Let's Learn
Overview
The Financial & Accounting feature in Panorama Donor Management allows organizations to maintain a transaction register for donations and pledges and, if desired, integrate with QuickBooks Online for accounting and financial reporting.
Organizations can use the Financial & Accounting module in two ways:
Transaction Register Only – Record and manage financial transactions within Panorama without connecting to QuickBooks.
QuickBooks Online Integration – Connect Panorama to QuickBooks Online to post transactions directly into your QuickBooks account.
Note: Connecting to QuickBooks is optional. Organizations that do not use QuickBooks can still use the transaction register for financial record keeping and reporting.
Before You Begin
Before activating Financial & Accounting, we recommend consulting your organization's:
Bookkeeper
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Financial advisor
Non-profit financial attorney
These professionals can help determine the appropriate accounting structure and ensure your configuration aligns with your organization's financial practices.
Prerequisites
Before activating Financial & Accounting, make sure you have the following information available:
A Panorama Donor Management account with administrative access
Your organization's preferred accounting method (Cash or Accrual)
Your Chart of Accounts (recommended)
Your organization's Funds (if applicable)
Products or Services used for donations
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If connecting to QuickBooks:
QuickBooks Online account
QuickBooks Online username and password
Important: Panorama currently integrates with QuickBooks Online only. QuickBooks Desktop is not supported for direct integration.
Understanding Your Accounting Method
Before activation, you'll need to know which accounting method your organization uses.
Cash Basis Accounting
Cash basis accounting records income only when payment is received.
This option is typically used when tracking completed donations only.
Accrual Basis Accounting
Accrual basis accounting records income when it is earned, regardless of when payment is received.
This method allows organizations to track both donations and pledges.
Tip: The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) generally recommends accrual accounting for nonprofit organizations because it provides more comprehensive financial reporting.
How Financial & Accounting Works
Once activated, Financial & Accounting allows you to:
Maintain a transaction register
Configure your Chart of Accounts
Manage Funds
Manage Classes
Manage Products and Services
Export accounting reports
Connect with QuickBooks Online (optional)
Post transactions to QuickBooks
Important Information
Before activating Financial & Accounting, keep the following in mind:
The Start Date entered during activation cannot be changed after setup.
Account names and account numbers can be edited later.
Account types cannot be changed after creation. If the wrong account type is selected, the account must be deleted and recreated.
QuickBooks integration cannot be configured until Financial & Accounting has been activated.
Organizations using only the Transaction Register do not need to connect to QuickBooks.
Related Articles
Use the following guides to complete your Financial & Accounting setup:
Activate Financial & Accounting in Panorama Donor Management
Manage Financial & Accounting Settings
Connect Panorama Donor Management to QuickBooks Online
Use the Transaction Register
Financial & Accounting Glossary & FAQs
Next Steps
After reviewing this overview, continue with Activate Financial & Accounting in Panorama Donor Management to begin configuring your organization's Financial & Accounting settings.
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