Public charities, or 501(c)(3) organizations, are fundamentally different from private foundations. They depend on support from multiple public sources, including individuals in their communities. If your not-for-profit isn’t reaching out to and engaging its broad donor and prospective donor base through the media, it probably needs to revise its PR strategy. Consider these best practices. […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, July 25th, 2023
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Do your not-for-profit’s accounting processes work perfectly — with no errors, delays or other inefficiencies? If yours is like most organizations, probably not. But if your nonprofit is committed to improvement, you have an edge over those that accept the status quo. Whether it’s building budgets, paying invoices or preparing financial statements, there’s almost always something […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, July 11th, 2023
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Many not-for-profit leaders are nervously watching macroeconomic signs — inflation, rising interest rates and the possibility of recession — to predict how their organization will fare in coming months and years. But threats to your nonprofit’s well-being may be closer than you think. Whether you’re an executive or board member, make sure you’re looking out for […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, June 13th, 2023
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Whether you’re starting up a not-for-profit organization or your nonprofit has existed for years, you may have questions about insurance. For starters: What kind do you need? How much? Are you required by your state or by grant makers to carry certain coverage? Much depends on your organization’s size, scope and programming. But your goal should […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, May 30th, 2023
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Not-for-profit organizations are compelled by federal and state wage-and-hours laws to perform a certain amount of time tracking. Funders may also stipulate timekeeping practices. Fortunately, timekeeping software can make the job a lot easier for staffers and managers. Here’s how to ensure your nonprofit complies. What’s required and what’s not You generally are required to document […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, May 16th, 2023
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Despite recent accusations that the IRS targets certain types of tax-exempt organizations for audit, not-for-profit audits generally are rare. That’s because most nonprofits owe no or very little tax. However, as the IRS receives funding as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, it’s expected to hire new agents for all divisions, including the Tax Exempt […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023
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Data analytics is the science of collecting and analyzing sets of data to develop useful insights, connections and patterns that can lead to better informed decision making. It can be enormously useful for not-for-profits. For example, data-driven nonprofit Community Solutions partners with local charities to help them reduce, and even end, homelessness in their communities. […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, April 18th, 2023
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The arrest last year of a high-profile cryptocurrency exchange founder for fraud not only hurt the crypto business, but also cast a shadow on “effective altruism.” This philosophy employs evidence and statistics to determine strategic ways to benefit others — and the alleged fraudster is a vocal proponent. He has claimed that he earned as much money […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, April 4th, 2023
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When inflation is high, it’s common for people to cut expenses by deciding not to renew subscriptions and memberships. For charities and associations that depend on membership fees, this trend can be distressing — if not catastrophic. If your not-for-profit’s membership rolls are declining due to nonrenewal, you need to address the problem immediately. Here are […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, March 21st, 2023
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When Accounting and Development teams don’t work well together, the situation can lead to more than employee hostility and conflict. It can affect the not-for-profit’s financial statements and lead to the forfeiture of grant funds. To ensure the staffers in your Accounting and Development departments communicate fluidly, you may need to revise certain procedures and […]
Filed under: General by OSA&C Tuesday, March 7th, 2023
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