Category: Nonprofit
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Updated checklist of nonprofit business support services
Thanks to peers this past week, this is an updated list of nonprofit business support services in PDF format. This version is dated 10/28/2021 and includes expanded discussion of an approach to budgeting methodology for external accounting services. Additional periodic revisions are likely as regulations, technology and industry practices evolve.
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Charity focus: Conflict of Interest and Compensation of Board Members
We commonly observe misunderstandings about small nonprofit organizations, even among CPAs, related to the topic of conflict of interest and compensation of board members. Perhaps one reason for confusion is that rules may vary by state. This post focuses on New Jersey law. To the limited extent that I’ve viewed other states’ laws, the basic…
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What to do about bookkeeping?
We seem to be in the midst of a business bookkeeping crisis but until now, I haven’t taken the time to consider why that might be. A CPE course for CPAs that I took this week points out that the most common progression of career advancement in my field is: 1) Bookkeeping, 2) Accounting, 3)…
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2020 IRS Report on its Operations
IRS just released the 195 page “General Report of the 2020 Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council“. I read the applicable sections on small business and nonprofits that affects me and my clients. The key relevant concepts are: 1) IRS currently lacks the funding to operate effectively to collect the taxes necessary to run federal government.…
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The fallacy of diversity and inclusion statements
I am pleased to work with a wide range of nonprofit organization managers 1. This includes the executives of churches, synagogues, environmental groups, professional and trade associations. One thing that almost all share is a focus on outreach and recruitment. It’s a core theme for most nonprofits, and I think it is fair to say…
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“More than a Vote” and the long road ahead to the next election
I serve as accountant or treasurer to several nonprofit organizations focused on education and registration of voters. We are more concerned about voter suppression and voter disenfranchisement now than in any earlier time in our lives. That’s why this excerpt published yesterday by writer Heather Cox Wilkinson jumped out at me. “Basketball superstar LeBron James…
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Changes to Nonprofit Organizations
The coronavirus crisis is causing many nonprofit organizations to raise questions about strategic management positions and related compliance issues. Questions on these two issues below are common. Through online discussions, I found that many advisers are not aware of these specific details. This post includes a short discussion and a link for more information. Change…
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New strategy for serving nonprofits in 2020: the $1,000 benchmark
In 2020 I will coach smaller nonprofit projects to organize without formal standards and use a $1,000 fee payment as the arbitrary benchmark at which it makes sense for me to get involved. I made a strategic error in the early years of my accounting business and am taking steps now to correct it. When…
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Technology opens the door to nonprofit success
Rapidly evolving business technology makes it easier, faster and less expensive for a nonprofit organization to pursue its goals. Technology can help spread the message, recruit new supporters and board members, expand the target audience and deepen communications within the stakeholder groups. But every new technology should be vetted for consideration of how it will…