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Practical Tips for Nonprofit Budgeting
Being the financial type, I am fond of saying that “the numbers tell a story.” And the story of what your organization plans to do in the coming fiscal year is called the budget. Every year, organizations like yours go through the process of creating a …
Can’t Raise Cash Through No VAULT of Your Own?
Do you lead a nonprofit that needs money? Do you look with envy on some other executive directors who haul dollars into their vaults in sacks or bitcoins? Maybe you’re like me—an outsider director. Outsider directors don’t know rich people who are tryi …
What a Finance Committee Can Do for Your Board of Directors
Implementing a finance committee of the board of directors was one of the best things our organization ever did—here’s why. Baby Bear Hugs’ mission is enhancing family strengths for happy and healthy children, families, and communities. The program pro …
Functional Expenses Decreased During Covid-19? How to Prepare for Conversations with Funders
The topic of functional expenses has garnered attention at nonprofit board meetings over the past year. Many nonprofits feel pressure from foundation and government funding sources to maintain a certain level of program expenses as a percentage …
Alleviate Accounting Systems and Staff Training Chokepoints to Power Nonprofit Missions: A Case on How One Oregon Nonprofit Did It
Part 2: Personal to Personnel In 2019, I came to Lost Valley Education and Event Center (LVEC), first as a student, then as LVEC’s bookkeeper, with no prior training in the craft other than management of my own finances and my stint as an Air Force Int …
The Employee Retention Credit: What Nonprofits Need to Know
Originally enacted as part of the CARES Act in March 2020, and subsequently voted into law last December, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) may now be claimed by eligible employers—and that includes tax-exempt nonprofit organizations—that previously …
Alleviate Accounting Systems and Staff Training Chokepoints to Power Nonprofit Missions: A Case on How One Oregon Nonprofit Did It
Part 1: Innovation is Iterative In 2019, I came to Lost Valley Education and Event Center (LVEC), first as a student for the Holistic Sustainability Semester (HSS), one of LVEC’s programs, and then began employment as LVEC’s bookkeeper, with no prior t …
Running Your Nonprofit’s Accounting Department During Covid-19 and After
When stay-at-home orders hit a year ago, was it a seamless transition for your nonprofit, or was your bookkeeper sneaking into the office early on Saturday mornings to scan documents and do work on your desktop version of Quickbooks? Your organi …
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 …
Investing in Relationships with Donors: 5 Phases of Securing a Major Gift
Whether your organization considers $500 or $5,000 a major gift, you must take the time to invest in building a relationship with the prospective donor. If you have not started to build those relationships, the time is now. Major gifts are not just for …
