nonprofit

Are Your Independent Contractors Actually Employees? DOL Updates Test for Worker Status

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has, once again, updated its test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee for purposes of the federal Fair…

Cross-Training Initiatives Can Get Your Whole Organization in Shape

Elite athletes train hard to perfect their performance in a particular discipline, but they also cross-train. For example, a sprinter might, in addition to running for hours, lift weights, swim…

Why Private Foundations Need to Avoid Self-Dealing

If you’re a leader of a private foundation, you’re probably aware of the prohibition against self-dealing transactions between foundations and “disqualified persons.” But what constitutes self-dealing? And who exactly counts…

Thinking Ahead to Your Next Form 990

The deadline for most not-for-profits to file Form 990 with the IRS (May 15, 2024) has come and gone. Assuming your organization operates on a calendar-year tax basis and filed its Form 990…

Nonprofits: Act Thoroughly on Audit Findings

External audits can help assure your not-for-profit’s stakeholders that your financial statements are fairly presented according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. They can also help prevent occupational fraud. Often,…

Combatting Negative Public Perceptions of Your Nonprofit

In 2023, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy released a public opinion survey that provided both good and bad news for nonprofits. Although the respondents said they trust philanthropic…

Disaster Relief Charities: Know the Rules Before Providing Aid

The United States is entering the most natural-disaster-prone time of the year. Tornadoes are most likely to occur in May, and the Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1. Not-for-profits that…

Board Committees Can Help Members Make Time for Critical Work

For many not-for-profit organizations, maintaining a full and active board of directors is challenging. If your board holds frequent meetings, has high attendance expectations and requires members to do considerable…

News for Nonprofits: Spring 2024

Building nonprofit resilience through administrative spending Researchers from The Ohio State University and the University of Notre Dame have developed a mathematical model to guide nonprofits on how to divvy…

What You Need to Know about FASB Expense Allocation Rules

Many nonprofit organizations struggle with allocating expenses properly. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) can help. By complying with FASB standards, you may be able to simplify your processes. Defining…

IRS Guidance: How Nonprofits Can Monetize Clean Energy Tax Credits

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), nonprofits — including public charities, private foundations, social welfare organizations, labor organizations, business leagues, religious or apostolic organizations, and public universities and hospitals —…

Building a Better Nonprofit: Rules for Restructuring

There are many reasons why a 501(c) tax-exempt organization might consider restructuring. For example, a financially struggling nonprofit might decide to join forces with another organization to cut costs and…

Nonprofits: Take Another Look at Inflation Reduction Act Tax Breaks

When the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law in late 2022, you might have assumed that the tax breaks it contained wouldn’t affect your tax-exempt organization. That’s not the case.…

Arm Your Nonprofit Against Financial Threats

Whether it’s inflation, trouble finding staff members in a tight labor market, or cybersecurity threats, nonprofit leaders have a lot to worry about. If making financial forecasts is harder than…

6 Ways Nonprofit Retirement Plans Are Changing

Some provisions of 2022’s SECURE Act 2.0 (a follow-up to the SECURE Act of 2019) have been in force for over a year — including several that affect 403(b) retirement plans.…