تقييم المعالجات المحاسبية للمعاملات المالية في مؤسسات القطاع الثالث

Abstract

The third sector, or the so-called Not-for-profit sector, is a key sector and partner in all development processes and a supportive sector for the public and private sectors. Not-for-profit organizations are among the most important structures of the contemporary societies, for they play a crucial role in the charitable, social, cultural and economic fields. Not-for-profit organizations have economic and financial aspects that require the existence of accounting systems to preserve the funds they deal with, and the measurement and evaluation of their role in providing interests and services to the beneficiaries. In this respect, many efforts have been made by accounting institutions to establish a framework that regulates the accounting principles and standards that govern the processes of recording, measurement, presentation and accounting disclosures of their various activities and transactions. This study aims at evaluating the accounting treatments of financial transactions in the organizations that make up the third sector via studying the most important topics that distinguish them from commercial entities, as well as the For-profit accounting issues that can be applied to Not-for-profit organizations. The field study, on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Harvard University endowment, concluded that these organizations have a well-organized, accurate and comprehensive accounting system that ensures a true picture of their financial situation. The study also concluded that both organizations apply the accrual basis of accounting, because a large part of their contributions are received through pledges and promises to give. Additionally, both organizations adhere to donor restrictions, which are clearly reflected in the net asset and fund classifications. Moreover, the study found out that both of them account for their transactions and operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.