You Get What You Pay For
One of our staff members was rummaging around in the back of a closet here in the office the other day looking for some Christmas decorations. She came across a framed quote that someone stuffed into a box years ago. …
New IRS 1099 Rules Set to Hit Charities Hard
It seems like the hits just keep on coming. First it was the Form 990-N rule changes that will cost a yet-to-be-determined number of nonprofits their tax exemption. Now organizations are waking up to the news that the controversial new…
Following Up on Form 990 Schedule O
It seems that there has been some confusion regarding last week’s article on IRS Form 990, particularly Schedule O. In this short article, I want to expand a bit on that discussion and clear up some misconceptions. We had a…
What is Your Nonprofit Thankful For?
Thanksgiving is a wonderful, home-grown holiday. It is a time for family and friends, eating way too much and, most importantly, a time for reflection about all the things we have to be thankful for. I heard someone mention this…
Thrift Store Redux – It’s Back!
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…
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)…
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…
New Form 990 Problems Are Everywhere
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…
An Obituary for National Heritage Foundation?
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…
US Bans Thrift Stores (updated)
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,…