“The First Global Accounting Standard for Nonprofits Just Launched — And It Might Actually Matter” by Yufeng (Andy) Tao
Description
Disclaimer: I work for the Centre for Effective Altruism, though these are purely my personal thoughts and should not be taken to represent my employer or any other organization. I'm interested in this topic as someone who values organizational transparency and financial accountability across the nonprofit sector, not because of any organizational mandate.
TLDR:
After 50+ years of for-profit companies having international accounting standards, nonprofits finally have their own: INPAS (International Non-Profit Accounting Standard), launched in October 2025. This could make it easier to compare nonprofits across borders, reduce administrative overhead, and build donor trust. However, adoption is uncertain and there are legitimate concerns about implementation burden.
Why this matters (even if accounting sounds boring)
Picture this: You're trying to decide between two global health charities. One operates in Kenya, the other in India. You want to know which uses unrestricted funds more efficiently. But their financial statements use [...]
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Outline:
(00:34 ) TLDR:
(01:05 ) Why this matters (even if accounting sounds boring)
(01:54 ) What problem is this actually solving?
(03:17 ) The case for cautious optimism
(04:42 ) The case for skepticism
(05:24 ) What could the EA community do about this?
(06:39 ) My tentative take
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First published:
October 22nd, 2025
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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.
United States
