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A Primer on Nonprofit Contributions and Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The Impact of ASU 2014-09 on Nonprofits You may have heard the buzz about the new revenue recognition standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, (ASU 2014-09), which is now effective for all nonprofits. You’re wondering what kind of impact, if an …
Best Tactics for Finding Government Grants Suitable for Your Nonprofit
Organizations and nonprofits spend a majority of their grant development operations focusing on private rather than government funders. This is for good reason, as government grants, especially federal grants, are extremely competitive and rather compl …
Assessing Financial Health in the Time of Covid-19
Covid-19 has created dramatic changes in the financial markets. Nonprofits such as private schools, universities, museums, religious organizations, and even hospitals have seen unforeseen shifts in operations due to quarantine. While the Coronavirus Ai …
IRS Tax Form 990 [Deadline Extended]: How to File It, When to File It, and Why It’s So Important
Special Covid-19 note: The IRS is giving a break this year to individuals and businesses. The IRS states in Relief Notice 2020-23 that filing due dates, including extensions, which were due after April 1st but before July 15th, can be postponed until J …
Audit on the Horizon? There’s a Silver Lining! Here’s What Nonprofits Need to Know
Audits can feel like the worst. No matter how you cut it, it’s never fun to be audited. When an audit is approaching, the organization goes into overdrive to review policies and procedures to make sure the audit goes smoothly. This can be extremely tim …
Donor-Centric Budgeting & Reporting: Top 6 Tips
“Pledge now and get an attractive station tote bag!” Sound familiar? The nonprofit industry I’ve been immersed in for nearly my entire career—public media—is among the most famous for taking a relatively transactional approach to fundraising. While eve …
No Budget, No Mission: A Guide to Basic Nonprofit Budgeting
What has always drawn me to a nonprofit organization is the mission. The mission of an organization speaks in ways that numbers do not. The mission instills hope, meaningful change, and impact. It elicits images of a stronger community and evokes the p …
What Happened to My Annual Appeal? The Effect of the 2018 Tax Overall on Nonprofit Donations and the Rise of DAFs
With the holidays behind us and budget planning around the corner, it’s a good time to reexamine the effectiveness of the organization’s revenue sources, including the end of year appeal. Traditionally, the holidays at end-of-year is the time many dono …
Are We Heading Towards Another Nonprofit Insurance Crisis?
Our story begins in middle of the nation, across the Mississippi River from the famous deserted city of Cahokia, an indigenous civilization. This is a tale of two cities, and of the venerable endeavor of rebuilding cities in the face of hardship. Our p …
#RiskyBusiness: Why Earned Income Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
“When will your organization be sustainable?” This question is asked of nonprofits at an increasingly alarming rate in recent years. Where did this come from and who decided it is such a critical metric of success? More importantly, how can you determi …