Recent News & Blog / Nonprofit
How to get the financing your nonprofit needs
Relatively high interest rates and tight lending standards are making it difficult for even for-profit businesses to apply and qualify for bank loans.
Help donors help your nonprofit with a planned gift
Most established not-for-profits are already equipped to solicit and accept planned gifts. But if your nonprofit is new to planned giving and doesn’t yet understand the long-term advantages of deferred gifts, it’s a good time to get up to speed.
Why your nonprofit’s board needs to be diverse
Ideally, a not-for-profit’s board of directors should mirror that of its community and clientele. Does yours? Identifying that your board needs more diversity is the easy part, though. Figuring out what to do about it can be more difficult.
Nonprofits: Want to boost income? Consider a for-profit subsidiary
Just because you run a not-for-profit organization doesn’t mean you can function on low or no income. Although your nonprofit’s tax-exempt status prohibits certain money-making activities, you may be able to create a for-profit subsidiary that isn’t hampered by such restrictions.
Don’t let IRS compliance issues drag down your nonprofit
In recent years, the IRS has increased its scrutiny of tax-exempt organizations. Most not-for-profits that fail to file Form 990 for three consecutive years will have their exempt status revoked automatically.
Joining forces with another nonprofit
A merger may seem like something that happens in the corporate world, where companies often combine to expand sales territory, gain competitive advantages and boost profits.
Do you have to return a donation when a donor requests it?
If a donor has never asked your not-for-profit to return a gift, it may only be a matter of time. Although uncommon, donors can change their minds. They may come to believe your organization is misusing or wasting donated funds or decide it’s no longer fulfilling its charitable mission.
Trust and internal controls can coexist in your nonprofit
Not-for-profit organizations have about a 9% chance of being defrauded, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Fortunately, strong internal controls can reduce your nonprofit’s risk. You may not think you need them, but controls and trust can coexist. Contact the nonprofit advisors at SEK with your questions.
Why nonprofits should be transparent about compensation
More and more U.S. workers are calling for “pay transparency,” and not-for-profit employers need to listen — and act. Pay transparency is the idea that employers should openly share their compensation policies and practices with job candidates, current employees and the public.
Build a better nonprofit board with term limits
Are your not-for-profit’s board members subject to term limits? If not, you might want to consider implementing what’s widely considered a best practice.