Photo source: Pexels.com If you are a board member or part of the financial leadership of a nonprofit, the question of how best to handle important organizational documents has probably come up more than once. How long do you keep important records like tax returns and financial statements? What determines how long you need to
Photo source: Unsplash.com On June 22, 2026, the Senate, by a vote of 85-5, passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (The ROAD Act). The House of Representatives passed the bill the following day by a vote of 358-32 and became law on July 11, 2026. The comprehensive bipartisan legislation is the result of
Photo source of Pexels.com Housing costs in California continue to spiral higher than the rest of the country. The 2026 first-quarter affordability tracker published by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office reports that California home prices continue to be much more expensive than the rest of the US. In the first quarter of 2026, prices for
Photo source: Pexels.com With the passage of California Senate Bill 79, housing lobbyists and State legislators have set their sights on the passage of a $10 billion housing bond anticipated to be voted on by the public in the June 2026 state primary election. California Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), the Abundant and Affordable Homes
Photo source: Pexels.com The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes significant changes to Medicaid and CHIP programs under the Working Families Tax Cut, or WFTC (Public Law 119-21). Of particular interest are new community engagement and work requirements that persons aged 19 to 64 must earn to maintain eligibility for benefits. Since states
Photo source: Unsplash.com Entering 2026, not-for-profit organizations that rely on donors for the majority of their funding are anticipating the impact of new charitable deduction tax provisions. A recent article by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), an organization founded by four former Senate majority leaders in 2007, provides examples of the new tax law in
Photo source: Unsplash.com It’s 2009. The global real estate bubble has burst, leading to market collapse and a global bank crisis. People are losing their homes and jobs. The construction industry grinds to a halt. Entire neighborhoods are abandoned. Local businesses suffer. Despite these aftershocks, the economy and markets slowly recover from the “Great Recession.”
Photo Source: Unsplash+ Due to massive federal funding cuts, some nonprofits are considering mergers or acquisitions with complementary services. What is the process and how do you fund it? Some foundations are stepping up to help. “The last big period for nonprofit mergers was more than a decade ago, when vulnerable charities sought lifelines during
One of the most promising areas for nonprofit revenue growth is through digital fundraising efforts. MissionWired reported that one-time gifts from “new” donors to various charities nationwide were up 18 percent between January and June 2025. Trends in email open rates were also higher in 2025 than in previous years. With this trend in new
The National Low Income Housing Coalition has put out a toolkit to help advocates address Congress on affordable housing, homelessness and community development. In a recent article, NLIHC noted over $1 trillion in cuts to federal funding of Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) and other human services “safety net” programs in the passage of the
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) bundles together sweeping changes to tax policy, tax-exempt entity compensation and perks, higher education funding and housing. While some previously popular tax credits are made permanent, other areas of the law could change how organizations pay or offer benefits to their key team members. We have provided a
As not-for-profit organizations grow, there may come a time when the finance team needs a Chief Financial Officer. Sometimes that person is hired from outside the organization. Sometimes you can promote from within. In our experience with nonprofit accounting consulting, we’ve witnessed a range of priorities at the CFO level. Some new CFOs hit the
Not-for-profits can always use more revenue. Now more than ever, finance leaders are looking at alternative revenue streams. New revenue streams can support short-term and long-term missional goals. Government funding and grants are not guaranteed. These funding sources also require more energy and time on grant applications and governmental compliance. In addition, government or grant
As the third-largest employer in the private sector U.S., nonprofits employ more than 12.7 million people, according to the Urban Institute. But with uncertainty around federal contracts and funding, some nonprofits have to consider how to scale back operations and staffing. If your not-for-profit staff include in-house finance or bookkeeping professionals, you have many things
For decades now, executives in the nonprofit world have debated the merits of running their organizations like for-profit businesses. In fact, many organizations have hired executives who previously worked in the for-profit world to help them build strategy and metrics for revenue as well as for dynamic tax and assurance requirements. For these reasons (as
As finance executives such as controllers and CFOs navigate risk management, compliance and budgeting for not-for-profit organizations, they are faced with a dilemma: how to manage budget concerns with the demands of the finance role. We know that many not-for-profit and affordable housing organizations maintain a small internal staff to ensure that their organization is
In October 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of more than $22 million in grant money for fair housing organizations. Through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), the funding will support fair housing education and outreach, testing and enforcement, according to a press release. Money is made available
In the not-for-profit and property management world, CPA firms have moved beyond annual audits and tax filings. The evolution of client accounting and advisory services (CAS) can be traced to several factors: Difficulty to recruit and train internal finance staff Better work-life balance to retain internal finance staff Pressure to reduce overhead expenses Staying up
What can $100 provide for a donor-based not-for-profit? Not as much as it used to, according to the newest Giving USA Foundation report. The annual report on philanthropy is the longest-running report on the sources and uses of charitable giving in America. And while the report showed that giving was up in 2023 compared to
Adapting to Shifting Giving Trends The recently released Giving USA report paints a concerning picture for the nonprofit sector, with total charitable giving in the U.S. declining by 3.4% in 2022. This drop comes on the heels of record-breaking pandemic-era generosity, leaving many nonprofits struggling to maintain critical services. However, this shift also presents an
Whether your organization experiences cash flow issues, economic repercussions or fraud, there are steps you can take to navigate a potential financial crisis. A good first step is to contact your CPA. Your team should be available for you beyond an audit or tax filing. This article provides tips on planning and risk management to
Measuring the success of your not-for-profit organization through key performance indicators (KPIs) can be confusing and time-consuming, especially when there are hundreds of metrics to choose from. It is important to choose meaningful KPIs that reflect your mission, growth goals and stakeholder expectations. In addition, you will need to establish a baseline metric for each
The nonprofit sector now employs nearly 10 million people and accounts for over 7 percent of U.S. national income, according to a recent article in the Society for Nonprofit Organizations magazine, Nonprofit World. In the last decade, leaders have shifted to a more entrepreneurial mindset through marketing, revenue diversification, collaborative partnerships and improved technology. This
With the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and 501(c)19 veterans’ organizations with 500 or fewer employees (or that meet SBA size industry standards) were able to apply for emergency relief. Part of that relief came in the form of potentially forgivable loans through the U.S. Small
Nonprofits have multiple stakeholders with varying needs and preferences for communication. Board members need consistent communication to focus on strategy and fiscal stewardship. Donors or members want updates on programming and activities, getting a sense that their investment in the organization is worthwhile. In some cases, there are also public and government stakeholders that
You may have had a “good” audit, but there is always room for improvement. Use what you’ve learned to your advantage by making improvements in your processes and controls throughout the year. When in doubt, ask your audit team! 1. Don’t wait Don’t wait until your next audit for audit planning. Reach out to your
There are many ways that not-for-profit organizations can finance their mission. Some of the following vehicles are very common: SBA loans and grants Nonprofit loan funds and grants Community development financing Bank or credit union loans and lines of credit Donor development and crowdfunding Donations and grants are the first line of defense in an
Congress’ recent spending package offers an increased $4.5 billion to HUD for fiscal year 2023, including a “Yes in My Backyard” (YIMBY) grant program and increased funding for several existing programs. This news may or may not ease concerns among developers about significant project cost increases and funding gaps. A recent article in Affordable Housing
Developers in underserved communities will have access to federal passthrough state grants to lower installation costs of broadband internet in new developments and existing multi-family properties. The grants will help finance delivery of free Wi-Fi access to residents. Part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
For many not-for-profits, federal funding is vital for sustaining programming and operations. However, the funding could carry requirements for compliance and financial reporting. For example, if a not-for-profit entity expends $750,000 or more in federal funds in its fiscal year, this will trigger the requirement for a single audit under the Uniform Guidance for testing
