Months after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law, nonprofits are still trying to assess its consequences. Some of the early proposals that raised alarms in the charitable sector — such as a repeal of the Johnson amendment — didn’t make it into the final version of the law. But there’s […]
Category: Nonprofit
Upcoming Changes for Not-for-Profit Organization Financial Statements
Some changes in your year-end financial statements will be required that are designed to more clearly indicate your organization’s financial position as a result of a recent Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update (FASB ASU). The changes prescribed in Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958): Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities (ASU 2016-14) will affect […]
Accounting matters: Keep the heart of your nonprofit beating
Your accounting department is the heart of your nonprofit. Although departments such as programming or fundraising may seem to have more obvious relationships with your nonprofit’s mission, your accounting function ensures that the whole organization runs well — and remains healthy over the long term. Indeed, accounting inefficiencies and chronic processing delays can make everyone’s job […]
Making sure your board reflects your constituency
When nonprofits first form, they usually welcome as board members anyone who has the time and interest. But as organizations grow in size, revenue and complexity, the makeup of their boards generally must change. For example, they may want members with legal or financial expertise or to include major donors and business leaders. One critical […]
Using planned gifts to help secure your nonprofit’s future
Planned (also known as deferred) gifts come as close to a sure thing as your nonprofit will ever likely encounter. They’re often more substantial than other types of donations and, because they specify an amount and date (or event, such as the death of the donor), they can help you secure your organization’s future with […]
Microdonations matter now more than ever
At 80 million strong, Millennials now make up the largest chunk of the U.S. population. But because they’re often still in school or just beginning careers, they generally don’t have the financial resources to make large charitable gifts. Another fact about Millennials: They use their mobile devices to do everything. What logically follows is that […]
Data analytics provides solutions to many nonprofit challenges
If your nonprofit wants to improve budgeting, forecasting, fundraising or other functions but is having a hard time identifying both problems and solutions, data analytics can help. This form of business intelligence is already considered invaluable in the for-profit world. But it can be just as useful to nonprofits. Goal: informed decision making Data analytics […]
Attracting nonprofit execs with creative compensation mixes
The IRS’s reasonable compensation rule sometimes may seem like an obstacle to attracting and retaining qualified nonprofit executives. Although the rule is intended to prevent “private inurement” or “excess benefits,” it ultimately restricts what you can offer a candidate. Of course, some nonprofits simply don’t have the means — or their donors object to using […]
Should you pay board members?
Contrary to what many believe, it’s legal — and in some cases, necessary — to compensate nonprofit board members. For example, paying compensation can help attract well-known business leaders or people with specialized expertise. It might also be appropriate if board members are expected to invest significant time and effort in the role, or if […]
5 tips for successful nonprofit succession
Every nonprofit organization needs a comprehensive succession plan to ensure smooth leadership transitions. Here are five tips for making a written plan successful: Look within. It’s important to develop employees who can move up the ladder when an executive director or other senior manager leaves. But don’t rule out hiring an outsider. Promoting from within […]