• Don’t let disaster fraud victimize your nonprofit

    It’s been a busy year for natural disasters, with Hurricane Ian only the latest calamity to befall the United States and its territories. If your not-for-profit operates in or serves clients in a disaster zone, you know how difficult the recovery process can be. Unfortunately, fraud perpetrators attempting to profit off the misery of others can make rebuilding difficult — even for charities. 6 steps [...]

    Published On: November 1, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Lost your tax-exempt status? Here’s how to regain it

    So you forgot to file your not-for-profit’s Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N with the IRS. It can happen — particularly with newer organizations that are still trying to get a handle on all the financial and regulatory requirements of running a nonprofit. However, if you forget to file three years in a row, you could face an automatic revocation of your tax-exempt status. This is serious [...]

    Published On: October 29, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Is it time to review and refresh your nonprofit’s board?

    Perhaps your not-for-profit has lost a few board members in the turmoil of the past few years. Or maybe your current lineup simply isn’t meeting your organization’s leadership challenges. There are many reasons to review and rebuild a board of directors. But there’s no excuse to ignore problems and hope they’ll work themselves out. Here’s how to perform a board makeover. Rebuilding effort Start by [...]

    Published On: October 15, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • What makes charitable donors give?

    People give to charity for many reasons — to “make a difference” or “give back,” to reduce their tax burden and even to impress their peers. These many motivations can be frustrating for not-for-profits looking for a magic formula. In the absence of one, you need to keep your eyes and ears open and be prepared to act on information as it becomes available. Dollars [...]

    Published On: October 13, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • How your nonprofit can break bad budget habits

    Autumn is here and many not-for-profits are starting to think about their 2023 budgets. If your budget process is on autopilot, you might want to pause and think about changing things up this year — particularly if you’ve experienced recent shortfalls or found your budget to be less resilient than is ideal. Here’s how to rethink budgeting. A holistic approach Your nonprofit may not always [...]

    Published On: October 12, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • If you’re hiring, take a look at veterans

    Despite widespread fears of recession in recent months, hiring remains strong in the United States. Employers added 528,000 jobs in July 2022 and many organizations seeking new workers are having trouble filling positions. If your not-for-profit has open slots, you might want to look to military veterans. This demographic can have a harder time finding civilian jobs, and tax breaks may be available for employers [...]

    Published On: October 11, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Lost your tax-exempt status? Here’s how to regain it

    So you forgot to file your not-for-profit’s Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N with the IRS. It can happen — particularly with newer organizations that are still trying to get a handle on all the financial and regulatory requirements of running a nonprofit. However, if you forget to file three years in a row, you could face an automatic revocation of your tax-exempt status. This is serious [...]

    Published On: October 5, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • For a stronger nonprofit, increase the number of income streams

    Not-for-profits that rely on a single income source, or only a few, are vulnerable to economic shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this particularly clear. Most organizations have had to scramble to make up for lost revenue when at least some of their usual support dried up in 2020 — and has been slow to return. If you’ve had a hard time staying afloat over [...]

    Published On: August 25, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Promoting your nonprofit with your annual report

    Do you think about your not-for-profit’s annual report as a yearly obligation or even an unpleasant chore? If so, your annual report likely isn’t much fun to read — and you’re missing a chance to attract and engage critical audiences. Instead, embrace this opportunity to communicate the good your organization does and promote your mission and programs. Here’s how to write an annual report that [...]

    Published On: August 23, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • What revenue numbers can reveal about your nonprofit’s financial health

    When professional auditors review a not-for-profit’s books, they usually spend significant time on revenue. Inadequate revenue — or revenue trending in the wrong direction — can provide an early warning of future trouble. But you don’t have to wait for your next audit to assess revenue. You can employ the same techniques an auditor uses to monitor your organization’s financial health. Contributions and grants Start [...]

    Published On: August 5, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Reviewing — and possibly revising — your nonprofit’s spending policy

    A spending policy is the formula used to determine how much of the value of investments a nonprofit organization will tap each year for such expenses as operating costs and capital projects. Although it’s usually a good idea to stick with an established spending policy, circumstances may warrant changes. There’s no one-size-fits-all optimal spending policy. But five general types have emerged — each with pros [...]

    Published On: August 4, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Is your nonprofit paying enough attention to Generation Z?

    A new generation is spearheading social movements, volunteering for causes and making charitable donations. If your organization isn’t paying attention to Generation Z — the youngest cohort of adults — you may miss out on its energy and support. This demographic is particularly motivated by social justice issues and is financially generous. Here’s how to engage these individuals. Pursuing social impact The oldest members of [...]

    Published On: July 27, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • Election season is here! Watch your nonprofit’s activities

    Many states have already held primary elections, and the airwaves are clogged with candidate ads. Yes, the November “mid-terms” election season has begun! So now is a good time to review political activity restrictions that affect Section 501(c)(3) organizations. What activities are forbidden? In general, tax-exempt organizations aren’t allowed to act directly or indirectly in federal, state or local campaigns either for or against a [...]

    Published On: July 12, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit
  • How to cut costs instead of your nonprofit’s staff

    When the COVID-19 pandemic forced lockdowns in Spring 2020, many not-for-profit organizations initially resisted laying off employees. Retention tax credits provided under the CARES Act helped. But nonprofits that are still struggling may think they have no choice but to cut compensation expenses, especially as high inflation increases the cost of other expenses. However, your organization may still have alternatives to terminating employees. Here are [...]

    Published On: July 11, 2022Categories: Featured, Not for Profit