Tag Archive for: nonprofit

Taking Control of Your Nonprofit Finances

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Today, you might feel there are few things you have control over. Fortunately, taking control of your nonprofit finances is not one of them.

Since the novel COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world into a remote economy, nonprofits face a time of financial transition.

91% of global nonprofit organizations suffered operational damage in the crisis. This 91% is an improvement from the 96.5% recorded in March.

Waiting for normalcy is only a long-term solution that many organizations can’t afford. However, learning how to transition into a new normal can help your organization get back on its feet.

Understanding how to manage your finances is the best path to regaining stability. Here’s how you can start taking control of your nonprofit finances sensibly and effectively.

Taking Control of Your Nonprofit Finances

It’s important to consider how money transfers through different hands within your organization.

A board of directors should oversee general operations. An added financial branch of operation can still go a long way. Delegate financial tasks to a specific individual or group of individuals. That way, you centralize the information handled in the accounting process.

Along with financial managers, you can outsource your accounting tasks. Getting professional advice is a much more efficient way to get your finances in order.

Nonprofits that manage finances internally can appoint at least 2 or 3 people to manage. They can be direct points of contact between the organization and the finances.

You can also assign different functions to those in your financial branch. One member can manage executive functions while supporting members manage secondary tasks. This structure promotes organization, accountability, and transparency within your financial branch of operation.

Multiple Streams of Funding

Adding more streams of funding to your organization is essential to financial balance. Receiving support from more than a few sources adds to the revenue to collect.

It also adds more financial security. Instead of relying on one funding source, you open up more opportunities.

Collective revenue from various sources adds up and gives you more stability. If one stream dries up, you’ll still have the flexibility to focus on others in times of need.

Relevant Streams of Funding

While you grow more streams of funding, you should also make your sources relevant to the times. Prior to the pandemic, common sources of funding for nonprofits included:

  • Sponsorships
  • Grants
  • Programs tuition
  • Fundraising Events
  • Donations
  • Subscriptions

Nonprofits that focus more on in-person fundraising should consider more reliable funding sources.

Instead, there are more reliable, contactless methods of funding. These include sponsorships, grants, donations, and subscriptions.

Sponsorships and grants often involve some research and individual outreach. The scope of their awarding processes also requires waiting periods and gaps. Still, they’re useful sources to consider for long-term operations.

Tracking Expenses and Profits for Taking Control of Your Nonprofit Finances

Multiple streams of funding ensure that money flows into the organization.

This is a two-way stream. It’s possible for cash to flow out of an organization at a high rate.

Tracking the expenses shows you funds entering and exiting the budget. Your financial branch tracks expenses and two-way cash flow. The board of directors advises the active spending goals and habits.

The board and financial managers should meet on a regular basis. Your budget and the size of your organization should determine how often you meet.

It’s also helpful to automate some of the tracking process through software. You can use tools like Quickbooks or GetApp. Tools like these will allow you to begin taking control of your nonprofit finances.

These have specialized features for nonprofit organizations. They can also help you with the distinction between nonprofit and commercial operations. Many softwares also include tax forms and documents. You can use these to help your organization with legal compliance guidelines.

Basic Budgeting

Your organization should use budgeting to inform the other areas of financial management. Here are two basic budgeting tips to follow.

Budget Structures

Each nonprofit should have monetary goals relative to their operational goals. There are three main budgeting structures every nonprofit should know:

  • Surplus budget
  • Balanced budget
  • Deficit budget

These structures are often used in government or commercial spending. They’re useful guidelines to help you estimate profit margins and losses.
When your fundraising efforts exceed expectations, you have a surplus budget.

A balanced budget indicates the expenses are expected to meet profits. In contrast, a deficit budget means that expenses exceed profits. So, there’ll be a margin of lost funds to recover.

Your total budget operates within these structures. As you continue to fundraise, you can determine which type of budget your organization currently operates on.

Budget Timelines

A budget should also include a realistic timeline for specific goals. Be sure to include important landmarks in the year where you need to measure performance.

You can split the fiscal and calendar years into quarters to make goals more realistic. Then expand to an annual timeline to measure more long-term growth.

Board meetings should also align with your timeline of goals. Or, you can increase their frequency to keep up with constant changes.

Taking Control of Your Nonprofit Finances: Outlining Policies

The most important step in financial management is documentation. This includes recording tangible copies of your budget, funding sources, and financial goals.

However, you should also consider implementing or updating your operational policies. This includes spending and investment policies.

Updating your policies may crossover with budgeting. Typically, a budget tends to represent your organization in numbers. A policy shows the larger investment potential.

The content in your policy may also intersect with legal guidelines. For nonprofits, these guidelines often determine eligibility for certain funding opportunities or methods.

Manage Your Nonprofit Finances Now

Financial health is an essential part of any nonprofit organization. We can show your organization how to weather the storm and become financially resilient.

With our team of experts, you can get professional accounting and bookkeeping services. We’ll tailor your financial services to the needs of your organization.

To begin taking control of your nonprofit finances today, contact us, and request a meeting.

Create a Nonprofit Operating Budget

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Are you looking for new ways to keep up with the hustle and bustle of your nonprofit organization? Have you noticed that the bookkeeping is starting to slip by the wayside? If so, then you need to create a nonprofit operating budget and learn how to manage it effectively.

Doing so can help ensure that you’re staying on task. you’ll find yourself with more financial peace of mind after knowing that there’s a specific purpose for every dollar you raise.

See below for an in-depth guide on how to create a nonprofit operating budget to get yourself back on track. Be sure to consider everything that’s listed.

1. Set Aside Time with Your Team to Manage your Budget. 

Perhaps this is the first time that your organization will be addressing the budgetary needs that you have. Maybe it’s been so long since you kept a budget that you need to reassess where you are currently.

No matter the case, it’s important that you set aside time to hash out a new budget with your team. Find a time period where at least one person from each department can offer their input.

For example, if you have an in-house marketing coordinator, be sure to clue them in on your new budget to ensure your marketing needs are being met.

You’ll find that a great deal of this meeting will be compromised. Don’t get discouraged if it feels like you can’t get anywhere at first. It’s all about compromise. Every department will feel like their side of the operations deserves a higher portion of the budget.

If you need assistance with building your budget, then you can also decide to outsource it to a nonprofit accounting and bookkeeping service. If you need help creating a nonprofit operating budget, The Charity CFO is an expert accountant for charities. 

2. Gather Data

You might be wondering to yourself “where am I supposed to come up with the numbers? How would I know how much to budget for marketing, events, fundraising, and so on?”. By looking at the previous data.

They say business is all about learning from the past; building a nonprofit operations budget is no exception.

 

How do you create a nonprofit operating budget? The Charity CFO explains.

Gather up all your bank statements from the checking account you use for your nonprofit’s finances. This might be overwhelming at first, but take a deep breath and give yourself a few weeks/months to comprise all the data (if necessary).

Decide which expenses fall under the umbrella of the different departments of your business, then add them up on a month by month basis. Did you spend more than you raised in previous months? Are you overspending in one area of your organization?

If need be, sit down with each department chair individually to assess the money you spent and the areas in which you could cut costs. This will give you a better idea of the amount you can set for that department’s monthly budget.

Be sure to get input from your board. This budget is a collaborative effort. Accounting for nonprofit organizations can be tricky, so we encourage you to utilize the resources and information we offer! 

3. Plan Your Activities

Nonprofits are all about the activities and events that you both attend and organize for your faithful following. It can lead to some tremendous fundraising opportunities.

However, too many nonprofits design their budget without considering those activities first and foremost. They’re then thrown out of whack when they can’t find the financial room to either attend the event or put on an activity that represents their brand in the right light.

Start by scheduling your activities as far out as possible (preferably a year out). How much money needs to be allocated to those activities? Which ones take priority?

As much as it might hurt, this is a great opportunity to cleanse your schedule of any activities that you aren’t seeing great returns from.

4. Properly Estimate Income

Planning income and expenses for a nonprofit can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible.

First, be sure to list your estimated income if different tiers of risk. This should be prioritized from “least trustworthy” to “most risky”.

For example, say you organize 4 groups for your income sources: group 1, group 2, group 3, and group 4. You might decide that people listed in group 1 are “most trustworthy”, meaning they’re most likely to donate generously and often.

Let the data guide you while you estimate this part of the budget. Put your most frequent sources of funding into group 1, the least frequent in group 4, and so on.

5. Put a Job to Every Dollar

Disclaimer: the job of your budget isn’t to primarily track the money that you spend. It’s to assign a job to every dollar that you raise for your cause.

For example, (for the sake of simple math), say that you budget to receive $1,000 in funds for this upcoming month.

You might consider putting $200 towards donations, $500 towards operations for the month, $200 towards activities and events, then have $100 leftover. This is the wrong way to do it.

You need to budget for all $1,000 in funds that you receive, down to the very last penny. If things change (which they often do), then your budget can be adjusted. Your ability to create a nonprofit operating budget also involves some critical thinking!

What You Can Do Today

Now that you have seen several effective steps that you need to take when building a nonprofit operating budget, it’s time for you to do so the right way.

Be sure to read this article to learn more about how to raise money with virtual events for your nonprofit organization.

And for more inquiries on our ability to be an expert accountant for nonprofits, be sure to reach out by requesting a meeting and we will be happy to discuss our bookkeeping services.

A Modern Nonprofit Podcast: Diversity and Inclusion (S1E1)

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Nonprofit enthusiast and Founder/CEO of The Charity CFO Tosha Anderson is proud to announce the launch of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast. Powered by The Charity CFO, this podcast will take listeners on a journey, as Tosha and her guests talk about relevant topics in the nonprofit sector.

Each episode will feature a lighthearted and informative discussion. Tosha Anderson said A Modern Nonprofit Podcast is a tool like no other for nonprofits of all shapes and sizes.

“While paving my path and finding my footing in life, I have found my true purpose of helping nonprofit organizations do the same,” said Tosha. “Through this podcast, the ability to connect and help so many individuals will only grow, which will make the nonprofit community as a whole stronger. I am looking forward to bringing on industry leaders and participating in conversations that will help my listeners evolve their nonprofits.”

In the inaugural episode, Tosha sits down with Veer Up founder Eileen McGhee to talk all things diversity and inclusion. The two experienced leaders discuss how to define words like diversity and inclusion, then conduct an in-depth conversation about how nonprofits can truly be open to all ideas and views.

This podcast is designed for nonprofit leaders and listeners alike. To truly experience A Modern Nonprofit Podcast, you must do the following:

  1. Listen to the first episode of A Modern Nonprofit Podcast HERE. Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite streaming service!
  2. Head to The Charity CFO YouTube and subscribe to watch full episodes and snippets from the podcast.
  3. If you’re on Facebook, search “A Modern Nonprofit Facebook Group” to request access to the already-growing online community, where nonprofit leaders discuss strategies, share tips and converse about personal experiences. All are welcome!
  4. Follow The Charity CFO on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest episode updates, nonprofit information and deals related to nonprofit bookkeeping and outsourcing for your accounting.

 

Curious as to how The Charity CFO could help your nonprofit in terms of financial accounting, bookkeeping or outsourcing? Check out what we have to offer you and request a meeting with us today.

The Importance of #GivingTuesday in 2020

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Despite the cold temperatures, themes during the winter months are warm and optimistic. For example:

  • Thanksgiving: A holiday focusing on gratitude and appreciating what one has.
  • Christmas: A time spent feeling grateful for being with and giving to others.
  • Giving Tuesday: wait, you might ask, what is that?

It’s completely okay if you don’t know the specifics, or haven’t heard of, Giving Tuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world,” according to its website. And everyone can get involved! If that’s by donating to a charity, volunteering for a nonprofit, or performing random acts of kindness, you can do good this year.

Giving Tuesday is very important for nonprofits because it is a time for charitable donations and significant contributions from the greater public. We at The Charity CFO are proud to work with hundreds of nonprofits every day, and you can view our scope of work on our website here.

This Giving Tuesday, give if you can to the organizations that help make our communities great. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been no greater need for nonprofits to continue to help those who may be struggling.

Is your nonprofit hoping to find financial balance after Giving Tuesday? Schedule a time to talk with The Charity CFO and book a FREE STRATEGY SESSION here.

How to Hire a Freelancer as a Non-Profit

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Are you looking to hire a freelancer as a non-profit?

If so, you probably have a lot of questions. You want to hire someone who will be a good fit for your business and produce high-quality work.

Indeed, there are many qualified freelancers out there. But there are also those who won’t be as great a fit for your company.

How do you tell the difference? We’ll go into some tips below.

Keep reading to learn more!

Why Hire a Freelancer?

If you’re a non-profit, you know the struggle of trying to decide when to hire a full-time member of staff.

The advantages of hiring a freelancer are well documented. It could help you save money, reduce your risk, and access specialized talent and skill sets that you wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.

After all, you want as much money as possible to be able to go to your cause. In addition, most donors don’t give to your office administration fund. This often doesn’t leave you with endless funds to add people to your payroll.

Yet, you still need to get the work done. If it’s not something you can do yourself, you might find yourself at a bit of a loss.

This is when you should hire a freelancer.

What Are Freelancers?

Freelancers use their professional expertise to help a variety of clients.

Yet, instead of working for a company, they work for themselves, setting their own hours and prices.

This can have a variety of advantages. For one, freelancers offer you the flexibility to only pay for the services you need, when you need them. Frequently, freelancers and companies develop long-term working relationships.

Yet, you are under no obligation to use a freelancer more than once. This means you don’t have to keep them on your regular payroll when you’re finished using their services.

Are There Any Cons to Hiring a Freelancer?

For all of the positives there are to working with a freelancer, quite a few negatives also exist.

Chiefly, these pertain to variances in professional experience. These days, anyone can create a profile on places like Upwork or ProBlogger and market themselves as a freelancer.

So, how do you ensure you’re finding a true professional who will work well with your company?

Follow the steps below for a better freelancer hiring experience!

1. Identify Your Needs

A successful hiring process always begins with you.

Before you start searching for freelancers, identify what type of work you need done. There are many different types of freelancers, and you don’t want to hire a freelance social media manager when you really need a freelance writer.

Be as specific as possible, outlining the length and any other pertinent details.

Work out a budget as well. Do some research into what the average freelancer charges for this service and make sure you can afford it.

Compile all of these aspects into a list and allow anyone who will be over the freelancer or their project to contribute to it. The clearer you can be with yourself and your team, the higher the chances of hiring well.

2. Create a Job Ad

Using the information you just gathered, write a compelling job ad.

In order to attract freelancers, tell them as much information about the project as possible. For instance, if you want to hire a WordPress freelancer to help you with your website, emphasize how they’ll play a crucial role in your web development.

Then, inform them of any benefits they may receive, including what you’re willing to pay or the possibility for continued work. If you’re willing to discuss pay with them, take note of that as well.

Last, if your project is urgent, write that in as well. This will let the freelancer know that they should have a decent chunk of time in their schedule if they plan on working for you.

Require your applicants to send you their resumes and references. That way, you can see their professional experience and ask previous clients if they were satisfied with their work.

After you’ve finished creating your job ad, post it on a job site! Freelancers often visit certain sites, such as Fiverr, Upwork, and ProBlogger, to look for jobs, so make sure yours is there!

3. Search Freelancer Websites

As mentioned above, many freelancers go on freelancer job boards quite often.

Did you know that many of them also have profiles on these sites?

Usually, these profiles contain information on the types of work they do, how to contact them, as well as client reviews. If you’re looking for a specific type of freelancer, simply go on one of these sites and search for a particular service.

This should pull up a list of top-rated workers. Peruse through their profiles until you find a person you believe would be a great match. Then, reach out to them and pitch your project.

4. Pay Them for a Test Service

Do you have a specific freelancer in mind but don’t know whether or not they’d be right for you?

Offer to pay them for a test service. This test can be anything you’d like it to be as long as it showcases the skills necessary to complete your project. To save yourself money, make it shorter than your actual work order.

Once they return the test to you, evaluate it and see what you think of their work.

5. Ask to See a Portfolio

Most freelancers keep portfolios of their work to show potential clients.

Before hiring someone, ask to see their portfolio or other examples of their finished past work. This will give you an idea of what this person sees as a professional level of quality.

Want to Take Control of the Money You’re Spending?

If you decide to hire a freelancer, you are making a very good financial choice for your non-profit.

After all, freelancers often get the work done without giving you the additional burden of putting a full-time staffer on your payroll. They also often provide professional-level experience for a lower price.

Want to better manage your non-profit’s finances? See how we can help!

The Different Types of Audit Services and What They Mean For Your Nonprofit

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Are audit services on your mind as a nonprofit organization leader?

Do you run a non-profit and worry about your fiscal fitness? Are your productivity and scalability as efficient as it could be? If you’re concerned about these things for your organization, then you should consider an audit.

As a non-profit, you owe it to your donors to stay as lean and as efficient as possible. And in order to maintain your NPO status, you need to keep good record books. So enlisting outside audit services can be just what you need to be successful.

And don’t worry if the mention of an audit sent a shudder down your spine. We get it, nobody likes the idea of getting audited, but outside of the IRS, an audit can be a valuable tool to assess your current situation and look at the areas that can be improved.

If you’re concerned about how to fully utilize an audit, keep reading. We’ve got you covered on the different types of audit services as well as how they can benefit you and your organization.

Four Different Types of Audit Services

Nobody likes the idea of an audit. However, when it comes to maintaining the financial health of your nonprofit business, audits are necessary. An audit can take less time if you can keep your financial paperwork organized and thoroughly documented.

There are several different types of audits that are done by different people and will give you different outcomes based on your goals. Some audits are done internally while others are external and require an outside point of view.

When many people think of audits they think of accountants scrutinizing your finances. But operational audits are also just as valuable to your organization.

1. Operational

An operational audit will look objectively at the systems and functions of your business. The audit will assess your business’ systems and productivity as well as your available resources. They will then make their recommendations for how these areas can be improved and what additional resources will be necessary to make the changes needed.

Operational audits can look at your systems and processes as well as your various departments; these can include IT, HR, and staffing. Additionally, if you find your organization continually missing your goals and objectives, then an operational audit can shine a light on this. You can learn why these goals weren’t met and what can be changed to start meeting your goals and objectives in the future.

2. Financials

A financial audit will evaluate your current financial situation for your business or nonprofit organizations. After their complete assessment, they will give their recommendations for how you can improve the fiscal health of your charity.

They will look at your accounting records as well as your financial reporting of accounts receivable and payable. So, it is vital to keep good records so you can get an accurate assessment of your financial situation within your nonprofit.

If you want your nonprofit to help as many people as possible, you must be fiscally responsible year after year. If you find your organization continually behind with your accounting then the help of a CPA can benefit your company.

A professional bookkeeper will help you keep your records so that you never again dread another audit. Audits are helpful and beneficial tools for your company. And having good records can make them smooth and seamless which will allow you to learn from them rather than stressing out about getting them the right records for their audit.

3. Internal

An internal audit is usually done by and for the management of your company. This form of assessment gives light to how your company can make improvements and grow in the company years.

Regular internal audits are important to shine lights on possible areas of growth within your company. It doesn’t do your business any good to continue to do things as they’ve always been done when there is a better way of doing it.

In order to truly grow your company and help more people with your non-profit, you need to continually be open to new ways of doing things.

4. External

An external audit is done by a neutral third-party person or group looking at your business or nonprofit from an outside point of view. These audits are just as important as internal audits and will provide your company with a much-needed alternate viewpoint.

Additionally, by conducting an external audit you open your business up to learning about possibly blind spots that you hadn’t noticed before. This external point of view is vital to growing a healthy business so don’t shy away from it. It can be difficult to ask the opinion of someone outside of your organization, but it is imperative to healthy growth.

By bringing in an external CPA to look at your records regularly you can ensure that your charity will be able to help as many people as possible. While it can be difficult to bring in an outside group of people to dive into your finances, this is a vital step to providing valuable insight and reassurances that you’re operating a successful business.

Keeping good records in accounting software is vital to quick and easy audits. Additionally, having a bookkeeper can improve your audit experience. By having a professional help you keep good records in an organized manner can help you to have a better audit.

Bottom Line: Keep Your Business Financially Healthy

As you can see an audit doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, it can be a healthy process to learn where your non-profit can improve over time.

And enlisting the help of external audit services can be a great way to take an objective look at your non-profit. You’ve put your whole heart and soul into helping those who can’t help themselves. Don’t risk everything by not keeping your organization running efficiently and financially responsibly.

So, if you think that an audit would be a good experience for your non-profit, then find a CPA you can trust to come and take an objective look at your company today. With the help of an experienced professional, you can ensure that your non-profit will be around for years to come to help many more people.

So, if you’re looking for help on anything from filling out your Form 990 to updating your bookkeeping, then let’s chat. We offer affordable services and can help you set up your non-profit for success today.

7 Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid for Nonprofits

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Are you trying to build a strong foundation for your nonprofit? Well, it all begins with knowing the in and outs of the entire structure. In premise, the difference between a good and a bad nonprofit is the ability to avoid common fundraising mistakes. 

In this article, we will cover these 7 mistakes, so that you can build a project that’s truly exquisite. Read on to learn more. 

Building a successful project through fundraising is important to your organization’s success.

1. Untailored Messaging

When you’re talking to your supporters, a one-fits-all application does not work. You need to know what works for each target audience and hone your messaging for each segment of your donors. 

Segmenting your supporters into separate groups is critical to making sure that the right message is delivered to the right person at the right time. You can accomplish this by breaking down the entire collective into smaller sub-sections, such as big-donors, first-time donors, recurring-donors, event attendees, third-parties, etc.

You might even consider developing donor characteristics to help with driving action on their part. Once you have segmented your audience, it’s much easier to tailor content for each, thus build real relationships.

Stronger bonds = greater number of financial commitments. 

2. Not Talking About the “Why?”

Most of the nonprofit organizations spend too much time talking about how they will perform their work, rather than why they will do it. 

After all, you’ve adequately enough to create a solution to an important problem with dedication. But to get people to appreciate such efforts, you need them to provide context. Make them care. 

This means that you have spoken about the “why” before you even mention the “how. First, speak about the challenges you have addressed, then speak about how you solved them. This will spark genuine connections with you on the empathetic level which will help them to action. 

Don’t assume that your supporters know everything about you. Just because they’ve decided to donate, doesn’t mean they have an understanding of your work and its importance. 

Make use of the opportunity and give them the full story. 

3. Common Fundraising Mistakes: Wrong Relationships

If your relationships with the supporters are purely transactional, they will move on. If they are relational, they will continue to thrive and blossom. 

With the use of modern technologies, it can be very easy to bombard your sponsors with asks across all channels. Taking this unthoughtful approach to why and when you ask your sponsors for contributions will result in disconnection and donor fatigue.

4. High Expectations, Poor Outcomes

Do not set high expectations and then deliver poor outcomes. Consistency is critical to reputation. Be realistic, honest, and transparent about all of your efforts and outcomes. 

In terms of the marketplace, reach and services, be consistent when articulating their effect. Meet the expectations set by important stakeholders, and deliver exceptional services. 

Exceed all expected outcomes.

5. Lack of Financial Competency

A most important faculty of the nonprofit experience is financial competency. Many founders have not anticipated what it will truly cost to start the nonprofit, much less where to get the funds. 

Any nonprofit needs a funding plan, which will decide if it will charge fees for services, and an effective records system to micromanage all resources. A nonprofit with poor funding is very unlikely to sustain itself before even implementing a verbose fundraising structure.

And even that’s not enough. Financial competency is vividly important in a nonprofit, so don’t dismiss it. 

6. Ineffective Board

If there is one thing that could break or make your project, it might be the quality of your board. Your initial boar members must be your true circle of influence. They should be those who have the influence, resources, and contacts that can help this project grow. 

They should believe in the mission of the organization, and be willing to sell that mission to anybody else. They are the gate-keepers who should help to open doors for you.

And where do you find such people? Well, that depends on the mission behind the nonprofit. But it’s all about networking, so visit meetings, conventions, conferences, and anything else that might be pertinent to the problems that you are trying to solve.

7. Failing to Communicate

Using a single channel for communication is shortsighted. All of your supporters are different. They have different genders, ages, capacities, etc. This is why a variety of communication channels is important to appeal to different people.

You need to have multichannel network strategies that will allow you to effectively collaborate and converse with donors regularly.

Many of your supporters and donors will respond best on certain communication channels. Some might be completely blind to invitations, CTAs, or other asks shared on single channels. 

In order to avoid this, segment your donors on the basis of their preference for communication. Or simply reach out to them on a platform, if you’ve sent an invitation over email, reach out to them by phone afterward.

Accounting Services for Your Nonprofit

Now that you know about the 7 common fundraising mistakes that will ruin your nonprofit, you are well on your way to build a solid foundation for your endeavors. As long as you avoid the pitfalls of others, and make wise decisions supported by an educated and influential board, there is no reason your mission is any less than the big fish. 

If you’re interested in solving one of 7 mistakes, being that of “lack of financial competency”, get in touch with us and we will happily walk you through our accounting services.

Can Nonprofits Survive Coronavirus?

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The coronavirus outbreak has left many nonprofits in the USA holding on for dear life, with mass layoffs, closures and many left destitute following lockdown measures. The biggest question on everybody’s lips right now is, “What happens next?” Can nonprofits survive coronavirus?

At this juncture, it seems that most effective way for nonprofits to transcend the effects of the crisis is to pull in aid wherever possible and work on short-term survival strategies to help get them back on their feet.

Coronavirus

What happened to nonprofit coronavirus relief from Congress?

In March 2020, the US Senate passed a $2 trillion relief bill to mitigate the effects of coronavirus on the economy. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) was aimed at providing businesses, artists, and nonprofits with much-needed support during this time.

Initially, $350 billion from the fund was allocated to nonprofits. The funds provide Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to help cover mortgages, payroll, rent and other essential expenses. As of Apri 17th, though, the Nonprofit PPP Loan Program has reached its cap and it remains to be seen whether more aid will be forthcoming.

Nonprofits need to stay proactive

The outside world may appear to have come to a halt, but within the confines of our homes or remote workplaces, it’s more important than ever to keep reporting up to date, to stay active, and to dream up as many contingency plans as possible to emerge successfully from the crisis.

Financial assistance is still available at national, state and community level if you seek it out. But the national backlog does suggest that starting small is the best strategy at this point. Smaller organizations are far more likely to receive the aid they need by proactively reaching out to their communities and local governments.

Creative thinking is the best thing anyone can do in times of crisis. And opportunity presents itself when you look for it. Google is your greatest ally when it comes to finding new sources of funding, but there are also more targeted approaches your organization can take.

The Government Benefits Center is a site that is worth checking on a regular basis. It provides an up to date newsroom and links to federal aid programs that could help your organization weather the coronavirus storm.

Big business is also stepping up to the plate and is likely to be far more receptive to pleas for help from legitimate nonprofits now than they traditionally would be, provided their financial situation allows it. Reaching out now can’t hurt, even if it’s just in the interest of finding support post-crisis.

Candid has compiled a comprehensive list of coronavirus relief funds that are helping charitable organizations out of the doldrums. These include several locally-based funds like the Greater Manhattan COVID-19 Relief Fund (GMCF) and Oklahoma’s 2020 Disaster Relief Fund, among many others. 

Help is out there. And it’s important to stay hopeful and proactive as you navigate the rough seas that the pandemic has created.

Let the crisis bring us together

A quote from author and hospice counselor, Kate McGahan is great food for thought as we see the world change before our eyes every day; “Deep within every crisis is an opportunity for something beautiful.”

Even in this extremely challenging period, opportunity does exist. There is potential to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic stronger and more prepared than we have ever been. And now, more than ever, nonprofits need to stay focused and summon every possible resource available to stay afloat. Can nonprofits survive coronavirus? I say yes.

About the Charity CFO

The Charity CFO is an accounting service and resource provider that is specifically focused on the nonprofit sector in the USA. Get in touch to discuss sound financial and accounting strategies to maximize your financial resources when you need them most.

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