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Making your board retreat rejuvenating — and productive
Perhaps you think a board retreat would be nice to have — but, given your not-for-profit’s tight budget, it isn’t really necessary. Yet consider the benefits. A retreat allows members to clear their minds and focus on your organization’s most pressing issues. Chances are your board members are busy people who would benefit from the…
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Restricted gifts: What to do when strings are attached
Brad, the development director of an international environmental charity, was thrilled to learn from a fundraising staffer that one of the charity’s past supporters was promising to make a new, six-figure donation. But there was a catch: The donor was going to attach restrictions to her gift. She didn’t, for example, want her money used…
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Fundamental differences between nonprofit and for-profit accounting
You may know the difference between nonprofit and for-profit accounting systems, but do your newest employees and board members? Not-for-profits and businesses share certain similarities. For example, both must carefully track transactions and produce accurate, timely financial statements. But there are enough differences between the two that you may want to provide training for new…
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Welcome charitable pledges — and account for them properly
The difference between financial pledges and donations is relatively simple: Pledges are promises to donate sometime in the future, and donations provide immediate support for your not-for-profit organization. What’s not so simple is accounting for pledges. After all, a promise to donate isn’t a guarantee that you’ll receive the money when the contributor says you…
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The FLSA asks your nonprofit to accurately classify staffers
Are your not-for-profit’s staffers employees or independent contractors? It’s an important question because under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), misclassifying workers can lead to penalties and other costs. If you haven’t reviewed your staffers’ status since the start of the pandemic, now may be a good time — particularly if you’ve recently experienced staff…
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Keep your religious congregation on the financial straight and narrow
Religious congregations usually enjoy greater protection from federal government oversight than other not-for-profit organizations. For example, the IRS can’t conduct a “church tax inquiry” unless a high-level Treasury Department official has written evidence that a religious organization has violated tax-exempt rules. However, you’d do your faith group a great disservice it you failed to observe IRS…
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Dashboards can help nonprofit boards focus on critical goals
Not-for-profit board members need to keep an eye on how well their organizations are meeting major goals and furthering their missions. One of the easiest, quickest ways for boards to do this is with a “dashboard” of key performance indicators. Just as an automobile dashboard gives drivers a quick glimpse of their car’s status, a…
