Accumulated fund is an important concept in finance that connotes the total financial reserves amassed by an NPO or non-profit organisation. It is a fund consisting of all the budgetary surplus an NPO accumulates over time. While similar to the concept of retained profits in the corporate world, accumulated funds are generally reserved for NPOs. This article highlights what an accumulated fund is, shedding light on its meaning, formula, and usage.

An accumulated fund is the excess financial reserve held by a non-profit organisation (NPO). In simple words, the excess amount of money received by a non-profit organisation is held in an accumulated fund. Similar to the retained earnings of a for-profit organisation, the accumulated fund grows when the NPO has budgetary surpluses. NPOs are organisations set up to further social causes for public benefit rather than to achieve a profit motive. NPOs like charities, clubs, and societies source revenue to fund their operations through charitable donations, which are usually tax deductible for both the donee and the donor. These funds are used to meet operational costs and other capital expenditures. Sometimes, the revenue of the organisation is higher than its expenditure for a given accounting period, resulting in a budgetary surplus. Such budgetary surpluses are placed in the accumulated funds of the NPO.

• Accumulated funds are the sum total of all excess funds received by a non-profit organisation or NPO.
• Accumulated funds grow when the revenue is greater than the total expenditure, leading to a budgetary surplus.
• The accumulated fund reserve of an NPO can be used to advance the organisation’s cause as well as fund its daily operations.

As mentioned earlier, accumulated funds mean the reserved budgetary surplus balance that a non-profit organisation generates over the years. The accumulated funds of an organisation can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the organisation from its total assets. We can express the accumulated fund formula as:

Accumulated funds = Total assets - Total liabilities

Now that you know what an accumulated fund is and the formula used to compute accumulated funds, let’s have a closer look into how to go about such calculations:

Identify total assets

NPOs have various assets that are used to meet their charitable goals. Summing up the organisation’s total assets means gathering all its monetary assets like pledges, donations, grants, and cash, and non-monetary assets like property, equipment, and supplies. The total assets of the NPO represent the total value of resources available to the organisation.

Calculate total liabilities

Total liabilities of an NPO sum up how much the organisation owes to creditors and other entities. This includes accounts payable, outstanding debt, lease payments, accrued expenses, and other financial obligations.

Subtract total liabilities from total assets

The total liabilities of the NPO must be subtracted from its total assets to arrive at the accumulated fund value.

NPOs can use accumulated funds in a variety of ways to finance their operations. Let’s look at some of the examples of accumulated fund usage:

Investment in expansion

Like for-profit organisations use their retained profits to grow and expand, NPOs can use their accumulated funds to finance expansion projects and operations. This may include opening branches in new areas to expand their reach or simply expanding their services. NPOs can rely on their accumulated funds for this purpose instead of relying on external financing.

Research and development

Accumulated fund reserves can help solve the issue of inadequate research funding for NPOs. Non-profits can use their accumulated funds to make targeted investments in the pursuit of research and development. They can conduct research at the ground level by collecting and analysing data or engage in strategic partnerships with academic institutions to conduct studies.

Debt repayment

Generally, NPOs rely on future grants and donations to repay outstanding loans. However, they can use the accumulated funds to repay existing debt liabilities. By repaying debt early, NPOs can avoid interest build-up.

Emergency funds

Accumulated funds act as crucial reserves for NPOs during emergencies like natural calamities. During emergencies, NPOs face rising demands and the need for more resources. Accumulated funds can help sustain their service provision during such situations. Similarly, these surplus funds can be used to bridge budget deficits.

Finance expenditures

NPOs can use the accumulated fund reserves to meet various fixed and variable expenditures. This can include renovation, administrative, and operating costs like salaries and utility expenses. A certain amount of money is also directed towards fund-raising expenses.

Now that you understand the meaning of an accumulated fund and its versatile usage, it’s time to discuss the importance of these funds. Here’s why NPOs strive to maintain a healthy accumulated reserve:

Financial stability

Accumulated funds act as a source of financial stability for the NPO in times of need. Non-profits can turn to these reserves to finance their operations when donations are low. For instance, an NPO can simply dip into its accumulated funds to finance a budget deficit instead of borrowing funds.

Flexibility for investment

As per Indian laws, NPOs like charitable trusts, religious boards, and societies can invest in mutual fund schemes. While there are some restrictions on the type of NPO and fund source in question, MF investments are possible. Eligible NPOs can invest accumulated funds in MFs and earn returns on the same to further their charitable activities.

Debt repayment

While business loans for charities usually come with a nominal interest rate, it is still prudent to repay the liability as soon as possible. Accumulated funds can be used to repay such loans early and reduce interest expenses.

Strategic reserves

As mentioned earlier, accumulated funds act as a rainy day reserve for the NPO. They can use the stored funds to tackle unexpected emergencies and ensure the organisation keeps running smoothly. For instance, most non-profits keep 3-6 months of cash in hand to fund operating costs. However, if the service demand for the organisation rises due to some emergency, these operational costs may double. In such cases, accumulated funds can be used to fund the deficit.

Support for expansion

With a healthy accumulated fund reserve, NPOs can invest in expansion plans and grow their service base without requiring external financing. Expanding their operations helps non-profits spread their influence and help more people.

Demonstration of financial management

Maintaining a healthy accumulated fund indicates prudent financial management. This inspires confidence among stakeholders, donors, and board members that the organisation can effectively manage resources.

In the financial context, the terms ‘capital’ and ‘accumulated fund’ differ greatly in terms of meaning, source, and purpose. Let’s look at some of their key differences:

Nature and purpose

Capital refers to the initial contribution made by investors to start a business. Businesses raise money to finance their operations through capital financing. They sell shares or ownership stakes in the company in exchange for funds. Accumulated funds, on the other hand, are the reservoir of budgetary surplus funds created by non-profit organisations over time. Unlike for-profits, NPOs do not have investors.

Source

Capital is primarily sourced from shareholders. Companies sell their shares on the stock exchange to raise capital, while shareholders purchase these shares for ownership in the company and potential capital appreciation. Accumulated funds are generated from budgetary surpluses. They represent the surplus of total assets over total liabilities.

Purpose of use

Capital is used to start the business, purchase assets, and finance initial operations. It may also be used for other purposes like expansion and growth. Accumulated funds are used for a variety of purposes, like expansion, development, debt repayment, day-to-day expense coverage, and maintenance of financial stability.

Flexibility

Capital is less flexible than accumulated funds since it is invested in the business for the long run. Accumulated funds offer greater flexibility in terms of usage as they can be used to meet varied goals depending on the organisation’s needs.

Non-profit organisations can have budgetary surpluses when their total revenue exceeds their total expenditure within a given accounting period. Such surpluses are cumulatively called accumulated funds. Accumulated funds are surplus income for NPOs and can be used to meet various requirements like expansion, debt repayment, expense financing, and contingency fund creation. While similar to retained profits of for-profit organisations, accumulated funds are typical to NPOs and used differently from how excess earnings are utilised by for-profit companies. In a nutshell, accumulated funds are simply budgetary excesses. If you also have budgetary excesses and are looking for ways to invest these funds, consider investing in mutual funds. You can start your mutual fund journey with a trusted and reliable partner like the Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund Platform. On this smart platform, you can compare 1000+ mutual funds and pick the ones that best match your risk appetite and goals. Depending on your investment preferences, you can invest with a one-time lump-sum amount or start an SIP with as little as Rs. 100!