"This is the fastest-growing part of Intacct's business," he said.

Intacct CEO Robert Reid said nonprofits are hiring experienced management teams that want to dedicate more of their funds to meeting their missions, instead of spending to buy servers for running software. They also want better analysis of the metrics used to measure performance and Intacct is strong in that area, he continued.

Other executives said nonprofits often find that turnover in the CFO position brings in executives who want to throw out the prior accounting system and they can go through a series of different software packages as new CFOs are hired.

Hollrah was CEO of the former Micro Information Products, which marketed the MIP line now owned by Abila. He remained with that product line when MIP was purchased by Sage Software in 2001 and stayed with that company until 2004. Hollrah had joined MIP in 1997 as VP of sales and marketing and took over the CEO spot six months later.

He was president and CEO of Periscope Holdings, described as a public sector e-procurement and strategic sourcing solutions company, from 2004 through 2007, and was then president of NFP reseller JMT Consulting Group from 2007 through 2011. He joined Orange Leap in 2012.