Has your organization outgrown its bylaws? Sometimes, as a nonprofit expands and matures, the guiding rules set when it was just a twinkle in its founders’ eyes need to be revisited and brought up to date. Continue reading Your nonprofit’s bylaws – Those golden rules may need more than polishing
All posts by Mike Sperling
Nonprofit life cycle – Challenges and opportunities mark growth stage
Nonprofits generally mature along a standard life cycle. An organization’s first steps are typically followed by a period of growth, which, ideally, is less eventful and stressful than those early years. The growth stage — beginning two or three years after “birth” and continuing until “maturation” at around age seven — isn’t without challenges. But this period also comes with a sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to diversify and bring in new staff and donors as the organization comes into its own. Continue reading Nonprofit life cycle – Challenges and opportunities mark growth stage
What the new DOL overtime rules will mean for your nonprofit
The U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rules, which will make many more employees eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), take effect December 1, 2016 — and nonprofits aren’t exempt. Even if an organization isn’t covered by the FLSA, its employees may be covered as individuals and thus eligible for overtime. Make no mistake: The new rules could have significant repercussions for the compensation of your white-collar workers — and, in turn, your ability to provide services. Continue reading What the new DOL overtime rules will mean for your nonprofit
How to score a home run with your board meeting minutes
Minutes of your board’s meetings may seem like a mere formality, but they’re much more than that. Board meeting minutes reflect on your board of directors and your organization’s actions. Savvy nonprofits don’t bunt their way through creating these documents — they try to hit them “out of the park.”
Continue reading How to score a home run with your board meeting minutes
Newsbits
Microsoft offers nonprofits free cloud services
Microsoft’s philanthropic arm has announced that it’ll donate $1 billion in cloud computing resources over the next three years to nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations worldwide. The donation is part of an initiative that includes providing a suite of Microsoft cloud services, expanding access to cloud resources for 900 faculty researchers at universities and reaching 20 underserved communities in 15 countries with broadband connectivity and cloud services.
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When investment income counts as UBI
Dividends, interest, rents, annuities and other investment income are generally excluded when calculating unrelated business income tax (UBIT). But tax law provides two exceptions where such income will indeed be deemed taxable. And with IRS scrutiny of unrelated business income intensifying these days, nonprofits need to know about these potential pitfalls.
Continue reading When investment income counts as UBI
The nonprofit life cycle – Start-ups face challenges, opportunities
Every organization is different, but most nonprofits follow a somewhat predictable life cycle. And just as they are for a child, the early years for organizations are full of important milestones. A nonprofit’s first steps can make the difference between a sustainable organization with the capacity to fulfill its mission and a floundering failure that fades out fast.
Continue reading The nonprofit life cycle – Start-ups face challenges, opportunities
Tread carefully this election season
With the 2016 election season picking up steam, nonprofits need to exercise caution not to stray into political activities that could put their tax-exempt status on the line. But while the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) clearly prohibits certain activities and expenditures related to the political process, other activities may be permissible.
Collaborative activities Are you reporting them correctly?
More and more nonprofits are joining forces to better serve their client populations and cut costs. But such relationships can come with complicated financial reporting obligations. Your organization’s reporting requirements will depend on the type of relationship you enter.
Continue reading Collaborative activities Are you reporting them correctly?
Your employee handbook, It may be time for a tune-up
An employee handbook sets the stage for many scenarios, from vacation requests and maternity leaves to performance reviews and termination procedures. As certain situations arise, knowing the rules can prevent surprise, confusion and resentment on both sides of the table.
Continue reading Your employee handbook, It may be time for a tune-up