Founder’s syndrome. It affects nonprofits and for-profits alike. And it can be crippling to any organization. Understanding what it is and how to avoid it is crucial to the future of your 501(c)(3). Taken from that most-reputable of sources, Wikipedia, founder’s syndrome is defined as, “a pattern of negative or undesirable behavior on the part [...]
How Year-End Contribution Statements Can Raise Money
It’s one of those administrative tasks that must be done every year: mailing your donors a year-end statement of their contributions. Even if you are receipting on a per gift basis, a year-end itemized report is a best practice that should be adopted. If you are already doing that, good for you! But let me [...]
Are You Misappropriating Your Nonprofit’s Funds?
One of the things that you learn quickly when starting and operating a 501(c)(3) organization is that you have to handle money wisely. A nonprofit is no different than any other business in that you must make ends meet. Otherwise, your charity will cease to exist. The current economic difficulties make this task even more [...]
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 [...]
Nonprofit Board Members – Choose Wisely
No decision you make regarding your nonprofit organization carries more importance than who is chosen to lead it. The members of your board of directors make up the governing body of your nonprofit and are legally accountable for its actions. Practically speaking, they are accountable to your supporters and beneficiaries to oversee the accomplishment of [...]
The Challenges of Expanding Your Nonprofit
One of the most challenging situations your nonprofit organization can face is the need to expand. It is also an exciting challenge. Compared with the alternative of diminishing effectiveness and shrinking support, growth is a good thing. At least it means (usually) that your programs are having a positive impact and people are motivated about [...]
Who Really Owns a Nonprofit?
The concept of who owns a nonprofit organization can be hard for some to grasp, especially given that the answer is, “No one…and everyone!” We encounter this confusion with new clients on a fairly regular basis. And, given people’s understanding of how basic business operates, it is understandable. In order to fully appreciate the concept of [...]
The Dirty (Half) Dozen Nonprofit No-Nos
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 practices and acceptable practices…and, really, really bad practices that will cause your organization, its board, [...]
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 [...]