No not-for-profit looks forward to annual audits. But regular maintenance and preparation specific to an impending audit can make the process less disruptive. We recommend taking the following steps: 1. Reconcile routinely You shouldn’t wait until audit time to...

With baby boomers — the largest and wealthiest generation in U.S. history — expected to transfer trillions of dollars worth of assets in the next few decades, this could be the right time to launch an endowment. This article explains the two main types of endowments, describes the pros and cons, and addresses managing assets and spending restrictions. “Quasi” endowments also are discussed.

Whether or not a nonprofit uses an independent auditor once a year, it can employ moves from an auditor’s playbook to get a better view of the organization’s revenue picture. This article discusses techniques such as pinpointing year-to-year trends and benchmarking to other nonprofits, which can be useful in planning a nonprofit’s short and long-term future.

Every organization — whether for-profit or nonprofit — is at risk of falling victim to costly acts of fraud. Nonprofits, though, have some common characteristics that can make them particularly susceptible to such schemes. This article discusses organizational weak spots and advises on ways to combat risks by implementing some simple controls.