Tips for Effective Grant Record Keeping

In our last post, we explained whether the grants management process should be centralized or decentralized, and why.

In this post below, we'll look at how to keep better track of your grants.
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​After you’ve determined and documented your grants management procedures (download a free set of sample written procedures here), you’ll want to look at your grant record keeping, and straighten out how to organize and track all your grant files and records.
 
Many local governments do not set up each grant separately in its financial system. Therefore, the grant manager frequently maintains grant expenditure information on spreadsheets, like Excel. 

​Using spreadsheets to keep track of your grant expenditures, however, can create a multitude of issues, such as:

• Spreadsheets lack security controls, such as automatic backup, password protection, and automatic log off;
• Spreadsheets are prone to error because they don’t use double entry bookkeeping and aren’t maintained by trained accountants;

• Spreadsheets are not always reconciled with the general ledger; and
• Spreadsheets are not always shared with other employees involved with the grant.

​Therefore, we recommend setting up each grant separately in your financial system. ERP systems exist to keep track of important financial information for your agency. Grant expenditures and related revenues represent such important financial information. Most financial systems can handle accounting for grants via use of cost centers, orgs, or programs. Take advantage of ERP system controls and trained accountants to account for grant expenditures. All of your grant financial information will be easily accessible and the preparation of grantor reports will be a lot easier.

 

What Needs to Be in Grant Files?

​In addition to tracking grant expenditures and revenues in the financial system, there is a significant amount of other information and documents to keep track of. The grant manager should be responsible for collecting and maintaining this information for your agency.
 
In order to facilitate the info being easily available to all employees involved in the grant, the grant files should be in a shared drive and there should be a standard table of contents. This standard table of contents helps the grant manager to identify the information that should be collected and facilitates all employees being able to find needed information quickly. 
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​A sample table of contents for grants files follows:​

1. Grant award letter
2. Proposal & initial budget
3. Financial reports
4. Consultant contracts
5. Compliance requirements
6. Audits, findings & corrective action plans
7. Reimbursement claims & reports submitted to grantor
8. Governing body approvals, staff reports & resolutions
9. Final grantor close-out documents

​​By incorporating the above tips and procedures into your grants management, you are on the path to making your grant record keeping more clear and tracking your grant expenditures more effectively.

Please reach out directly to me if you would like hands-on help with your grants management – please email or call me today for a free consultation:
 
Kevin Harper, CPA
kharper@kevinharpercpa.com
(510) 593-503

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