Watchdog Launches Campaign to Measure Equitable Funding

Candid, the not-for-profit evaluation organization that resulted when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged, has announced a new data-driven campaign to encourage equitable funding practices. “Demographics via Candid” is designed to provide a standardized benchmark measurement, reduce inefficiencies and cut down on duplicate information requests from funders. Funders increasingly seek not-for-profits’ demographic information and organizations may […]

Donor-Advised Funds: How They Work and How to Land Them 

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) data from nearly 1,000 charities shows that donor-advised funds (DAFs) grew in all key areas, including the number of individual funds and total grant dollars awarded to charitable organizations, according to a 2019 report. Although they are popular, DAFs are not without critics. Some do not like the fact that many […]

Get Your Operating Reserves in Order

The recent tax law has reduced the benefit many taxpayers receive for their charitable contributions, and as a result, has affected the level of donations for many not-for-profit organizations. Combine that with uncertainties about government funding, and it is easy to see that operating reserves are more important than ever for long-term sustainability. Yet studies […]

How to Prepare for Your Audit

It’s that time of year again: Your annual financial statement audit. You want it to go as smoothly as possible, but you are not sure what you need to do in order to make it happen. Here are some best practices and helpful tips to improve the efficiency of the audit.

Rightsizing Your Board: How Many Directors Do You Really Need?

State law typically sets the minimum number of directors a not-for-profit must have on its board. But as long as that requirement is fulfilled, it is up to each organization to determine how many total board members it needs. While there is no “sweet spot” that will work for every organization, several guidelines can help […]

ASU 2016-14: The Rules of Restricted Donations

With the upcoming net asset classification changes to not-for-profit financial statements under ASU 2016-14, now is as good a time as ever for a refresher on the rules of restricted donations. First, let’s briefly touch on the net asset changes that are rapidly approaching.

How Will the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Affect Your Not-For-Profit?

As you are likely aware, Congress recently passed sweeping tax reform. While individual and corporate tax cuts are not something you immediately think about when budgeting for your not-for-profit organization, some of the new changes could potentially have an impact on donor giving. After much debate, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed by […]

A Proactive Approach to Not-For-Profit Board Member Management

A characteristic of a strong not-for-profit organization is an active board of directors that can support the organization in many ways—financially, with their time, and with the skills the members possess, both personally and professionally. Attracting the right people to your not-for-profit board can be challenging. You obviously want people who are enthusiastic about your mission and who are willing to give their time. This article explores a few best practices that not-for-profit board members can implement to successfully manage their board of directors.

Your Not-For-Profit Organization’s Bylaws: Those Golden Rules May Need More than Polishing

As your not-for-profit organization grows and matures, its initial guiding rules might need to be revisited and brought up to date. But be mindful because revamping an organization’s bylaws involves more than just altering the language of rarely visited documents. After reading this article you will gain an understanding of the purpose of bylaws, forming a bylaw committee and revising certain types of information.

Growing Your Board of Directors and Finding the Right Balance

A characteristic of a strong not-for-profit organization is an active board of directors that can support the organization in many ways. Board members should be added strategically to make sure the board is well rounded and diverse enough that it can reach the best possible decisions in guiding the organization. However, attracting the right people to your not-for-profit board can be challenging. This article provides tips on how to develop a succession planning strategy at your not-for-profit organization.

Ratio Revelations—What Expense Data Says About Your Spending Habits

When a not-for-profit spends more money on administering itself than on its programs, it can find itself in trouble with watchdog groups and others. This blog will help you have a better understanding of what your not-for-profit can do to present yourself accurately.

Make Endowment Funding Your Ally

These days, demand for services is up while donations to not-for-profits are down. But do not be disheartened: You may have an ally in your endowment funds; but you will need to be aware of each fund’s restrictions. The challenge is to develop a spending policy that is dynamic enough to take these factors into account and not cause you to pull funds out beyond what is budgeted and needed for operations.

Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Winter 2023

ORBA’s Not-For-Profit Group’s 2023 Winter Newsletter shares details of the continuing popularity of donor-advised funds and highlights strategies for how boards can increase their cybersecurity.

Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Spring 2022

ORBA’s Not-For-Profit Newsletter examines how not-for-profits can achieve the greater financial stability that typically comes through diversification of revenue streams and highlights the revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that is intended to provide debt relief to student borrowers who go into public service, including some not-for-profit employees.

Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Summer 2021

ORBA’s Not-For-Profit Newsletter helps guide not-for-profit organizations in the quest to reduce costs and spotlights a U.S. Supreme Court case striking down a California law requiring not-for-profits to file a list of their large donors with the state.

Not-For-Profit Newsletter – Spring 2018

Do the Math: Deciding if You Need a CFO MARVA FLANAGAN, CPA Not-for-profits work hard to make the world a better place in one way or another. Their ability to pursue their mission depends greatly on their financial health and integrity. That is why it is beneficial for not-for-profits to employ a chief financial officer […]

Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Fall 2016

ORBA’s Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter is a quarterly publication focused on effective not-for-profit organization management. The Fall 2016 issue includes two articles: “The Not-For-Profit Organization’s Life Cycle: Challenges and Opportunities Mark Growth Stage” and “Newsbits: Fall 2016.’”

Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Summer 2015

Changes to Not-For-Profit Reporting ALISON FETZER, CPA The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958) and Health Care Entities (Topic 954) – Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities in April 2015. The intended purpose of this ASU is to improve GAAP for Financial Statement Presentation by […]

FASB Defers the Effective Dates of ASC 606 and ASC 842

In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-05, which provides a one-year deferral of the effective dates of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and ASC 842, Leases.