Do you prepare internal financial statements for your board of directors on a monthly, quarterly or other periodic basis? Later, at year end, do your auditors always propose adjustments? What’s going on? Most likely, the differences are due to cash basis vs. accrual basis financial statements, as well as reasonable estimates proposed by your auditors… Continue Reading
The Houston Business Journal published an article on their website co-authored by PKF Texas Tax Practice Leader and Director, J. Del Walker, CPA, and Tax Manager, Annjeanette Yglesias, CPA. The article discusses the differences between a private foundation (PF) and the donor advised fund (DAF), which impact family philanthropy efforts. So, what are the differences?… Continue Reading
Not-for-profits often struggle with valuing noncash and in-kind donations. Whether for record-keeping purposes or when helping donors understand proper valuation for their charitable tax deductions, the task isn’t easy. Although the amount that a donor can deduct generally is based on the donation’s fair market value (FMV), there’s no single formula for calculating it. FMV… Continue Reading
To protect the organization, demonstrate openness and support the greater good, your not-for-profit needs to embrace accountability. Doing so will also help you fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities to donors, constituents and the public. Fairness and Clarity Accountability starts by complying with all applicable laws and rules. As you carry out your organization’s initiatives, do so… Continue Reading
Insurance is the cornerstone of any not-for-profit’s comprehensive risk management plan. It can’t protect your organization from every contingency, but it’s critical to protecting the people, property, funds and support you depend on. Must-Have Policies Many kinds of coverage are available, but it’s unlikely your organization needs all of them. One type you do need… Continue Reading
If your not-for-profit is contemplating a merger or acquisition with another organization, you have a lot of work ahead of you. One of the most daunting challenges is keeping leaders focused and invested in the process. Most not-for-profits are run by both board members and internal management, and this structure can bog down decision making… Continue Reading
How much are your volunteers worth? The not-for-profit advocacy group Independent Sector estimates the value of the average American volunteer at $24.69 an hour. Volunteers who perform specialized services may be even more valuable. Whether your entire workforce is unpaid or you rely on a few volunteers to support a paid staff, you need to… Continue Reading
Contrary to popular belief, it’s usually perfectly legal to compensate not-for-profit board members — and sometimes it might even be necessary. But is it right for your organization? Pros and Cons Board member compensation comes with several pros and cons to consider. Your organization might, for example, find it worthwhile to offer compensation to attract… Continue Reading
Jen: This is PKF Texas The Entrepreneur’s Playbook. I’m Jen Lemanski, and I’m back again with Danielle Supkis Cheek, a director on our Entrepreneurial Advisory Services team, as well as our not-for-profit team. Danielle, welcome back to the Playbook. Danielle: Thank you again. Jen: I know there have been some pretty big changes on how… Continue Reading
Not-for-profits use special events to raise large amounts in a short period of time. Most often, the donor receives a direct benefit from the event — such as dinner or participation in a gaming activity. But special events don’t always meet their fundraising goals. In fact, organizations can lose money on them. Following these steps… Continue Reading
Licensing your not-for-profit’s name to a for-profit company can provide a valuable new revenue source — but it can also be risky. If you’re considering a licensing arrangement, ensure that the partnership really will generate funds and, possibly more important, a positive impression of your brand. Success . . . and Controversy When a licensing… Continue Reading
Americans gave unprecedented sums to charity in response to the devastating hurricanes last year. Large organizations, such as the American Red Cross, were equipped to handle the huge influxes of donations. However, some smaller charities were overwhelmed. Although it may seem like an unlikely problem, not-for-profits need a plan to handle a potential outpouring of… Continue Reading
A not-for-profit’s growth stage generally starts two or three years after formation and continues until maturity at around age seven. This period comes with a sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to refine and expand, but these “adolescent” years can pose challenges as well. Board Shifts Perhaps the most common marker of a growth-stage not-for-profit… Continue Reading
Perhaps you wrote a social media policy several years ago when your not-for-profit set up a Facebook page. Since then, not only has your not-for-profit likely changed, but new social media platforms have emerged. At the very least, the sites you use have probably revised their terms of service. That’s why it’s time to revisit… Continue Reading
The Donor Bill of Rights was designed about 25 years ago as a blueprint of best practices for not-for-profits. Some critics have since asserted that the rights are out of date or not comprehensive enough. However, revisiting the list’s basic principles can help you build solid relationships with donors — and even boost fundraising. Here… Continue Reading
IRS rules governing private foundations are complex and include many exceptions, which is why your foundation needs to write and follow a detailed conflict-of-interest policy. Taking this proactive step can help you avoid potentially costly public and IRS attention. Casting a Wide Net Conflict-of-interest policies are critical for all not-for-profits. But foundations are subject to… Continue Reading
Jen: This is the PKF Texas Entrepreneur’s Playbook. I’m Jen Lemanski, and I’m back again with Danielle Supkis Cheek, a PKF Texas Director and one of our Certified Fraud Examiners. Danielle, welcome back to the Playbook. Danielle: Thanks for having me. Jen: In your fraud and forensics practice, I know you work with a lot… Continue Reading
Auditors examining a not-for-profit’s financial statements spend considerable time on the revenue figures. They look at the accounting methods used to record revenues and perform a detailed income analysis. You can use the same techniques to increase your understanding of your organization’s revenue profile. In particular, consider: Individual Contributions Compare the donation dollars raised to… Continue Reading
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-08, Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958): Clarifying the Scope and the Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made. ASU No. 2018-08 provides clarifying and amended guidance concerning: the determination of whether a transaction should be accounted for as an exchange or as… Continue Reading
If your not-for-profit wants to improve its budgeting, forecasting, fundraising or other functions but is having a hard time identifying both problems and solutions, data analytics can help. This form of business intelligence is already considered invaluable in the for-profit world. But it can be just as useful to not-for-profits. Informed Decision Making Data analytics… Continue Reading
Auctions have long been lucrative fundraising events for not-for-profits, but these events come with tax compliance responsibilities. Acknowledging Item Donations If you auction off merchandise or services donated to your charity, you should provide written acknowledgments to the donors of the auctioned items valued at $250 or more. You won’t incur a penalty for failing… Continue Reading
Your not-for-profit’s board of directors meetings don’t always need to be performed up-close and personal in the same room. Many organizations hold virtual board meetings via phone and with Web-based applications. Participation May Improve It can be difficult to secure full board meeting attendance, but going virtual might allow members to attend meetings they otherwise… Continue Reading
The amount of money your not-for-profit raises in fundraising campaigns is meaningful, but so is how efficiently you’re able to raise it. Such costs can be measured using two metrics: Cost ratio and return on investment (ROI). Let’s take a look. Find a Formula These two metrics can be used to evaluate both fundraising activities… Continue Reading
Whether it’s in the business, government or not-for-profit sector, ethics seem to be on everyone’s minds these days. To ensure your supporters and community understand your not-for-profit organization’s values and the policies that uphold them, a formal code of ethics is essential. Here’s how to create one. 1. Identify Rules of Conduct You probably already… Continue Reading
Follow @PKFTexas
Connect with PKF Texas
PKF Texas YouTube Channel
Subscribe to this blog via RSS