Be Prepared: Why Enterprise Risk Management is Essential for Nonprofits
By Melissa Musser, CPA, CITP, CISA | Risk & Advisory Services Principal Corporations and organizations have long understood the value of systematic planning for worst-case scenarios to avoid unwelcome surprises, known as enterprise risk management (ERM). ERM is a proactive, multidimensional process of identifying, assessing, cataloguing, and preparing for potential negative organizational outcomes in order…
Your Secret Nonprofit Fundraising Weapon: IRS Form 990
By Richard J. Locastro, CPA, JD | Partner and Director of Nonprofit Tax In today’s rough-and-tumble political climate, economic pressures are mounting, fewer people are giving to charity1, and nonprofits are feeling the squeeze. Federal budget cuts have reduced government grants and other resources available to nonprofit organizations2. Perhaps more significantly, the Tax Cuts and…
Filing Changes for Nonprofits with Group Exemptions
By Janna Goudarzi, MST | Nonprofit Tax Manager When similar nonprofit organizations can demonstrate a defined relationship, they may qualify for a group exemption by the IRS. Under this scenario, a “central organization” is the parent organization that has one or more subordinates under its general control and is also sometimes referred to as an…
UG Compliance Requires Awardees Address Key Sub-Recipient Risk Areas
By Tom Netznik, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Manager Whether your organization has historically provided sub-awards to domestic or international nonprofit organizations or is new to these types of transactions, there are important steps you should take to not only ensure compliance with federal regulations, but also protect your organization from possible loss due to unallowable…
Avoid Penalties Under Unclaimed Property Laws with Best Practices for Compliance
By Janna Goudarzi, CPA | Nonprofit Tax Manager All 50 states have unclaimed property laws (also known as escheat laws) that require organizations to make reasonable efforts to contact those to whom they owe money or property and then remit any unpaid items to the state. These rules generally apply to all entities, including exempt…
Best Practices for Nonprofits Implementing ASU 2016-14
By Alison Albrecht, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Supervisor The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities, to enhance the presentation of financial statements and provide more meaningful information to the readers of the financial statements. One of the changes included in the ASU 2016-14…
A Revised Fundraising Strategy Can Help Nonprofits Reduce the Impact of TCJA on Charitable Giving
By Jorge Estrada, CPA | Nonprofit Audit and Tax Senior Manager The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed at the end of 2017 made the most far–reaching changes to the tax code since 1986. While many in the nonprofit industry believe the changes in the tax law are creating a more challenging environment for…
Identifying Contributions vs. Exchange Transactions Clarified with ASU 2018-08 (Topic 958)
By Lindsay Dean, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Senior Manager In June 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-08, Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958): Clarifying the Scope and Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made. Nonprofit organizations with fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2018 and make or receive contributions should be prepared to…
Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing Offer Tools for a Strong Security Posture
By Darren Hulem | Network Administrator Auditor In the movies, hackers sit in front of a computer typing a few lines of code and suddenly they have access to all of the victim company’s systems. While cybercrime does not happen like it is portrayed in the movies, it has become a common theme in recent…
A Practical Guide to Consolidation vs. Combination of Financial Statements for Nonprofits
By Carlos Hurtado, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Supervisor In recent years, nonprofit organizations have drastically changed how they structure their relationship with related organizations. The relationship of an organization and its related entities is not only important to their operational, programmatic and financial goals; it may also significantly affect the audit of their financial statements….