Category Archives: Hot Topics

Your 2009 Nonprofit Survival Guide

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

You’ve seen the news.  You know it’s tough out there.  Just this morning I saw the following headlines on my Chronicle of Philanthropy RSS feed:  “Charitable Donations Fell by Nearly 6% in 2008″, “Ford Foundation Offers Buyouts to One-Third of … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Hot Topics, Managing a Nonprofit | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Dirty (Half) Dozen Nonprofit No-Nos

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

Occasionally, you have to protect people from themselves.  Even those with the best of intentions can mess things up so badly that it can jeopardize what they are trying to accomplish.  In the nonprofit world, there are best practices, good … Continue reading →

Posted in Hot Topics, Managing a Nonprofit | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Nonprofit Executive Compensation

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

Nonprofit executive compensation tops the current list of IRS hot button issues.  A few weeks ago we talked about the fact that the IRS is ramping up its oversight and enforcement of nonprofit executive compensation.  With all the rancor surrounding … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Hot Topics, Managing a Nonprofit, Nonprofit Payroll | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

How to Protect Your Nonprofit’s Board Members

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

Your board of directors is one of the most important assets your nonprofit has.  Assuming they understand their role and are there for the right reasons, your board members provide invaluable insight, direction and oversight.  They volunteer their time and … Continue reading →

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IRS Stepping Up Nonprofit Oversight

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

The headline for this article is not really “new” news.  The Internal Revenue Service has been stepping up enforcement of its regulations governing nonprofits for several years now.  Those who have been keeping up with the changes to the Form … Continue reading →

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New Form 990 Problems Are Everywhere

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

If there is one constant in life, it’s change.  And most people don’t do “change” very well…even the IRS!  The new 2008 Form 990 is a complete, top-to-bottom overhaul of the form (as we’ve discussed in previous posts).  As we … Continue reading →

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Five Considerations When Starting A Nonprofit in a Tough Economy

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Charles Reasonover

In this tough economy, nonprofit organizations are needed more now than ever.  More and more people are finding themselves in difficult circumstances and, according to all available evidence, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.  Despite all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hot Topics, Managing a Nonprofit, Starting a nonprofit | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Obituary for National Heritage Foundation?

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

On January 24, 2009, National Heritage Foundation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court.  Is this the end for NHF? Read the Forbes story here National Heritage Foundation, NHF, was founded by J. T. “Dock” Houk as a … Continue reading →

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Starting a Nonprofit in a Bad Economy

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

Sounds like scary stuff, doesn’t it?  The decision to start a nonprofit organization is difficult in the best of circumstances.  But in a downright frightening economic climate, does it make any sense at all?  Some experts are predicting that this … Continue reading →

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Radical Changes to Form 990

Posted on January 14, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

For the first time since 1979, the IRS has completely overhauled the Form 990 – Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.  And boy, is it a doozy!  This time, they weren’t fooling around. “So what’s new?,” you ask.  Literally … Continue reading →

Posted in Hot Topics, Managing a Nonprofit | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

US Bans Thrift Stores (updated)

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Greg McRay, EA

Got your attention? Good…because what we’ve got to report on will shock you…and could have a devastating impact on some charities and the families that depend on them. Congress, in a stroke of genius that was too smart by half, … Continue reading →

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Charity Gets Personal…

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Greg McRay, EA

Check out this inspiring article from MSNBC.com… Charity Gets Personal Amid Economic Hardship ‘Tis the season of giving! //

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Pastors to Defy Ban on Political Endorsement

Posted on September 16, 2008 by Greg McRay, EA

Mark your calendars!  Sunday, September 28, 2008 has been declared “Pulpit Freedom Sunday”.  Sponsored by the Alliance Defense Fund, the Pulpit Initiative is a bold, stick-in-the-eye movement encouraging pastors to defy the ban on political endorsements by churches. “For so … Continue reading →

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Political Campaign Activity by Charities

Posted on August 14, 2008 by Charles Reasonover

As the upcoming US Presidential election gets closer, information on the IRS’s views on 501(c)(3) organizations and political activity seemed appropriate for this newsletter. The Internal Revenue Service announced its Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI) once again will be in … Continue reading →

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