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Accounting Standards for Private Sector Not-for-Profit Organizations

Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters

Summary

The Accounting Standards Board (AcSB) wants to improve financial reporting by not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs) by creating contribution recognition guidance that results in financial statements that are less complex and more understandable for financial statement users. This project will affect Canadian NFPOs applying the standards in Part III of the CPA Canada Handbook – Accounting Standards for NFPOs. 

To achieve these objectives, this project will aim to:

  • make improvements to the existing contribution revenue recognition methods (the restricted fund method and deferral method);
  • clarify certain definitions related to the accounting for contributions;
  • make improvements to the accounting for special types of contributions, including endowments, capital asset contributions, and contributed materials and services; and
  • enhance presentation and disclosure requirements to provide better information to financial statement users.

Staff Contact(s)

Mark Squire, CPA, CA Principal, Accounting Standards Board

Dominique Hamel, MSc, CPA Principal, Accounting Standards

Project Status

  • Information gathering

    The AcSB issued its Consultation Paper in May 2020

    The AcSB issued its Exposure Draft, “Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters,” in March 2023

  • Approving project

    The AcSB approved a revised project plan for a new exposure draft in May 2024

  • Engaging Communities

    The AcSB is gathering input to help develop a new exposure draft

  • Deliberating feedback
  • Final pronouncement

Feedback statement to the 2023 Exposure Draft

Read this document to learn more about the feedback on the 2023 Exposure Draft, “Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters,” and how that feedback has shaped the future direction of the Contributions project.

News


May 14, 2024

News, Resource

Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters Exposure Draft Feedback Statement

Read the feedback statement for AcSB's 2023 Exposure Draft, “Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters” to learn how your feedback has shaped the future direction of the Contributions project.

May 24, 2023

Webinar, Resource, Video

On-demand Webinar – AcSB Exposure Draft – Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters

Watch the AcSB’s recorded webinar to learn more about the proposals in our Exposure Draft, “Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters,” and how they may affect financial reporting by not-for-profit organizations. We also present different ways you can share your feedback throughout our consultation period.

April 6, 2023

Resource, In Brief

In Brief – AcSB Exposure Draft – Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters

Read our In Brief for an overview of Exposure Draft (ED), “Contributions – Revenue Recognition and Related Matters." The ED proposals aim to improve financial reporting by not-for-profit organizations by creating guidance that will result in financial statements that are less complex and more comparable for financial statement users. Share your feedback by submitting a comment letter by September 30, 2023, and/or attending one of our roundtables to be held during the comment period.

Disclaimer

This project summary has been prepared for information purposes only. Decisions reported are tentative and reflect only the current status of discussions on this project, which may change after further Board deliberations. Decisions to publish Handbook material are final only after a formal voting process.