Executive Directors Telephone Seminars

Financial Statement Preparation and Analysis for Nonprofits BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide you with an overview of nonprofit financial statements and both external and internal nonprofit financial reporting concepts. We will focus on the primary users of nonprofit financial statements and the key differences between nonprofit and for-profit financial statements and reporting. This program will explore the fundamental accounting concepts  more...

Form 990 Survival Guide - the Form, Unrelated Business Income (UBI) Tax Issues and Practical Solutions BenefitsThis live audio conference will involve a detailed discussion of Form 990, UBI tax issues and practical solutions utilized by leading practitioners in the field. If you are involved with 990s, you know the effort it takes to complete the form accurately. With renewed emphasis on the filing due to IRS audit activity and sophisticated contributor analysis, this program will go through the  more...

Internet Strategies and Best Practices for Nonprofits BenefitsMany nonprofit organizations and executives are struggling to make sense of the Internet as a way to improve communications and results with donors and clients. Ever since the introduction of social-media tools like Facebook and Twitter , keeping up with the pace of change on the Internet, and optimizing your nonprofit's presence in these areas, is an ongoing challenge. To make matters  more...

Accounting Endowments of Not-for-Profit Organizations After UPMIFA BenefitsIn response to the enactment of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act in most of the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, in 2008, promulgated FASB Staff Position No. FAS 117-1. FSP FAS 117-1 provides guidance for nonprofits as to the proper classification of endowment funds when UPMIFA has been enacted and expands the required disclosure about  more...

Unrelated Business Income Tax BenefitsThe recent activity in the charitable sector by federal and state regulatory agencies has mandated that professionals take a proactive approach into all aspects of this important and very diverse sector. The tax-exempt community is under a microscope. Problems that a few years ago might have gone unnoticed now get picked up and widely broadcast. Recent IRS compliance initiatives in  more...

Nonprofit Revenue Stream Alternatives: Thinking Outside the Box BenefitsContribution income is flat or slightly down, state and local government funding looks bleak - you have already cut back on expenses and pared staffing to the bone. Now what? This live audio conference will explore ways to re-engineer some of your current revenue streams. You will hear of many 'out of the box' ways to find new revenues for your nonprofit organization. Concrete case  more...

Key Elements and Legal Lessons Surrounding Donor Intent BenefitsA charitable gift given for a specific purpose generally can be used only for that purpose. But, under certain circumstances, a charity may be permitted to release or modify restrictions imposed on a gift. Understanding when and how such restrictions may be modified - and when donors may have standing to enforce the terms of their gift - is crucial both to charitable organizations and to  more...

Guidance on Lobbying and Political Campaign Activities of 501(c)(3) Organizations Benefits501(c)(3) organizations are subject to very specific rules - and very harsh penalties - with respect to both lobbying and political activity. Lobbying is permitted, but only in specific circumstances. Political activity is never permitted. This live audio conference will explain, in plain-English, how to avoid the pitfalls and how to take advantage of the opportunities available to  more...

IRS Guidelines for Good Governance for 501(c)(3) Organizations BenefitsGiven continued congressional scrutiny of whether tax-exemption is a worthy federal subsidy for any type of tax-exempt organization, proper governance and accountability to the local community are key factors that may distinguish the tax-exempt sector from the taxable sector. The Internal Revenue Service, the press and others have linked the need for good governance to the quest for  more...

Drafting a Green Ordinance: Case Study BenefitsHigh energy costs and increased public support for sustainable initiatives are driving local governments to respond affirmatively with the adoption of green codes - local ordinances that mandate and incentivize more efficient forms of development. Unfortunately, there are few good models to follow and little operating experience to judge what works and what will not. There is an obvious  more...

IPPS Final Rule BenefitsThe Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) was implemented in 1983 replacing a cost-based reimbursement methodology in an effort to better control the costs of providing care to the Medicare inpatient and to incentivize hospitals to better manage utilization. As time has passed CMS has modified the program to better recognize severity of illness AND to reduce payments to hospitals for  more...

GASB 51: Accounting Standards for Intangible Assets BenefitsGovernments possess many different types of assets that may be considered intangible assets, including easements, water or air rights, timber rights, patents, trademarks, and computer software. The implementation of GASB 34 created questions as to whether and when intangible assets should be considered capital assets for financial reporting purposes. An absence of sufficiently specific  more...

Grant Management for Grant Recipients BenefitsJoin Edward T. Waters, Esq., an attorney with nationally recognized expertise in federal grants law, to review the essential elements of federal grants and subgrants from a legal perspective. Learn about the fundamentals of grant administration followed by a discussion of urban myths - that is, commonly misunderstood provisions of federal grants - and sharks in the waters, high-risk areas  more...

Fraud Prevention Techniques for Nonprofits BenefitsIt's unfortunate, but the reality is that thinking your employees are honest isn't true! This fascinating and practical audio conference will walk you through actual fraud scenarios, discuss how the frauds occurred, and show profiles of embezzlers; why they did it, how they did it and what internal controls would have prevented them. Additionally, you will be provided a valuable handout  more...

Not-for-Profit Auditing and Accounting for Contributions and Pledges BenefitsIn this day and age, it is essential for not-for-profit professionals to have a basic understanding of auditing and accounting as it relates to contributions and pledges. This will help you to account for every dime taken in, and to report accurately and completely on how each dollar is used. By preserving the financial integrity of your organization, you will also earn the trust of your  more...

Tax Issues of Social Media and Internet Activities for Nonprofits BenefitsThe internet is essential to the functioning of virtually every nonprofit organization, yet it is fraught with a host of exempt organization tax pitfalls. This audio conference will focus on the exempt organization tax issues associated with internet activity: generating revenue through web-based activities, managing the internet presence of multiple affiliate entities, and avoiding  more...

Public Disclosure and Transparency: The New Form 990 BenefitsExempt organizations are subject to a variety of restrictions under the Internal Revenue Code regarding their lobbying and advocacy efforts. The new and redesigned Form 990 is intended to capture the level of these activities by exempt organizations. With the increased focus and disclosure of the activities of exempt organizations, organizations need to understand the limitations on these  more...

An Introduction to L3Cs: Low-Profit Limited Liability Companies BenefitsThe current state of the economy has left many charities and businesses, all with great intentions, struggling for financial support. These organizations need to re-evaluate their business models to successfully adapt in this economic climate. This teleconference will provide advisors and business owners with a broad overview of a new hybrid for-profit/nonprofit business model: the  more...

Air Rights in Development: Current Trends and Legal Concerns BenefitsA principal axiom of real estate law is cujus est solum ejus est usque ad coelum et ad inferos- 'to whomsoever the soil belongs, he owns also to the sky and to the depths.' Traditionally, soil, sky and depths were conveyed as a single parcel, and parcels were separated by vertical boundaries. Today, parcels that do not touch the soil, and have both horizontal and vertical boundaries, exist  more...

Tax Treatment of Charitable Fundraising BenefitsFundraising for charitable organizations has become a complex business. Charities no longer hold out a tin cup and ask for donations. They engage in sophisticated activities to generate revenue for their mission and the activities have tax consequences. This teleconference will review the federal tax consequences of fundraising activities and provide specific guidance on how to avoid tax  more...

Direct Cost Accounting and Indirect Cost Allocation for Not-For-Profit Organizations BenefitsThis teleconference will help you deepen your understanding of direct cost accounting and indirect allocation rules, risks and best practices to achieve compliance with accounting requirements and maximize cost reimbursement. Accountants, attorneys, executive directors, officers, controllers, CFOs, tax managers and enrolled agents  more...

Living With Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) BenefitsAs of March 19, 2009, 29 states have adopted UPMIFA as law and the Uniform Act is presently pending in an additional 16 jurisdictions. By the end of 2009, in most of the United States, attorneys representing nonprofit institutions and those who donate to them and their endowment funds will be governed by new state law which replaces the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds, which had  more...

Valuation and Reporting of Gifts and Service Donations BenefitsAs not-for-profits continue to face challenges related to raising money, they are becoming more creative in soliciting donations, resulting in more donations of noncash assets and greater restrictions on contributions received. This is occurring at the same time that there is a higher focus on the definition of fair value. Contributions of gifts and services should be measured at the fair  more...

Private Foundation Grant Agreements: Basics and Beyond BenefitsGrant making is the raison d'etre of most foundations. It is what you do! Therefore, a solid foundation grant agreement ought to be the legal backbone for much of a foundation's operations. Surprisingly however, for many private foundations the grant agreement is merely a form document that has been given little thought - if it exists at all. This teleconference will cover some of the  more...

Nonprofit Gift Acceptance Policies BenefitsFundraising is hard enough without running into the legal, accounting and practical pitfalls inherent in some types of gifts! A comprehensive gift acceptance policy can help an organization avoid these pitfalls, enhance its donor relationships and run a more successful development program. This teleconference will address the issues that should be covered in a basic gift acceptance policy  more...

Private Foundation Requirements and Restrictions BenefitsMany families and corporations establish private foundations to carry on their personal philanthropy. While private foundations offer significant opportunities for family and corporate philanthropists, there are special federal tax rules that apply. Failure to fully understand these rules can subject the foundations and those involved with them to substantial excise taxes. This  more...

Current Issues in Riparian and Littoral Rights BenefitsBy attending this teleconference you will hear valuable information from leading experts on a variety of important topics regarding riparian and littoral rights. Speakers will focus on the current issues that surround technical determination, historical antecedents, national and state by state treatment, and potential impact of Stop The Beach Renourishment upon riparian and littoral  more...

Board Governance BenefitsWith increased scrutiny from legislators, the press and the public, it is imperative that tax-exempt organizations meet the best practices and requirements in terms of their organization and operation. Those involved with governing, guiding and counseling tax-exempt organizations need to be fully informed of the complex rules and operating requirements pertaining to them. This  more...

Engaging Stakeholders (and Raising Money) With Social Media for Nonprofits BenefitsYour nonprofit can use all of the support it can get, so how can you use social media to engage current stakeholders and attract new supporters? What strategies are effective at helping promote your mission - and raising money? Presented by nationally known nonprofit technology educator and strategist, John Kenyon, this teleconference will help you navigate the world of social media. The  more...

Nonprofit Joint Ventures - Partnering with For Profit Organizations BenefitsAs economic conditions improve, joint venture activity between tax-exempts and for-profit entities is again on the upswing. Despite evolution in business conditions, the IRS positions governing this complex area of law have not eased and can be difficult to apply to complex structures. This teleconference will enable you to learn how to structure joint ventures that make business sense  more...

Creating Investment Policies For Your Nonprofit: Risk Tolerance, Reserve Funds and Portfolio Management Capacity nEstablishing and maintaining investment policies that fall in line with the needs, risk tolerance and portfolio management capacity of your organization are critical to its success. At this teleconference we will take a strategic look at the components that contribute to creating strong investment policies. Included will be discussions on understanding the needs of your organization, spending  more...

Effective Fundraising Techniques for Nonprofit Organizations nNonprofit organizations always need to diversify their revenue from earned income, government grants with philanthropic fundraising. Now, in tough economic times, you must determine how to maximize the effectiveness of your fundraising program. This teleconference will cover the basic elements of a complete fundraising program for annual operating support as well as ways every organization can  more...

Retirement Benefit Solutions For Nonprofit Organizations and Government Entities nNonprofit organizations face many of the same issues regarding use of retirement benefits to attract and retain employees and executives as for-profit companies, but the tools available to them are often more limited. This teleconference will explore both broad-based retirement programs and executive deferred compensation available to nonprofit organizations. It will highlight new rules for  more...

Hot Topics for 501(c)(3) Organizations nThere has been a lot of talk about the revised Form 990 and it's finally here! Whether you love it or loathe it, you can't put it off any longer. We will spend a majority of the time talking about some of the hot-button issues that the new form raises both in terms of simple compliance and in communicating with and involving your board. But wait, there's more! After this teleconference, you'll  more...

Obtaining and Sustaining a Tax-Exempt Status nIn today's environment, the pressure on tax-exempt organizations to comply with the tax rules is greater than ever. In this teleconference, you'll learn the difference between nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, how an organization qualifies for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, how to distinguish between private foundation and public charities, how to understand the benefits of public charity  more...

Implementing Green Initiatives in Government nPublic agencies across the country are implementing green mandates and determining the best routes to meet their objectives in an efficient and effective manner. Green experts and experienced agencies are sharing their best practices and information so as to help other public agencies reap the benefits of their tested proven methodologies. Register for this teleconference and gain access to a  more...

Grant Applications From Beginning to End nGrants are highly competitive. With the down turn in today's market they are becoming even more competitive as business and investors are looking at grants to leverage their position. Grants that are easy to find are the most competitive and most difficult to receive. Grant money is free money, in the sense that it does not have to be repaid like a loan. Getting grant funding takes skill,  more...

Effective Program Evaluation for Nonprofits nThe importance of evaluating your nonprofit cannot be underestimated! The data you collect and analyze will let you know the extent to which you have met your goals and objectives, how your clients feel about your organization and its services, whether you are using quality processes, what you can celebrate and how you can improve! Effective evaluations can also tell you about the program design  more...