Nonprofit audit prep checklist
Answer four questions. Get a calm list of what to gather for your audit or funder visit, and when.
Your checklist
How it works
Answer four questions
What kind of review is coming, how much federal money you spent, and when it starts.
Get only what fits
Items grouped by topic, each with why the auditor asks. Federal items show the rule they come from.
Tick things off
Progress stays in this browser. Print it, download it, or add the dates to your calendar.
The single audit line
A single audit is required when you spend $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year (2 CFR 200.501(a)). That line applies to fiscal years starting on or after October 1, 2024. Before that, it was $750,000.
Checked against 2 CFR 200 on eCFR, as of Nov 9, 2026. A proposed rewrite of 2 CFR 200 from May 2026 is not final. We'll update this page if the rules change.
Questions
Do I need a single audit?
If your organization spent $1,000,000 or more in federal awards during its fiscal year, yes. That includes federal money passed through a state or county. It's based on spending in the year, not on award size. For fiscal years that started before October 1, 2024, the line was $750,000.
What's the difference between a financial audit and a single audit?
A financial audit checks that your financial statements are fair and accurate. A single audit includes that, and also tests how you managed your federal awards: things like time records, purchasing and reporting. It ends with a report filed with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.
How long does prep take?
For a small team, about six to eight weeks of steady, part-time work is comfortable. Most of it is gathering things you already have. If you have less time, start with what your auditor asked for first.
What do auditors ask for most?
The general ledger, bank reconciliations, board minutes, award letters and budgets, and backup for a sample of expenses. For federal awards, add time and effort records and purchasing files.
Can my bookkeeper use this?
Yes. Share the printed list or the CSV, and split the items between you. The list is a starting point; your auditor's request list always comes first.
Soyo is a guide, not an accountant or lawyer. Your auditor's request list comes first.