Volunteers increase capacity, are cost effective and extend a nonprofit’s reach. They have value, even though the value of their services may not meet the criteria for recognition in financial statements. The Independent Sector has released the new value of volunteer time - $22.14 per hour for 2012. This represents an increase of 35 cents from 2011. The value of a vol [...]

Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) released the results of its 2013 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey last week, and the findings are not surprising: Need continues to rise, and it’s harder than ever to keep up – 52% of respondents were unable to meet demand over the last year Organizations are trying new ways to keep services flowing (partnerships, upgrading of techno [...]

By: Richard Ruvelson I wanted to expand upon a topic that I covered during our last Nonprofit Workshop, on February 19th. The IRS has expanded upon it’s Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) for organizations wanting to reclassify workers as employees for future tax periods and has extended the deadline for the expanded eligibility for the program throug [...]

By Richard Ruvelson The California New Jobs Credit, initially effective for taxable years beginning after January 1, 2009 remains in effect and is available to tax-exempt employers with 20 or fewer employees. The $3,000 per qualified new employee credit is determined by comparing the number of qualified full-time employees for the taxable year being reported with th [...]

Federal law requires every employer hiring an individual for employment in the United States to verify his or her identity and employment authorization through completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. 2012 saw a record number of Form I-9 audits and enforcement actions. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted more than 3,000 audits [...]

Charity Navigator’s new ‘joint cost allocation adjustment’ is drawing criticism from many charities and nonprofit professionals, including accountants and auditors. A long-established accounting practice (embodied in FASB ASC 958-720) establishes guidelines for accounting for costs of activities that include fundraising. Such activities include direct mail, telephone [...]

Welcome to the Entertainment Newsletter, containing content related to the people, news and business issues we see in our day-to-day service to the industry.In This Issue:Section 409A – An Important Tax IssueIn response to the Enron crisis in the early 2000s, Congress enacted Section 409A to punish unethical behavior and to make clear rules regarding the taxation of d [...]

By Margaret Karren Congratulations to Faye Washington of YWCA Greater Los Angeles. Ms. Washington was named as a Southern California Champion on the PBS airing of “Makers: Women Who Make America”. Check out this link to share in Ms. Washington’s vision and see her great accomplishment of the completion of the Los Angeles Job Corps Urban Campus: http://www.youtube.c [...]

BoardSource has recently released its 2012 Nonprofit Governance Index. The Governance Index is a national survey of nonprofit chief executives and board chairs. It identifies trends in board composition, policies and practices, and provides a view of the various challenges nonprofit boards are facing in their governance roles. Two key findings from the survey that I f [...]

By: Margaret Karren After much talk during 2012, there is hope for reform of A-133 audits. The proposed changes will increase the efficiency and eliminate unnecessary requirements. OMB Proposed Guidance On January 31, 2013, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued for a 90 day comment period, titled “Proposed OMB Uniform Guidance: Cost Principles, Audit, [...]