When a senior leader leaves a nonprofit, it can affect every aspect of the organization. Whether the departure is planned, such as a retirement, or is unexpected due to a resignation, termination or death, you should have a plan to reduce disruption and ensure continuity. Succession planning is perhaps more important than ever in a…
This ticket to revenue carries compliance concerns Raffles are tried-and-true fundraising vehicles. They can be attractive to your constituents, easy to put together and profitable. But organizations need to put on their “compliance hats” when holding this activity. Each state has its own set of laws regulating raffles. And all organizations must comply with federal…
Done right, corporate sponsorships can pay off for both the nonprofits that receive funding and the sponsors that receive valuable branding opportunities. Done wrong, though, your organization could end up on the hook for unrelated business income tax (UBIT). You need to understand how to navigate the nuances before you wade in. Identify qualified sponsorship…
Regular outside financial audits are among the most effective tools for revealing financial risks in a timely manner. And they assure your donors and other stakeholders about your stability — so long as you respond to the results appropriately. Failing to act on issues identified in an audit isn’t only a waste of money. It…
Some executive directors, board members and others in nonprofit leadership roles may look at the financial side of their organization and muse, “We could do so much better.” You may think you can boost financial performance by hiring a chief financial officer to help “run the show.” But there’s a lot to consider before taking…
The push for more transparency from nonprofits has placed a greater emphasis on how an organization’s expenses break down — in other words, how it uses its resources. In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released a new rule that reflects this priority. While the rule has been in effect for almost two years,…
In today’s tight job market, employers must innovate when it comes to filling their positions. A growing number of for-profit businesses — including such big names as Walmart, BP, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase & Co. — have found success with returnship programs. These arrangements also could provide welcome and valuable relief for nonprofits…
Fully understand these popular gifts before acceptance Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are flourishing, at a rate not observed before by fund followers. According to a 2018 report from the National Philanthropic Trust, “For the eighth consecutive year, there was growth in all key metrics: the number of individual donor-advised funds, total grant dollars from them, total…
The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in late 2017 brought several unwelcome developments for nonprofits, including a new excise tax on certain executive compensation. To answer the many questions about the tax, the IRS has issued interim guidance that is largely unfavorable for organizations with highly paid executives or so-called “excess…
Your nonprofit may be exempt from income tax, but financial and accounting responsibilities still abound: There are budgets to project and results to monitor. There are financial statements to prepare and payroll taxes to collect. And these are only some of the responsibilities that fall under the accounting umbrella. Are these tasks, and others, being…
