Your non-profit has likely grown and evolved since it was founded. Have your bylaws kept pace? Bylaws are the rules and principles that define your organization — and, if you have not revisited them recently, they may not be as effective as they could be. Rules...
Non-profit organizations do not lose as much to occupational fraud as for-profit businesses do. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2018 Report to the Nations, non-profits lost a median amount of $75,000 during the 21-month study period, compared with $164,000 for private for-profit...
Non-profits with multiple sources of support generally are less likely to have budget shortfalls and are better able to grow and expand their services. If you are looking for new funding sources, consider cause marketing. Made possible via a partnership with a for-profit business, cause...
The IRS’ staffing shortages have been well publicized and audits of individuals have decreased in the past several years. But it is a mistake to assume that the agency has stopped scrutinizing non-profits and conducting audits when it deems necessary. If your organization receives an...
Do you want to control costs and improve delivery of your non-profit’s programs and services? It may not be as difficult as you think. First, you need to know how much of your non-profit’s expenditures go toward programs, as opposed to administrative and fundraising costs....
Non-profit board members — whether compensated or not — have a fiduciary duty to the organization. Some states have laws governing the activities of non-profit boards and other fiduciaries, but not all board members are aware of their responsibilities. To protect your non-profit’s financial health...
Non-profit trade associations, or 501(c)(6) organizations, exist to promote their members’ common interests and improve business conditions or “one or more lines of interest.” Whether the association is a local chamber of commerce, a real estate board, or a large professional group, associations’ tax-exempt status...
Your non-profit’s ability to pursue its mission depends greatly on its financial health and integrity. If your non-profit is growing and your executives are struggling to juggle financial responsibilities, it may be time to hire a chief financial officer (CFO). Core responsibilities Generally, the non-profit CFO (also...
Most non-profits are intensely focused on present needs, not the possibility that disaster will strike sometime in the distant future. But because a fire, flood, or other natural or manmade disaster could strike at any time, the time to plan for it is now. You likely...
A non-profit can have many strengths — a prominent board of directors, dedicated volunteers, committed staff members, effective programs — and still struggle to meet fundraising goals. Often, such non-profits lack a strategic fundraising plan. Here is how to develop one that can get better...