Resources
Recession Lessons and Insights
We asked experienced nonprofit leaders to share their experiences managing risk in previous recessions, and what they learned. Here are three of their stories. I was in charge of our accreditation department during the 2020 recession caused by COVID. I think for 2020, at the end of the day, my focus was always on the … Continued
Recession Risk: Look Back and Forward to Fortify Your Mission
By Rachel Sams How are you sleeping these days? Many nonprofit leaders might struggle to fall asleep due to worries about the economy. Experts believe 2023 will bring a U.S. recession, despite the economy making a stronger showing than expected at the end of the year. Fannie Mae, which finances mortgages, predicts the U.S. economy … Continued
Is Financial Oversight Your Weakest Link?
By Melanie Lockwood Herman This week I finished reading a terrific new book, Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic Accounting, by Melisa F. Galasso. Melisa kindly sent me a copy after learning about NRMC from a friend, who spoke at this year’s Virtual Risk … Continued
How to Prepare Your Nonprofit for a Recession
By Rachel Sams Economists surveyed by Bloomberg in August put the likelihood of a U.S. recession within the next year at almost 50%. The economists also increased their inflation estimates for each quarter in 2023. That’s worrisome news for nonprofits walloped by the rising cost of supplies and for donors who may have to cut … Continued
Fraud Risk: Every Nonprofit Mission is Exposed
by Whitney Claire Thomey The US Internal Revenue Service and international organizations have teamed up to call attention to Charity Fraud Awareness Week, which takes place in October. Fraud awareness and prevention are top concerns for nonprofit leaders. What’s more, with the explosion of cybercrimes, this is a risk that affects all nonprofits no matter … Continued
Heads Up: Why Fortified Fiscal Oversight is Key to Financial Well Being
By Melanie Lockwood Herman During the past 15 years, I’ve been honored to serve as a volunteer board member for several organizations. My first board role was for a community-based organization in the small village where I live. I had long admired the nonprofit’s historic preservation and conservation mission, and when the invitation to consider … Continued
Examining Fiscal Risk for Mission-Minded Success
By Whitney Claire Thomey Powerful missions, community advocacy, and life-changing programs can only happen when nonprofits have sufficient financial resources and strong financial management. Sound financial decisions and financial risk management protect critical assets and make it possible for a nonprofit to deliver the services and programs that bring a charitable mission to life. However, … Continued
Examining Fiscal Risk for Mission-Minded Success
By Whitney Claire Thomey Powerful missions, community advocacy, and life-changing programs can only happen when nonprofits have sufficient financial resources and strong financial management. Sound financial decisions and financial risk management protect critical assets and make it possible for a nonprofit to deliver the services and programs that bring a charitable mission to life. However, … Continued
The World of Nonprofit Finance Risk
by Melanie Lockwood Herman and Whitney Thomey Myriad situations make up the world of nonprofit finance risk. The image above illustrates some of the common preventable, strategic, and external sources of risky financial situations nonprofit finance leaders may encounter. We offer the following recommendations for fortifying your organization against downside effects. Uncover What are the … Continued
Heads Up: Why Fortified Fiscal Oversight is Key to Financial Well Being
By Melanie Lockwood Herman During the past 15 years, I’ve been honored to serve as a volunteer board member for several organizations. My first board role was for a community-based organization in the small village where I live. I had long admired the nonprofit’s historic preservation and conservation mission, and when the invitation to consider … Continued
Fiscal Sponsorships: Managing Risk and Reward
By Glenn Mott and Colleen Lazanich This week we speak with Colleen Lazanich, CEO of CalNonprofits Insurance Services, the only social enterprise insurance brokerage in California. She has more than 30 years of experience across the insurance industry, with more than 20 years specializing in nonprofits. Colleen has worked for carriers, wholesale brokers and retail brokers … Continued
Risk Reporting
When it comes to risk oversight, effective risk reporting is key to helping an oversight team discharge its responsibilities. What reports make the most sense for a nonprofit board or board committee? A time-consuming reporting structure can tax your staff and give risk management a bad name. Watch this webinar to learn how risk reports … Continued
Reviewing Financial Transactions: Board and Staff Roles in Internal Controls and Audit Functions
New accounting standards underscore the board’s overarching fiduciary duty to be familiar with and ensure the protection of, financial resources. This Webinar reviews basic internal control procedures that divide responsibilities clearly between the board and the staff to create a series of checks and balances that reduces the possibility of fraud, theft and other mismanagement … Continued
Financial Risk Management: A Primer for Nonprofits
Learn about the top 10 financial risks facing nonprofits and how to focus your attention and resources on the areas most likely to materialize in your nonprofit. Learn what policies and procedures are necessary for sound financial management and how to create them. Watch this webinar to: Orient everyone towards a risk management approach to … Continued
The New 990: Friend or Foe? What You Need to Know to Prepare Your Organization and the Board for the Road Ahead
The IRS released the new Form 990 on December 20th, 2007. The new form will be required beginning in 2009. This Webinar will give your organization’s staff and board members a head start in preparing for the significant reporting changes required by the new IRS Form 990, and provide background on policy and procedural changes … Continued
Classification Conundrum
Updated: September 24, 2019 by Melanie Lockwood Herman Avoiding Potentially Costly Employee Classification Errors Across the country, many nonprofit leaders struggle with the question of whether or not they have properly classified their staff members as either “exempt” or “non-exempt” workers. The Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) can often be confusing, and … Continued