Most nonprofits look to government and/or foundation grants to help finance goals. These grants are fundamental in expanding an organization’s reach. But organizations may find it difficult to quantify all the costs and benefits associated with a potential grant. Nonprofits that don’t do their research before accepting money could face problems down the road. This article summarizes the risks of blindly accepting grants, how administrative burdens can undermine a grant’s face value, and the possibility that expenses aren’t allowable or reimbursable under a grant.
Continue reading Look before you leap — Factors to consider before accepting a grant





Employers of all stripes, both nonprofit and for-profit, often overlook a federal tax break available to organizations that hire new employees from certain groups who have traditionally faced obstacles to hiring. While the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is more limited for nonprofits, it nonetheless presents payroll tax-saving opportunities that can prove especially valuable for organizations that are ramping up hiring. This article reveals how the WOTC can be a win-win for nonprofits and veterans.
Where your nonprofit is located and how you use the space you have can mean the difference between striding or just limping along. That fact was highlighted for many nonprofit leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lease or mortgage payments became a financial strain, and dust accumulated on the desks of employees working remotely.
Virtual events were supposed to be a short-term replacement for traditional fundraisers. But, almost two years after the first COVID-19 lockdowns, plenty of nonprofits still rely on them. The good news is that some overall best practices have emerged from the pandemic. Here are some ways your nonprofit can make the most of your next virtual event.
The ongoing pandemic has strained many nonprofits, forcing them to cut corners to survive. But fraud prevention is one critical area you can’t afford to overlook, even just for the short term. If anything, antifraud measures are more important than ever.
This issue’s “Newsbytes” spotlights a recent U.S. Supreme Court case striking down a California law requiring nonprofits to file a list of their large donors with the state and other states’ attempts to limit donor disclosure requirements. It reviews Amazon’s 2021 AWS Imagine Grant program to help nonprofits access its tools and explains how Charity Navigator’s website allows visitors to locate volunteer opportunities in their communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis have provided harsh reminders of how precarious a nonprofit’s financial stability can be. Uncertainty about the future is prompting some organizations to consider the wisdom of making board designations of unrestricted assets. Here are a few questions your organization might want to consider.
Both for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations are looking for ways to conserve costs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting nationwide economic crisis. Many nonprofits looking for a path forward out of the pandemic have had to strategically cut costs to contain expenses. Here are some suggestions to help guide cost cutting for your organization.
In 2019, as waves of lawsuits accused Purdue Pharma of knowingly contributing to the opioid crisis, numerous nonprofits announced they would no longer accept gifts from the Sackler family, several members of which owned the company. That same year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came under fire for accepting multiple donations from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.