Not-for-profit and government
Charities, foundations, associations, school boards, municipalities and public agencies spend funds that come with obligations. Money may be restricted by a donor, a grant agreement or a budget authority.
This page describes the cost areas these organizations commonly have and where a partner firm review may help. Fairview Audit connects you with partner firms. Fairview does not perform reviews itself.
Why cost control looks different here
A business can choose to chase growth. A public body or charity usually cannot. Every dollar is expected to serve a stated purpose, and boards, funders and the public may ask how it was spent.
Procurement is also shaped by rules. Many agencies must follow set purchasing steps, and many charities follow board policies on approvals. Recipients of federal awards must use documented procurement procedures and monitor vendors against the agreed contract terms. Contracts can be awarded through a formal process, then run for years with little follow-up on whether billing matches the awarded terms.
Staff turnover adds to the problem. A contract signed by one administrator may be managed by someone else two years later, who has never seen the original pricing schedule.
Cost areas these organizations commonly have
The mix depends on whether you run programs, facilities, a fleet, a clinic or an office. These are common areas.
- Supplier contracts for facility services, security, janitorial work, printing, food service and professional services.
- Utilities for buildings such as offices, community centers, depots and shelters.
- Grant-funded spending that must be documented and reported to the funder.
- Leases for office space, program space or storage.
- Vehicle, equipment and technology contracts with renewals.
- Payments to many small vendors, where duplicates and missed credits can occur.
[CONFIRM: partner industry detail]
Review areas that fit this sector
Three review areas apply to many organizations of this kind, and each has its own page.
Supplier contracts are the first. A partner firm compares billing with the contract terms, which helps when agreed prices, service levels or renewal rules may have drifted. See supplier contract compliance for not-for-profit and government.
Grant and audit compliance is the second. Organizations that spend federal grant funds may face a single audit once their spending reaches a set threshold. The rules depend on the funder and the jurisdiction [VERIFY: which federal or local grant audit rules apply]. See grant and single-audit compliance for not-for-profit and government.
Utilities are the third. Buildings spread across a campus or a region produce many bills, and a billing error on one account can persist for a long time. See utilities for not-for-profit and government.
How matching works
Fairview offers three request paths: larger business, smaller business, and not sure or another need. Public bodies and charities often fall into the third group, because the larger and smaller labels were written for businesses. There is no fixed size cut-off. Fairview matches each request by hand. Use the other needs form if you are unsure, and Fairview will match your request by hand. The larger form and smaller form are also available.
The matched partner firm contacts you. You share documents, the firm reports findings, and you remain involved. The engagement and any fees are between you and the partner, under the partner's terms. Government bodies may have procurement rules that apply before engaging any outside firm, so check your own policies first.
Note: Fairview connects you with partner firms. It does not give legal, tax or accounting advice, and it does not promise any result.
Who this page suits
It suits finance directors, executive directors, business managers and clerks who oversee budgets and vendor contracts. It also suits grant managers who need clean records for a funder. Other sectors are listed on the industries page.
Frequently asked questions
Can a public body or charity use Fairview?
You can submit a request. Whether a partner firm serves your type of organization is something the matched firm confirms. [CONFIRM: a partner firm supplies and approves this statement]
Do fees affect restricted funds?
That depends on your funder terms and your own policies. Fees, if any, are set by the partner firm. Ask your funder or auditor before you commit.
Does Fairview perform the review?
No. Fairview connects you with a partner firm. The firm does any review work.
Tell us what you need reviewed. We match you by hand with an independent partner firm. You keep your existing vendors.Find out what you are overpaying.