Many nonprofits lack the resources to effectively recruit and maintain volunteers; whether it be in their own neighborhoods, or using social media. What if there was an easier way?
I recently found an article in the Nonprofit Quarterly, which can be found by following the link below, describing a new web-based platform called Sparked. Their tagline, "Online volunteering for busy people" encourages working professionals to use their tech-savvy skills around the world. It targets millennia’s; a younger group who can use the web to volunteer their time setting up social media outlets, websites, graphic design and more for nonprofit organizations. Sparked provides one location where nonprofits can break through to the online community; it connects nonprofits with a world of volunteers, as opposed to just a neighborhood.
The article does bring up a contending argument though. Will these online volunteer databases discourage individuals, and nonprofits, from reaching out in their own communities? I, for one, do not think so. We all strive to fulfill our missions daily. I don’t believe nonprofits will ever ignore the resources available to them in their own backyard, as it is often this backyard that needs the most help. Sparked simply is providing a tool for a new type of volunteer. Welcome to the digital age!
The article, written by Aine Creedon, can be found at: http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?Itemid=986&catid=155%3Anonprofit-newswire&id=19501%3Aworlds-first-micro-volunteering-network-launches-&option=com_content&view=article
For more information contact Elizabeth Clarke at eclarke@aktcpa.com
To to learn more about our non profit work visit our web page at http://aktcpa.com/AKT-PublicSectorandNonprofit/
Monday, February 6, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Important Nonprofit Issues for the Year Ahead
One of the first questions many donors ask is: "What percentage of my donation will go to directly support the organization’s programs?"
An important question, to be sure, but this narrow and sometimes misguided definition of a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission, can lead organizations to underreport their overhead costs and mislead the public about the nature of their operations. This is, in part, due to pressure by charity watchdog organizations that report nonprofit organizations’ fundraising, administrative and program cost percentages and rate them according to these statistics.
It is important for each organization to take a careful look at their unique circumstances and operations and the nature of their expenses when determining an indirect allocation methodology. The Nonprofit Association of Oregon recently published an interesting and timely article.
To read the article click here
Contact Shannon Gonzalez, sgonzalez@aktcpa.com, with questions regarding your organization’s functional allocation of indirect costs.
An important question, to be sure, but this narrow and sometimes misguided definition of a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission, can lead organizations to underreport their overhead costs and mislead the public about the nature of their operations. This is, in part, due to pressure by charity watchdog organizations that report nonprofit organizations’ fundraising, administrative and program cost percentages and rate them according to these statistics.
It is important for each organization to take a careful look at their unique circumstances and operations and the nature of their expenses when determining an indirect allocation methodology. The Nonprofit Association of Oregon recently published an interesting and timely article.
To read the article click here
Contact Shannon Gonzalez, sgonzalez@aktcpa.com, with questions regarding your organization’s functional allocation of indirect costs.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Recommended Improvements to the Not-for-Profit Financial Reporting Model
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) established a Not-for-Profit Advisory Committe (NAC) in October 2009. The FASB NAC is comprised of professionals throughout the Not-for-Profit sector and meets regularly to discuss critical issues affecting Not-for-Profits and to provide a direct resource to the FASB and staff on Not-for-Profit specific topics.
Of recent note is the FASB NAC's statement of recommendations for improvements to the Not-for-Profit financial reporting model. These include:
For more information on Not-for-Profit sector accounting and reporting developments, please contact Shannon Gonzalez at sgonzalez@aktcpa.com or see our website at http://aktcpa.com/AKT-PublicSectorandNonprofit/
Of recent note is the FASB NAC's statement of recommendations for improvements to the Not-for-Profit financial reporting model. These include:
- Revising Net Asset Classifications
- Incorporating a form of "Management Discussion and Analysis" to bring context to a Not-for-Profits' financial story
- Streamlining existing Not-for-Profit specific disclosures to improve relevance and clarity
For more information on Not-for-Profit sector accounting and reporting developments, please contact Shannon Gonzalez at sgonzalez@aktcpa.com or see our website at http://aktcpa.com/AKT-PublicSectorandNonprofit/
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Grant Writing Resources
The Grant. Free money for doing what we do every day – fulfilling our missions. This is the mother load for every nonprofit. And it’s becoming more important than ever to find grant funds as individual donors and fee for service programs see declining participation. As every nonprofit across the nation is facing this dilemma, competition for grants is at its highest. I’d like to point you to some local, and online, places where nonprofits can go to find some very helpful tips on effective grant writing.
There are several resources available to nonprofits for improving their grant writing skills. It may be worth your time to check with your local colleges and universities, many have grant writing resource centers, and offer grant writing programs and workshops. Alumni typically receive free access to various Federal, Foundation, and Corporate databases to help identify funding sources (which typically cost companies hundreds of dollars for an annual subscription). Grantwriters.net offers grant writing workshops for individual organizations, as well as free online assistance. At biztree.com you can download “Business in a Box”, a program that provides templates for various grant writing needs.
The point of this is to let you know that you are not alone! There is a wealth of resources out there to help you write an effective grant. In fact, here at AKT, we can help you put your mission into a number that will speak to granting agencies. Our financial and business analysts can be a great resource for your organization. For more information contact eclarke@aktcpa.com
Happy Granting!
There are several resources available to nonprofits for improving their grant writing skills. It may be worth your time to check with your local colleges and universities, many have grant writing resource centers, and offer grant writing programs and workshops. Alumni typically receive free access to various Federal, Foundation, and Corporate databases to help identify funding sources (which typically cost companies hundreds of dollars for an annual subscription). Grantwriters.net offers grant writing workshops for individual organizations, as well as free online assistance. At biztree.com you can download “Business in a Box”, a program that provides templates for various grant writing needs.
The point of this is to let you know that you are not alone! There is a wealth of resources out there to help you write an effective grant. In fact, here at AKT, we can help you put your mission into a number that will speak to granting agencies. Our financial and business analysts can be a great resource for your organization. For more information contact eclarke@aktcpa.com
Happy Granting!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Tax year 2010 is the final transition year of the three year transition period set by the IRS to file the new redesigned IRS Form 990. This applies to exempt organizations with fiscal year ends of June 30, 2011 who will file the 2010 tax year return in 2011 or later.
When the new form was introduced for 2008 tax years (returns filed beginning of 2009), the IRS set filing thresholds based on gross receipts and total assets at higher limits to provide relief to the smaller organizations to continue to file the 990-EZ . This allowed many exempt organizations to prepare the necessary recordkeeping requirements to file the full form 990 and necessary schedules. The filing thresholds in this final year of transition are set as final limits at;
AKT assists a variety of nonprofit organizations gather the necessary information and provide guidance on the record keeping process that will be rquired to file the full Form 990. We can provide updated templates to ease the process of your form 990 preparation needs. For more information, please contact Elsa Romero at eromero@aktcpa.com.
When the new form was introduced for 2008 tax years (returns filed beginning of 2009), the IRS set filing thresholds based on gross receipts and total assets at higher limits to provide relief to the smaller organizations to continue to file the 990-EZ . This allowed many exempt organizations to prepare the necessary recordkeeping requirements to file the full form 990 and necessary schedules. The filing thresholds in this final year of transition are set as final limits at;
AKT assists a variety of nonprofit organizations gather the necessary information and provide guidance on the record keeping process that will be rquired to file the full Form 990. We can provide updated templates to ease the process of your form 990 preparation needs. For more information, please contact Elsa Romero at eromero@aktcpa.com.
Friday, June 10, 2011
How to develop and retain a strong board of directors.
One of the biggest challenges a Not-for-Profit Organization faces is the development and retention of a strong Board of Directors. Once an organization has what it thinks is a competent and caring Board, how does the organization know if the Board is functioning as well as possible? Hiring outside governance and organizational leadership consultants is always option to gain perspective on the group. Another option is to compare the overall function of the Board with other Boards that members may sit on or other organizations similar to your own.
The article below from the Society for Nonprofit Organizations lets you in on eight different Boards and their function. Does you organization’s Board think and operate the same way? What signs of strength or weakness do you share?
http://www.snpo.org/samples/V200111.pdf
Saturday, May 14, 2011
How does your nonprofit stack up?
There are over 1.8 million charitable organizations in the United States alone. If an individual is looking to donate to just one organization, there is no way to narrow down the selection without some help. Fortunately, there are websites out there to do the heavy lifting. These websites obtain data from the IRS form 990 and analyzes, organizes and simplifies the information concisely in one location. Sites like these makes it much easier for donors to make informed decisions about where to give their money.
If you are a charitable organization, it is critical to track and follow these websites to see how information about your organization is being delivered to the general public. Do donors see your organization in the best light possible? Does the information in your Form 990 accurately portray the activities of your organization? If you don't know the answers to these questions, we suggest making it a policy to track and review the mjor charity rating websites on a regular basis.
How does your charity stack up? Where does it rank among other organizations who perform similar services? Visit Charity Navigator at www.charitynavigator.org or Guide Star at www.guidestar.org to find out.
Andy Maffia
Nonprofit Services
AKT LLP, CPAs and Business Consultants
amaffia@aktpca.com
If you are a charitable organization, it is critical to track and follow these websites to see how information about your organization is being delivered to the general public. Do donors see your organization in the best light possible? Does the information in your Form 990 accurately portray the activities of your organization? If you don't know the answers to these questions, we suggest making it a policy to track and review the mjor charity rating websites on a regular basis.
How does your charity stack up? Where does it rank among other organizations who perform similar services? Visit Charity Navigator at www.charitynavigator.org or Guide Star at www.guidestar.org to find out.
Andy Maffia
Nonprofit Services
AKT LLP, CPAs and Business Consultants
amaffia@aktpca.com
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