Grant Compliance Review • Nonprofits & Research Organizations
Know what supports your grant spending.
A focused look at selected award requirements, expenditures, allocations, documentation, and financial reporting—so leadership can see potential concerns and decide what needs attention.
$750 for one grant · Defined scope · Findings summary & 30-minute virtual findings discussion
Request Your Grant Compliance ReviewWho this is for
Grant questions that need a closer look.
For nonprofits and research organizations with questions about one government or private award—particularly when preparing for monitoring, addressing findings, navigating staff changes, or questioning expenditures and reporting.
The $750 review covers ONE grant for an agreed period, including up to five judgmentally selected transactions.
What you receive
Findings in plain English.
- A one-grant financial snapshot and written findings report.
- Potential financial compliance risks identified within scope.
- Priority observations and practical recommendations.
- A 30-minute virtual findings discussion to discuss findings and next steps.
What we examine
Follow the grant dollars. See the financial connections.
Award requirements
Key financial requirements in the award documentation provided.
Budgets & expenditures
Significant variances, unusual activity, and areas that may need closer attention.
Allowability & allocation
Selected cost classifications, shared costs, and allocation concerns.
Supporting documentation
Supporting records for up to five judgmentally selected transactions, selected after reviewing the grant expenditure summary.
Grant coding & tracking
How grant activity is identified within the accounting system.
Financial reporting
Consistency with accounting records and applicable financial reporting requirements.
Review scope and exclusions
This limited-scope financial diagnostic is based on the information and award documentation provided. It is not a legal opinion, government compliance audit, certification of compliance, audit or assurance engagement, or substitute for awarding-agency requirements.
It does not include every transaction, full grant monitoring, a comprehensive internal-control examination, bookkeeping, cleanup, or implementation. Legal interpretation requires qualified counsel. Corrective work requires a separate engagement and advance written approval.
What Happens Next?
1. Tell Us What's on Your Mind
Complete the short service request form below. You don't need to know exactly what the problem is or have all the answers.
2. Let's Have a Conversation
You'll receive an email confirming your request, along with a link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute conversation. We'll discuss your organization's needs and determine whether this service is the right fit.
3. We'll Recommend the Next Step
Once we've confirmed that this review meets your organization's needs, we'll provide an engagement agreement outlining the services included in your $750 review.
4. Share Your Documents Securely
Once your engagement is accepted, you'll receive a document request checklist and a secure upload link specific to your service.
No financial documents are required when submitting your initial request.
Experience behind the perspective
Forensic-minded. Grounded in financial operations.
20+ years in nonprofit accounting, a master’s degree in Forensic Accounting, and prior nonprofit audit experience inform the questions we ask and the findings we explain.
For research awards and portfolio-level concerns, explore the Research Finance Review. Need help designing or implementing stronger processes? Explore Internal Controls support.
An optional starting point
Still exploring what deserves attention?
Our complimentary assessment can help you reflect on your organization’s current practices and identify questions worth discussing.
Explore the complimentary Grant Compliance Assessment →What This Is
Understand the Financial Side of Grant Compliance
Grant funding comes with responsibilities.
Organizations must understand applicable award requirements, properly track expenditures, maintain supporting documentation, monitor budgets, and report financial activity appropriately.
The Pennies Count Grant Compliance Review provides a focused assessment of the financial management of grant funds to help nonprofit leadership identify potential areas of concern before they become larger problems.
This is not a legal compliance review.
This is not a government compliance audit.
It is a financial and grant-management diagnostic designed to identify potential risks, documentation gaps, and areas requiring additional attention.
Who It’s For
The Grant Compliance Review may be appropriate for nonprofit organizations that:
Manage government or foundation grants
Manage multiple grants or restricted funding sources
Are preparing for grant monitoring
Are concerned about grant expenditures
Are unsure whether grant costs are being appropriately tracked
Have significant grant budget-to-actual variances
Are concerned about grant financial reporting
Have recently experienced changes in grant-management or accounting personnel
Are addressing prior grant or audit findings
Want an independent perspective on their grant financial practices
You do not have to wait until a funder or auditor raises a question.
What You’ll Receive
Grant Compliance Findings in Plain English
Grant Compliance Findings Summary
A concise report explaining what was reviewed and what Pennies Count identified.
Areas of Strength
What appears to be working well within your grant-management process.
Areas Requiring Attention
Potential weaknesses, inconsistencies, or documentation gaps, or other areas that deserve management attention.
Potential Compliance Risks
Issues that may warrant additional investigation, correction, or management attention.
Priority Recommendations
The most important actions to address first.
Leadership Debrief
A 30-minute conversation to review the findings, answer questions, and discuss potential next steps..
What not included
This Is a Focused Financial Review — Not a Government Compliance Audit.
The Grant Compliance Review is a defined, limited-scope professional diagnostic.
It is not:
A legal opinion
A formal government compliance audit
A certification of compliance
An audit or assurance engagement
A substitute for the requirements of the awarding agency
A complete review of every grant transaction
A complete review of every grant transaction
A full grant monitoring engagement
A comprehensive internal-control examination
Bookkeeping or accounting cleanup
Remediation or implementation work
The review is based on the information and award documentation provided to Pennies Count and the defined scope of the service.
If legal interpretation is required, the organization should consult qualified legal counsel.
If corrective or implementation work is needed, Pennies Count can discuss a separate engagement.
What We Review
Follow the Grant Dollars
Award Requirements
We review the applicable financial requirements within the grant documentation provided to identify key requirements that should be considered when evaluating financial activity.
Grant Budget & Expenditures
We examine available budget and expenditure information for significant variances, unusual activity, or areas that may warrant additional attention.
Allowability & Cost Classification
We assess selected grant costs for potential allowability, classification, or allocation concerns based on the applicable award requirements.
Cost Allocation
Where applicable, we review the organization's approach to allocating shared or indirect costs to grant-funded activities.
Supporting Documentation
We assess whether selected grant expenditures appear adequately supported and traceable to the underlying financial records.
Grant Coding & Tracking
We review how grant-related activity is identified and tracked within the accounting system.
Financial Reporting
We examine available grant financial reports for consistency with the accounting records and applicable reporting requirements.
How It Works
1.Request Your Review
Complete the Grant Compliance Review request form below.
2.Complete the Intake
After submitting your request, your browser opens the Grant Compliance Review intake form for download. Complete it to tell us about your organization, your concerns and what you want the review to address.
3.We Review Your Information
We review the information provided to confirm that the standard Grant Compliance Review is appropriate.
4.Receive Your Document Request
You will receive the service-specific document request and secure upload instructions.
5.Submit Your Documents
You will receive a secure document request and upload instructions. Documents are submitted through a secure upload link.
6.We Conduct the Review
The review is performed within the defined scope based on the information provided.
7.Receive Your Findings
You'll receive your review findings and prioritized recommendations, followed by a leadership debrief to discuss the results and next steps.
GRANT COMPLIANCE REVIEW
Don't Wait for the Funder to Ask the Question.
A grant monitoring visit, audit, or funder request shouldn't be the first time your organization discovers a problem with how grant dollars were managed.
