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How an energy-efficient building tax deduction could pay off for nonprofits

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Much of the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in late 2022 contains provisions intended to combat climate change, largely through tax incentives. Such tax breaks aren’t usually relevant to the work of nonprofits. But for organizations constructing new facilities or adding improvements, the Act’s changes to one tax deduction could benefit them. This article reviews the benefits available under the Act. In addition, a short sidebar covers how the Act allows eligible organizations to receive certain tax credits — which otherwise would be of little use to nonprofits that pay no income tax — as direct payments from the IRS.

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Be prepared for IRS audits of COVID-19 ERC claims

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The availability of Employee Retention Credits (ERCs) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — particularly the ability to claim advance payments of the credits — played a critical role in keeping many nonprofits afloat. Now, however, the IRS has begun to subject some employers that claimed ERCs to audits. Given the extended five-year statute of limitations for such audits, nonprofits that claimed the credits need to prepare. This article highlights what nonprofits should do to prepare for a possible ERC audit.

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What’s the magic number? — Some guidelines for determining your board’s size

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Recruiting and retaining committed board members is a never-ending process. For many nonprofits, determining an appropriate-sized board takes time. Although state law typically sets the minimum number of directors a nonprofit must have on its board, it’s up to each organization to determine how many board members it needs. Both small and large boards come with perks and drawbacks — and once the board size meets its state requirement, the article reviews what nonprofits should consider.

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Understanding internal controls Why nonprofits need both preventative and detective policies

The median loss for nonprofits that fell victim to fraud was $60,000, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations. The average loss for nonprofits was $851,000. Such losses could prove devastating for many organizations. But with strong internal controls to prevent and detect fraudulent activity, organizations can reduce this risk.

The ACFE report found that almost 30% of the victim organizations lacked adequate internal controls to prevent fraud from occurring. In addition to minimizing fraud, comprehensive internal controls also help ensure accurate accounting records and financial statements. And strong internal controls are essential for compliance with relevant laws, regulations and grant requirements.

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What nonprofits need to know about alternative investments

With today’s economic uncertainty, businesses, including nonprofit organizations, are increasingly considering the use of alternative investments. But these investments can have unexpected tax implications for nonprofits. Here’s what you need to know before your organization moves ahead.

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NEWSBYTES

Watchdog launches campaign to measure equitable funding

Candid, the nonprofit evaluation organization that resulted when GuideStar and Foundation Center merged, has announced a new data-driven campaign to encourage equitable funding practices. “Demographics via Candid” is designed to provide a standardized benchmark measurement, reduce inefficiencies and cut down on duplicate information requests from funders.
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