Earmarking funds for specific purposes

[Mike or Penny Novack]

We're not really discussing gnucash here because the problems are all 
"what to be doing" rather than how to enter using gnucash. If this were 
a forum rather than an elist, probably would have a section "special 
problems of non-profits" (and similarly ones for "special problems of 
stock corporations" etc.) since most people shouldn't get cluttered with 
specialized uses.

HOWEVER --- because people often get stuck with the job of 
"organizational treasurer" just because anybody else would be even more 
helpless, I am willing to help people in that situation. Probably best 
done one on one by contacting me directly by email since the particular 
issues have multiple solutions, not one size fits all. This is NOT a 
gnucash problem. Most of the alternatives (many of which you pay a lot 
for) do not have the special features needed by non-profits even though 
the version marketed as "for non-profits". Or there is serious mismatch 
<< for example; you can use the business features if your members want 
to be invoiced for "dues" but dues are NOT legally receivable -- 
QuickBooks Pro for Non-Profits has the SAME issue. The treasurer of the 
non-profit is going to have to make adjustments, and that's where the 
choices come in << some solutions might be more straightforward (less 
fudged) but mean more/duplicated entering of data >>

Michael

PS: It is not just "restricted funds" that are special. Non-profits 
often have to account for "pledges" (which is money that they haven't 
received but IS in fact "receivable" on some schedule). Note that this 
sort of complication is NOT completely absent in the business world.