. One of the constants throughout my internship was the
    patient and thorough approach to training. Darlene took the time to explain complex accounting
    concepts in a way that was easy to understand, ensuring that I felt confident and competent in
    my tasks. Whether it was managing financial records, reconciling accounts, or preparing reports, I received clear guidance and constructive feedback that strengthened the foundation of my knowledge.
    P.B.
    CCV Intern
  • This hands-on experience was invaluable, as it gave me a practical understanding of bookkeeping practices and the intricacies of financial management for businesses of all sizes. What truly set my internship apart was Darlene’s dedication to mentorship. She not only shared her wealth of knowledge but also took a personal interest in my career aspirations. Her insights into the accounting industry and advice on professional development were instrumental in shaping my future goals and I can confidently say that I would not be working in the position I am today without her guidance.
    P.B.
    CCV Intern
  • At Champlain Valley Hops we have enjoyed working with Darlene and Select Bookkeeper for our bookkeeping services for the last several years.  Darlene has gone above and beyond to help our business and is always available to answer questions when they come up.  She has been thorough, responsive, knowledgeable, and professional.  We fully trust Darlene with managing our farm’s books and we are confident that we are in good hands.  
    Max
  • Since Darlene has taken over the financial aspect of the business I can relax, knowing that everything is getting done correctly. I am so grateful I can trust the quarterly payroll and state taxes are done correctly; and what a gift that Darlene works closely with our accountant to close the fiscal year out. Darlene is patient, thorough, reliable, trustworthy and has been so willing to be of service.
    Gratefully,
    BHB
  • Darlene saved us! We are a homeowner’s association of 32 camps in VT. We hired Darlene three years ago when the bookkeeping became too burdensome and time-consuming (payroll and other taxes, insurance, state loan repayments and filings, annual billing to association members, payments to vendors, preparation of financial statements, annual budgeting, etc.) Darlene came to us highly recommended, but she has added way more value than we could have imagined. She set us up on Quickbooks which is perfect for our needs. She handles all our accounting and reporting, researches issues, makes suggestions, follows up with vendors, and reminds us when we need to do things! She is knowledgeable, professional, thorough, efficient, accessible, lovely to deal with. She is a gem, and I can’t recommend her highly enough.
    Satisfied Client
  • I met Darlene when I was considering a career change. I had been in non-profit leadership for 10 years and was looking for a career that better fit my family’s needs. Since meeting Darlene, she has coached me through what certifications I should complete, the applications of bookkeeping, and how to start and run my own bookkeeping business. It has become abundantly clear that Darlene not only knows the business like the back of her hand but also cares a lot about the quality of books in our local community. She coaches me on the importance of doing things the right way, how to form meaningful relationships with clients, and where to find the right answers. Darlene is kind, a great listener, an excellent teacher, and will surely be a mentor for the rest of my bookkeeping career.
    A Fellow Bookkeeper

Your remote accounting team

We function as your nonprofit’s internal accounting department, without the overhead of a full-time hire. Your executive director or treasurer works directly with us while we handle the day-to-day financial operations. Select Bookkeeper Advisory is based in Addison County, Vermont, and works with nonprofits across the state through secure cloud-based systems.

We’re not a tax firm, and we’re not trying to replace your CPA. We handle the bookkeeping, financial planning, and reporting so that when tax season or audit time arrives, everything is organized and ready to hand off.

A business owner smiling and feeling grateful for the nonprofit accounting team he hired.

Let’s talk about your nonprofit’s books

Whether you need a full bookkeeping setup, help cleaning up existing records, or a dedicated team to handle it month to month, we’ll walk through your situation and figure out what makes sense.

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Nonprofit bookkeeping FAQ

How is nonprofit bookkeeping different from regular bookkeeping?

Nonprofits use fund accounting instead of standard cash or accrual based bookkeeping. This means tracking restricted and unrestricted funds separately, reporting on functional expenses, and producing statements like the Statement of Activities instead of a standard P&L. Your bookkeeper needs to understand these distinctions to keep you compliant and audit-ready.

Can QuickBooks Online handle nonprofit accounting?

Yes. QuickBooks Online works for nonprofit accounting when it’s configured properly: a nonprofit-specific chart of accounts, classes to track programs, projects to track restricted grants, and custom reports that match nonprofit financial statement formats. We handle all of this as part of our setup and ongoing bookkeeping services.

What nonprofit financial statements do you prepare?

We prepare the three core nonprofit financial statements: Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities, and Statement of Functional Expenses. We also produce grant-specific reports, budget vs. actual comparisons, and cash flow statements as needed by your board or funders.

Do you work with nonprofits outside of Vermont?

We do. While Select Bookkeeper Advisory is based in Addison County, Vermont, we work remotely with nonprofits in New England and beyond. All of our systems are cloud-based, so we can collaborate securely regardless of where your organization is located.

How do you handle grant accounting and tracking?

We set up dedicated tracking for each grant using classes or projects in QuickBooks. This lets us produce grant-specific reports showing exactly how funds were allocated and spent, so funder reports and grant renewals are already organized and ready to go.

Do you handle 501(c)(3) accounting and audit preparation?

Yes. 501(c)(3) accounting is a core part of what we do. We maintain your books to nonprofit accounting standards, track restricted and unrestricted funds separately, and keep documentation organized for audit preparation year-round. When your auditor or CPA needs schedules, reconciliations, or supporting details for Form 990, the documentation is already in place.