2012 Review of Sage 100 Fund Accounting

Strengths

• Available as a desktop or Cloud-based system
• Excellent selection of system modules
• Single user edition available for smaller nonprofits
• Excellent system customization capability
• Excellent grant management and fundraising capabilities

Potential Limitations

• System setup will require up-front time
• Costs can escalate depending on number of users and modules required

BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS: 5 Stars
Sage 100 Fund Accounting can be installed as a desktop product or as a hosted solution, that can be accessed anywhere. The Sage 100 Fund Accounting user interface has been updated, providing users with better flexibility and more options, including the choice to set up links to system functions.

Workflow diagrams and related tasks make system navigation easy, with each module featuring its own workflow diagram. Below the flow chart is a list of related tasks, and a tool bar at the top of the screen provides quick access to system functions.

Users can easily customize navigation screens to suit their use. Sage 100 Fund Accounting data entry screens are user friendly, and all include the necessary look-up options. To the left of the screen is a complete list of system modules. To the right, users can set up help and other links as needed. Additional tabs are found in all data entry screens, making it easy to go from function to function.

Sage 100 Fund Accounting contains an impressive number of modules, including AP, Accounts Receivable Reporting, Accounts Receivable Billing & Sales Order, Advanced Security, Allocations Management, Bank Reconciliation, Budget, Data Consolidation, Data Import/Export, Direct Deposit, Electronic Funds Transfer for AP, Electronic Requisitions, Employee Web Services, Encumbrances, Executive View License, Fixed Assets, Forms Designer, GASB Reporter, GL, Grant Management, HR Management, Inventory Control, Multicurrency, Payroll, Purchase Orders, Scheduler, and Visual Analyzer.

The amount of modules available as well as the addition of a single user system makes this Sage 100 Fund Accounting extremely scalable.

Core NFP/Fund Accounting Capabilities: 5 Stars
Sage 100 Fund Accounting offers a flexible chart of accounts that allows users to utilize an unlimited number of segments. The table-driven structure saves time when setting up multiple grants and funds. Sage 100 Fund Accounting easily handles multiple transaction types including setting up recurring entries, allocation entries, encumbrances, as well as standard posting entries such as cash receipts and budget entries.

Budgets can be set up for multiple grants, funds, programs, and even accounts. Users can create an unlimited number of budgets, and users can easily view previously saved budget totals when making adjustments. Budgets can be created for multiple years, and users can use drill-down capability to view all documents relevant to that budget.

The optional Sage Fundraising 50 solution offers users a complete CRM/donor management solution, with users able to manage information about each donor, track all incoming donations, and manage appeals and campaigns. The Grant Management module helps users track grant details, from initial submission, to project and grant related management.

The Grant Management module also tracks activity against each grant, including budget creation and contains excellent reporting capability. Sage 100 Fund Accounting includes automatic fund balancing capability, and can easily handle cross-fiscal years. Excellent audit trail functionality allows users to easily monitor system access by user.

Sage 100 Fund Accounting contains a multitude of e-features, including EFT payment capability for both AP and AR modules, direct deposit functionality, and an Employee Web Services module, where employees can electronically enter timesheet data.

The Electronic Requisition module allows users to request reimbursements and other expenses. Donors and other customers can be emailed statements and invoices, and the online version of Sage 100 Fund Accounting provides users with online access to the program from anywhere.

Management Features: 5 Stars
The Visual Analyzer module offers users easy access to financial dashboards. All of the dashboards offer drill down capability, allowing users to keep a handle on all fund and program activity. Use advanced warning controls to activate warnings when total expenses are about to exceed budgeted expenses.

Future period totals can be estimated as well, creating a “what-if” scenario. Sage 100 Fund Accounting’s Advanced Security module allows managers to set individual or group security rights, and system access can be limited at varying levels including department, program, and account level. A premium security option with field level encryption is also available.

The AR module tracks aging, contains an invoice template, and allows uses to create custom billing cycles as needed. The Sage Fundraising 50 module tracks all incoming pledges and donations, and manages all donor information. Data files can be attached to relevant files, creating a central file cabinet for all program and funds.

Financial Statements & Reporting: 5 Stars
Sage 100 Fund Accounting contains a built in financial report writer, offering solid customization capabilities, with users able to create and save custom reports as well. Over 100 standard reports are included with the system as well. Users can easily create nonprofit specific reports such as FASB or GASB compliant reports. Grant reporting options are excellent, with users able to track financial data for each grant, including budgets and expenditures. All reports can be exported to Word, Excel, PDF, or HTML files.

Integration & Import/Export: 5 Stars
Sage 100 Fund Accounting allows users to import data from a variety of third-party applications, and the users can export data to a variety of file formats including HTML, Word, Excel, CSV, and PDF. A completely integrated system, Sage 100 Fund Accounting offers users a wide variety of modules that can be purchased as needed. The hosted version of Sage 100 Fund Accounting provides accountants with easy access to system data as needed.

Help/Support: 5 Stars
Sage 100 Fund Accounting offers users excellent Help functionality throughout the program. The Sage website offers users access to an online community, a knowledgebase and customer portal, where users can download system updates, and links to the Sage support online chat option. Training options include real-time online learning, custom training, classroom training, and an annual customer conference. Silver and Gold level support plans are available at an affordable price, with training and forms discounts, extended hours, and annual system evaluations offered at the Gold support level.

Summary & Pricing
Sage 100 Fund Accounting is available in a single-user version for $2,995. The online version, Sage Nonprofit Online, starts at $349.00 per month and includes Sage Grant Management, Sage Fundraising Online and CRM
solutions. Extremely scalable, Sage 100 Fund Accounting is suitable for nonprofits of just about any size.

2012 Overall Rating: 5 Stars