Bo Garner, CPA, MBA

The nonprofit sector continues to evolve as economic conditions, policy changes, and donor behavior shape funding strategies. Charitable giving remains strong, with signs of continued growth for organizations. However, adapting to these shifts will require strategic planning to sustain long-term impact.

Nonprofits are increasingly prioritizing fraud prevention to protect their resources and fulfill their mission. In 2025, two key areas require attention: internal fraud by employees and external risks to systems and data. Proactive measures can help organizations address these challenges and maintain financial integrity.

Many small nonprofits face challenges with weak or inadequate internal control systems, often due to limited staffing and financial resources. Without effective safeguards, these organizations are at greater risk of errors, fraud, and financial mismanagement, which can damage their reputation and disrupt operations. Implementing strong controls helps build trust and allows nonprofits to stay focused on their mission.

Segregation of duties (SOD) is a key internal control that helps nonprofits reduce fraud, improve accuracy, and build trust. Start the 2025 by exploring the importance of SOD, strategies to overcome common challenges, and actionable steps for establishing strong internal controls.

If you’re still spending hours exchanging emails just to schedule meetings, you’re wasting precious time that could be better spent on more important tasks. With free scheduling technologies like Calendly and Microsoft Bookings, you can dramatically reduce the back-and-forth hassle of finding suitable meeting times.

Functional expense allocations and the program expense ratio are crucial aspects of financial transparency for nonprofits. Learn why properly allocating expenses into categories like program services, management, and fundraising not only provides a clear financial picture but also significantly impacts the organization’s public image, fundraising potential, and IRS compliance.

The fundamental purpose of board minutes is similar across different types of organizations; however, there are nuances that differentiate how for-profit and nonprofit boards approach their creation and maintenance. Understand these differences and the best practices that can significantly enhance the organizational governance and integrity.

Tax-exempt organizations operating on a calendar year-end (December 31) are reminded to prepare their Form 990-series returns or secure an extension before the May 15th deadline. Timely submission is essential to uphold tax-exempt status and ensure compliance with IRS regulations.

Over $70 billion in unclaimed property is held by states across the U.S., affecting one in seven Americans, according to NAUPA. Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits can reclaim these assets, ranging from uncashed paychecks to dormant accounts, by searching the NAUPA website or state-specific unclaimed property databases.

Learn about the temporary e-filing delay for Forms 990-T and 1120-POL until March 17, 2024 which impacts returns with due dates falling between January 15, 2024, and March 15, 2024.

A third quarter not-for-profit industry update sees revenue growth and new opportunities in some segments, like museums, parks, and zoos, and challenges for membership and religious organizations. Resilience and innovation are key to navigating a changing nonprofit landscape.

Check fraud is on the rise. An online banking feature called positive pay is an effective tool to prevent or minimize check tampering, and all nonprofits can use it.

Nonprofit organizations can still qualify for the employee retention tax credit from 2020 and 2021 if they meet certain eligibility rules.

As the first quarter of 2023 wraps up, nonprofits are experiencing lower donations. The economy and consumer spending remain top leading indicators for the segments Museums, Parks, and Zoos, Private Schools, and Membership Associations.  

Small to medium-size nonprofits have several responsibilities to maintain their tax-exempt status and may be unaware of some of the activities that can jeopardize it. The IRS has recently released many resources to help.

Federal compliance requirements like single audits require nonprofits to have financial statement services performed.

Nonprofit compliance requirements vary from state to state. Private foundations, agencies, and other grantors often have their own requirements, too. It’s important for organizations to understand what these are before accepting any funding.

Starting August 1, 2022, Form 990-N filers – small nonprofits – are required to use a more streamlined, modern online filing system. ID.me, the IRS’s ID authentication system, will be required for new users.

Labor shortages are hitting nonprofits harder than most industries. Strategies to address this challenge don’t have to include higher wages; there are several other potential options, like culture, recruiting, contract workers, tax credits, and more.

Election years can create uncertainty for nonprofits, even off-years and midterm elections. This article explores factors that are impacting nonprofits and what they can do to stay ahead of changing legislative priorities.

A small Virginia nonprofit thought they were doing all the right things in terms of cybersecurity, cyber insurance and safety. They found out the hard way that it wasn’t enough to avoid the damage from a hacker that knew how to manipulate their weak points.

Learn about the top challenges and opportunities facing not-for-profit organizations in 2022. Topics include tax updates, the impact of new legislation, succession planning challenges, industry best practices and the importance of a robust cybersecurity program.

More organizations are using Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to help fulfill ongoing needs, like cybersecurity and outsourced accounting. Before hiring an MSP, it’s helpful to understand the top ten areas that can impact the engagement’s success.

Not-for-profit organizations may be tempted to give gift cards to employees, volunteers, or those in need, but they need to be mindful of IRS de minimis fringe benefits rules, among other gift card considerations.

On March 19, 2021, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing federal agencies to delay, by six months, the deadline for recipient organizations to submit Single Audits. The new deadlines are September 30, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

Non-public schools have an opportunity to apply for federal funding through the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Program. Virginia participates in this program, but administrators should act quickly as the funds are limited.

The American Rescue Plan Act’s changes to the Paycheck Protection Program make it easier for more not-for-profit organizations to receive funding – but as of now, the deadline to apply for PPP funds remains March 31.

NFPs have always been adept at achieving great outcomes with few resources. This strength was put to the test even more in the past year. Whether an organization received extra funding or not, proper governance and fiscal oversight are more important than ever.

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) incentivizes organizations to keep employees on the payroll during COVID-19, and with new rules, it’s possible to claim as much as $14,000 per employee in 2021.

It’s time to re-evaluate what liquidity actually means and how well-crafted policies can improve an organization’s operations, finances, and be a tool for educating the public, the Board, and management.

Not-for-profit organizations have been a source of hope and resources for the communities they serve, but many are still struggling with the effects of COVID-19. The latest round of stimulus relief allocated $900 billion to ongoing COVID-19 relief measures, many of which stand to benefit not-for-profits.

2020 has been a difficult year for nonprofit organizations. In difficult times, financial innovation and risk mitigation are necessary to survive and thrive when true recovery begins. During this summit, we will present the issues, trends, key takeaways, and even opportunities we have seen while serving nonprofits since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

When it comes to charitable donations, cash might be king, but in-kind contributions play a vital role, too. Donated services and tangible or intangible goods can be sources of revenue and cost savings.

Many not-for-profit organizations rely on donations. Tapping into the generosity of their stakeholders has always been an operational necessity. And in recent years, the giving environment has become more complex with changing legislation and tax policies.