FundSvcs Community

Hello everyone,

I'm working to update our Program Expense/ Admin Expense ratio for use in grant applications. I realized that while my organization has historically used the numbers from the Audited Financials to calculate this ratio, that other reputable sources (like Charity Navigator) refer to the numbers from the 990. There are differences in the way each of these documents are calculated (IRS Form 990 and Financial Statements: Explaining the Discrepancies - Wegner CPAs) so the numbers are not exactly the same. An additional complication is that our organization has affiliates but files a consolidated 990. The 990 only shows our consolidated totals, whereas in the Audited Financials, we can show the detailed program/ admin/ fundraising numbers for each of our affiliates. 

Could folks weigh in on whether using the 990 is standard to calculate this ratio, or if using the numbers from the Audit is equally valid? 

Thank you,

Leslie