When the so-called Great Recession hit the nation over a decade ago, many nonprofits found themselves struggling to stay afloat financially. Not all of them survived. Organizations with only one or two sources of revenue were particularly vulnerable, yet, more than a decade later, some nonprofits continue to struggle. It’s only a matter of time […]
Category: Nonprofit
IRS guidance: Publishing relationship didn’t produce UBTI
You’re no doubt aware of the risk of generating unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). But you might not realize that the terms of your relationship with an outside publisher for your membership magazine or journal can trigger the tax on UBTI by creating an agency relationship. Some recent guidance from the IRS sheds light on […]
Attesting to your nonprofit’s ability to survive
Are you certain that your organization is financially stable enough to be operating in a year? U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) give your nonprofit a reason to evaluate that proposition. Evaluating your organization Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 205-40 requires management to perform a going-concern evaluation each time annual or interim financial statements are issued. […]
New overtime rules could inflate payroll expenses
A proposed rule, issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), would update the overtime exemptions for so-called white-collar workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. If finalized, the new rule could lead to higher compensation and payroll tax expenses for employers, including nonprofits. What are the current rules? Under the existing regulations, an employer […]
Best practices for effective board meeting minutes
Meeting minutes may seem like the least important aspect of your nonprofit’s board meetings. But these records of attendance, discussions and votes are critical to protecting your organization and demonstrating your directors’ proper execution of fiduciary duty. Minutes also lend structure to meetings and motivate members to act on board decisions. So it’s important to […]
Take cybercrime seriously: Your donors’ identities depend on it
Financial transactions increasingly are being conducted online — and that includes charitable donations. The Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact reports that online giving grew more than 17% between 2016 and 2018. For nonprofits without the appropriate IT infrastructure and security policies, such increased online donations can also mean greater cybercrime risk. Many nonprofits blame budgetary […]
Fraud prevention is easier than you may think
Most research has found that nonprofit organizations are no more likely to fall victim to occupational fraud than their for-profit peers. On the other hand, there’s reason to believe that nonprofits underreport fraud incidents and are reluctant to prosecute thieving employees to protect their reputation with donors and the public. The fact is, according to […]
The treasurer may be your board’s most valuable asset
In many organizations, the treasurer is the board of directors’ hardest working member. Depending on the duties outlined in your organization’s bylaws, this individual might manage cash flow, act as a liaison to outside auditors and craft investment policies. A role this critical to your nonprofit’s financial health should be filled by a highly qualified […]
How to attract donor-advised fund gifts
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) have been around since the 1930s, but they’ve exploded in popularity in the past decade. Between 2007 and 2016, DAF assets grew from $32 billion to $85 billion, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. Assets are expected to continue to grow exponentially thanks, at least in part, to the Tax Cuts and […]
Nonprofit accounting is different
Carolyn, the executive director of an educational nonprofit, was thrilled, after a long search, to welcome two new members to her charity’s board of directors — both from the for-profit business world. However, she was a little concerned about a few of the comments and questions that arose in their first board meeting. It was […]