State regulators in several states, including California, are bringing enforcement actions against not-for-profit organizations, citing “materially false statements” specific to joint cost allocations reporting and gifts in kind valuations. The rules underlying these accounting and financial statement reporting activities are highly technical and, if misstated and not closely reviewed during an independent audit, can lead to enforcement actions, ... more

To what extent should donor-advised funds influence the mission and outcomes of not-for-profit organizations? This question is part of a larger debate about what some are calling “The New Gilded Era” of philanthropy: although levels of giving are way up, the gap between rich and poor is expanding. In a recent article in The New Yorker, staff writer and author Elizabeth Kolbert noted that while thefederal deduction for charitable contributions ... more

How efficient is your not-for-profit? Even tightly run organizations can use some improvement — particularly in the accounting area. Adopting the following six tips can help improve timeliness and accuracy. Set cutoff policies. Create policies for the monthly cutoff of invoicing and recording expenses — and adhere to them. For example, require all invoices to be submitted to the accounting department by the end of each month. Too many ... more

Public perception that overhead for nonprofits is “bad” has been a pervasive problem for decades (made worse by national ratings agencies), primarily based on public attitudes that nonprofit leaders should be paid less than their corporate counterparts because they chose to work in public service roles. The common attitude is that these leaders were drawn to service, and compensation is the opposite of that desire. Even in democratic states, ... more

We know it isn’t easy to crack the code of funding best practices when working with private foundations. But a recent survey of 51 foundation trustees, foundation staff and grantee representatives — all of whom were recruited independently from 13 states in the U.S. — has helped to shed some light on what these highly engaged foundation leaders look for and expect from their closest nonprofit grantee partnerships. Respondents were significantly ... more

While we may not know precisely when (or how) CEOs or not-for-profit leaders transition out or retire, we do know that their exit is inevitable. And while not every exiting leader may need or require an exit agreement, it’s beneficial to understand the reasons and planning required to negotiate it — ideally far ahead of the leader’s actual exit. The use of exit agreements occurs most often in four ways. Most aredrafted by an attorney working ... more

Donor-based not-for-profit organizations have a short window to comment on a recent amendment being considered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that could greatly impact their postage budget.   The proposal would limit all USPS Marketing Mail, regular or not-for-profit, letter-sized or flat-sized; to content that is only paper-based/printed matter. No merchandise or goods of any type would be allowed in these mailers, regardless of ... more

By Cathy Hwang, CPA By now, all organizational recipients of federal funds or grant awards should have familiarized themselves with changes to the Uniform Guidance, issued at the end of 2014 through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The grace period for enhanced procurement compliance has ended, and affected organizations will need to ensure that their contracts and processes are up to date. For any procurements after June 20, 2018, ... more

Licensing your not-for-profit’s name to a for-profit company can provide a valuable new revenue source — but it can also be risky. If you’re considering a licensing arrangement, ensure that the partnership really will generate funds and, possibly more important, a positive impression of your brand. Success . . . and controversy When licensing arrangements work, both charities and companies can experience significant benefits. AARP and ... more

A not-for-profit’s growth stage generally starts two or three years after formation and continues until maturity at around age 7. This period comes with a sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to refine and expand, but these “adolescent” years can pose challenges as well. Board shifts Perhaps the most common marker of a growth-stage nonprofit is changes in the composition and focus of its board of directors. Boards usually continue to be ... more

All nonprofits should think about setting aside money for a rainy day, but it’s a bigger consideration when you do it through an endowment. Endowments, by their nature, are not usually collected for the purpose of spending the money. The definition of an endowment, is the portion of funds set aside that are “permanently restricted” unless a donor or the court says the organization can spend it. The interest and dividends from the endowment, ... more

The amount of money your not-for-profit raises in fundraising campaigns is meaningful, but so is how efficiently you’re able to raise it. Such costs can be measured using two metrics: Cost ratio and return on investment (ROI). Let’s take a look. Find a formula These two metrics can be used to evaluate both fundraising activities as a whole and individual fundraising events or campaigns. Concentrating not only on the big picture, but also on ... more

Attracting quality employees is a tough challenge. And despite assumptions, money is not a motivating factor for employees, especially if other aspects of their job are unsatisfying or even toxic. With sufficient pay and benefits as a baseline, employees actively select workplaces for more personal reasons. They will also stay longer when those personal needs are met. The Nonprofit Times reported in May that neuroscientists are now mapping out ... more

A recent survey of almost 1,500 donors from all generations found that only 9 percent factored direct mail into their decision to support a charity. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported in April that all of the donors surveyed had made a gift to a charity that they hadn’t previously supported. They were asked about how they made their decision to choose a specific charity. A full report was published by Cohort3, a fundraising consulting ... more

The relatively new federal procurement standards significantly alter the way not-for-profits receiving federal funding handle purchasing. And while your organization may have changed its written policies to comply with the revised standards, it may be easier to follow the rules on paper than in practice.   Summing up the standards The standards, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards,” ... more

Chances are, your not-for-profit is governed by a board of directors. However, an informal advisory board can bring complementary — and valuable — skills and resources to this group. Enhance representation Look at the demographics and collective profile of your board members. Does it lack representation from certain groups — particularly relative to the communities served by your organization? An advisory board offers an opportunity to add ... more