Your organization’s Chart of Accounts is the building block for meaningful financial reporting. Optimize it and your accounting data will tell you the truth about what’s really going on. It will allow you to develop and track key performance indicators; it will tell you what you are doing wrong; it will highlight your financial successes;…
One of the most important duties as a member of a nonprofit’s Board of Directors is the stewardship of the organization’s financial resources. Board members play a pivotal role in monitoring the financial health of the organization. In fact, it is the fiduciary responsibility of the Board to do so. One of the ways the Board achieves this is by regularly reviewing several different financial reports. These financial documents…
If you work in the accounting and finance department of a nonprofit organization, you will likely be required to prepare and present financial reports to members of leadership or other stakeholders in your organization. While this may seem overwhelming, there are steps you can take to ensure you present financial reports effectively and confidently. This…
Did you know that sometimes nonprofits must pay income tax? It’s true. Just because you have a tax-exempt status, it does not mean that you’re, well, tax exempt! The IRS incorporated into the tax codes something called Unrelated Business Income (UBI) and it’s especially for nonprofit organizations. Frequently, nonprofits have revenue that the IRS considers unrelated to…
It goes without saying that, for many nonprofits, fundraising is a crucial element towards achieving its goals. Not only does fundraising generate revenue to support mission-critical programs, it can also provide a valuable opportunity to raise awareness for your cause. Guaranteeing your organization’s success beyond the next quarter requires careful planning and prioritizing, as well…
One of the biggest challenges for nonprofit organizations is sustainability. Staying afloat during uncertain times can be especially tough without a proper financial plan in place. A carefully planned budget can help NPO’s maintain and improve their operations and even refocus their goals and objectives when challenges arise. Think of a budget as a roadmap that will guide your decisions on how…
Accounting manuals are key to any organization, regardless of the type. Although the task of creating an accounting manual might seem daunting, it is a worthwhile endeavor. This blog post will explore the benefits and identify the key components of an accounting manual and as an added bonus you can download a typical table of…
When you want to change your diet to achieve better health, it is helpful to start by getting on the scale. If you don’t do this, it is difficult to determine if what you’re doing is actually working. To really be proactive, you should get on the scale regularly and consistently so you can continuously…
Models and Components of a Great Nonprofit Dashboard A dashboard allows a nonprofit to monitor both the effectiveness of this enterprise or business model, as evidenced by the organization’s financial health, and the impact of the programs and services being provided. The process of developing a powerful organizational dashboard should be inclusive and based on…
Cash flow management in any organization is nothing more than the mix and timing of cash receipts and cash payments. In its most simplistic form, it is cash in and cash out and, ultimately, it is where budgets, projections and forecasts meet reality. It is critical to ensuring that funds are available to pay the…
Safeguard your nonprofit’s integrity and resources by detecting and preventing fraud with our essential e-book on unmasking deception.