As long-time readers of our articles know, most of our posts focus on tips and best practices for effective nonprofit management. This post is going to be a little different. There is so much going on right now that affects nonprofits, we thought it would be a good idea to provide you with a brief [...]
Haitian Charities Need Your Help
Given the sheer number of clients we work with, we rarely highlight specific ones or their needs. The devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti is almost beyond imagination. Below is a list of Foundation Group clients that work in Haiti and are responding to the disaster. Please, take a moment and pray for the [...]
Surviving an IRS 501(c)(3) Audit – Five Rules
In our last post, we took a look at five of the most common sources that could spark an IRS examination or audit of your 501(c)(3) organization (or other nonprofit). In this article, we’re going to equip you with five rules you need to know should you get the dreaded notification that your organization is [...]
IRS 501(c)(3) Audits – 5 Potential Sources
There is one phrase in the English language that generates more fear and trepidation than any other out there: IRS AUDIT. Just hearing the words is enough to cause many a fearless person to break out in a cold sweat and to shrink in terror. It is bad enough when an individual has to deal [...]
Bad Seeds – Why the ACORN Scandal Matters to Other Nonprofits
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, aka ACORN, was, until the past year, a relatively unknown organization to most Americans. Founded in 1970 and based in New Orleans, Louisiana, ACORN’s most visible face is that of a 501(c)(3) public charity ostensibly advocating for low- and moderate-income families in the areas of neighborhood safety, [...]
Safeguard Your Mission: How to Protect Your Nonprofit from Fraud
Fraud is a word that conjures up many images in your mind. Maybe your definition of fraud is someone lying to you, stealing from you or conspiring against you while pretending to help you. All of these are true…and it can happen to your nonprofit if you don’t know how to protect it. Those who [...]
How Much Is Too Much? The Limits of Benevolence
The idea for this article came from my good friend, Belinda from Madison, Alabama. A few weeks ago, she wrote us an email asking the following: “Due to the economic downturn and, with the increasing requests for benevolence assistance, are there guidelines for churches and non-profits on what they can assist with and how much?” [...]
Charitable Solicitations – Time to Get Compliant!
Charitable Solicitations Registration. “Never heard of it,” you say. Well, you are not alone. As astounding as it may seem, estimates of noncompliance range from 85-95% of charities and nonprofits nationwide. This level of noncompliance has persisted primarily because of 2 reasons: 1) lack of communication between state agencies and 2) grace. But, the times…they [...]
Your 2009 Nonprofit Survival Guide
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 Employees”, and “Robert Wood Johnson (Foundation) Offers Buyout to 40% of its Employees”. Tough stuff [...]
Thrift Store Redux – It’s Back!
Posted on September 18, 2009 by Greg McRay in Commentary, Hot Topics
In case you missed our blog about this story earlier in the year, the nanny-state strikes again. Back in January, we told you about a new consumer “protection” law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, that was going into effect that would effectively put thrift stores out of business. Many retailers of second-hand items, including [...]