What does your current accounting situation look like? Are you having difficulty bringing your bookkeeper or accountant up to speed on your processes or struggling with stringent audit, compliance, GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), or FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) requirements? Finding an experienced accountant for your nonprofit can be difficult and selecting the right…
Are you one of the few nonprofit organizations without a conflict of interest policy in place? Studies show that over 95% of nonprofit organizations employ a conflict of interest policy–and with good reason. These policies offer nonprofit organizations ethical standards and protection to ensure all actions on behalf of the organization are transparent and free of potential ethical dilemmas. In this article we’ll be covering the benefits of setting up a conflict of interest policy at your organization and how you can start…
The responsibilities of nonprofit executive leaders are many but sorting through data to get a clear picture of the organization’s financial health should not be one of them. When preparing for a board meeting have you ever asked yourself, “Do I have all the important and relevant data to help board members feel assured they understand the organization’s financial position?” Do you, as the leader of an organization, truly understand your financial reports and can you clearly explain those to stakeholders in a way…
For better or for worse, charity watchdogs (CWDs) play a substantial role in any nonprofit’s reputation. CWDs rate 501(3)(c) public charities based on certain criteria, and both individuals and companies often use those ratings to decide whether to donate to a specific nonprofit organization. Positive ratings often provide a sense of credibility and trustworthiness to…
BEWARE OF THE DOG: NONPROFIT WATCHDOGS AND THEIR IMPACT ON YOUR ORGANIZATION (PART 1) A nonprofit’s Charity Watchdog (CWD) rating helps set organizations apart. A specific rating could make prospective donors flock to a particular organization or warn them to steer clear of it. Because a nonprofit’s credibility is so intrinsically tied to its financial transparency…
If your organization asks for donations, guess what? Most states would say you’re engaging in fundraising activities and, if they think you’re engaging in fundraising, they’ll subject you to regulation. An overwhelming number of states regulate fundraising activities through something called a Charitable Solicitation License (CSL). Although it means more forms and another license, it’s designed to provide donors with transparency and to protect the public from misrepresentation and fraud. Each state has its own…
2020 was a challenging year for businesses and organizations alike. Knowing how to successfully operate in a fully virtual setting presented many challenges but, also, plenty of opportunities. With the push to adapt to a virtual workplace, many nonprofits are still fine-tuning their processes. Chazin & Company had the advantage of providing a fully remote approach well before the pandemic. With well-established methods and processes that replicate having someone “right down the hall,” we are considered experts in providing virtual nonprofit accounting services. In the…
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…