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Elite athletes train hard to perfect their performance in a particular discipline, but they also cross-train. For example, a sprinter might, in addition to running for hours, lift weights, swim and cycle. By strengthening all major muscle groups, athletes can reduce risk of injury and enhance performance in their primary sport. Cross-training nonprofit employees generally promotes similar results. If you have staffers temporarily rotate jobs — [...]

Some job candidates assume that not-for-profit organizations offer lower compensation than for-profit companies do. If your nonprofit has open positions, this can be a difficult hurdle to overcome — particularly if you don’t have the budget to compete with for-profit businesses. However, you may be able to offer fringe benefits that won’t take a big bite out of your budget. Review your benefits menu to [...]

If you’re a leader of a private foundation, you’re probably aware of the prohibition against self-dealing transactions between foundations and “disqualified persons.” But what constitutes self-dealing? And who exactly counts as disqualified in this context? It’s important for you to know because financial repercussions for violating the rules can be severe. Who is disqualified? The IRS defines disqualified persons as substantial contributors (generally, large donors), [...]

Divorce entails difficult personal issues, and taxes are probably the farthest thing from your mind. However, several tax concerns may need to be addressed to ensure that taxes are kept to a minimum and that important tax-related decisions are properly made. Here are six issues to be aware of if you’re in the process of getting a divorce. 1. Personal residence sale In general, if [...]

Savings bonds are purchased by many Americans, often as a way to help fund college or show their patriotism. Series EE bonds, which replaced Series E bonds, were first issued in 1980. From 2001 to 2011, they were designated as “Patriot Bonds” as a way for Americans “to express support for our nation’s anti-terrorism efforts,” according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Perhaps you purchased some [...]

Most not-for-profit leaders are familiar with the concept of excess benefit transactions and the need to avoid them. But a refresher course may be in order, particularly when you consider that 501(c)(3) organizations determined by the IRS to have violated the rules can be liable for penalties of 25% to 200% of the value of the benefit in question. They may also risk a revocation [...]

At one time, not-for-profit HR departments might have been responsible primarily for recruiting and hiring and occasionally for intervening in disciplinary or conflict resolution matters. Today, HR staffers usually also administer benefits, provide employee orientation and training, draft and update various policies, ensure regulatory compliance, and keep employee records. They may even oversee payroll. That’s a lot of responsibility, and not every nonprofit has the [...]

The current estate tax exemption amount ($13.61 million in 2024) has led many people to feel they no longer need to be concerned about federal estate tax. Before 2011, a much smaller exemption resulted in many people with more modest estates attempting to avoid it. But since many estates won’t currently be subject to estate tax, it’s a good time to devote more planning to [...]

If you’re a philanthropic individual who is also obligated to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from a traditional IRA, you may want to consider a tax-saving strategy. It involves making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). How it works To reap the possible tax advantages of a QCD, you make a cash donation to an IRS-approved charity out of your IRA. This method of transferring IRA [...]

Buckle up, America: Major tax changes are on the horizon. The reason has to do with tax law and the upcoming elections. Our current situation The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which generally took effect in 2018, made sweeping changes. Many of its provisions are set to expire on December 31, 2025. With this date getting closer each day, you may wonder how your [...]

There are many ways to evaluate the success of a not-for-profit event. But for most nonprofit leaders, financial success — how much did we raise? — is the metric that ultimately matters. To be financially fruitful, nonprofit events need sponsors (companies and individuals) to cover a portion of expenses. Be sure to make securing sponsorships central to planning your organization’s events. Best practices Depending on [...]

Employees, self-employed individuals and employers all pay Social Security tax, and the amounts can get bigger every year. And yet, many people don’t fully understand the Social Security tax they pay. If you’re an employee If you’re an employee, your wages are hit with the 12.4% Social Security tax up to the annual wage ceiling. Half of the Social Security tax bill (6.2%) is withheld [...]

In certain circumstances, businesses may need to hire CPAs to perform agreed-upon procedures (AUPs) instead of (or in addition to) a review or an audit. AUPs are a type of attestation engagement “in which a practitioner performs specific procedures on subject matter and reports the findings without providing an opinion or conclusion,” according to the standards set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public [...]

Do you invest in mutual funds or are you interested in putting some money into them? If so, you’re part of a large group. According to the Investment Company Institute, 116 million individual U.S. investors owned mutual funds in 2023. But despite their widespread use, the tax rules involved in selling mutual fund shares can be complex. Review the basic rules Let’s say you sell [...]