Thought Leadership
When it comes to thought leadership and staying informed, we’ve got you covered. See below for recent articles, webinars, and downloadable resources available.
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October 11, 2017
Update published on June 5, 2020: FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) and Leases (ASC 842) Effective Dates for Certain Entities, as part of its efforts to support and assist stakeholders as they cope with the many challenges and hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2014, the […]
October 10, 2017
Even though there have been several attempts this year to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”), the efforts have not been successful. Additionally, the attempted repeal and replace approaches this year have left most of the ACA intact; meaning even if the bills were passed, those requirements initially enacted in Section […]
September 22, 2017
When an organization provides grants to individuals, it may be required to complete specific schedules on the Form 990. Organizations that provide grants or assistance to interested persons must complete Schedule L, Part III. Is this a requirement for your organization? The answer of “yes” or “no” to the following question will be the determining […]
August 30, 2017
Beginning in the calendar year 2018, and fiscal years ending in 2019, nonprofit organizations will be required to present expenses both by their functional and natural classification, in a manner similar to a statement of functional expenses. While the standard does not specifically require a statement of functional expenses, the language in ASC 958-720-45-15 is […]
August 09, 2017
On August 18, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards update (ASU) No. 2016-14 Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit (NFP) Entities. This update is meant to simplify and improve how a NFP organization classifies its net assets, as well as the information it presents in the financial statements and notes […]
July 05, 2017
by Ashley Jones, CPA, Manager Following the headlines from any news source these days, it seems that cyber security is just about always trending. While this is not a new topic, with attacks becoming more common, cyber security is something every organization should be seriously addressing. Not-for-profits need to be prepared as much as any […]
June 19, 2017
by Nancy Kirchner, CPA, Manager Federal law allows nonprofit organizations to engage in a certain amount of income-producing activity that is not related to its exempt purpose. However, the IRS has recently concluded that many exempt organizations are underreporting this activity, and consequently, it is increasing its focus on the unrelated business activities of nonprofit […]
June 07, 2017
Intermediate sanctions legislation was passed in 1996; however, in recent years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has renewed its focus on enforcement of the private inurement rule as it relates to relevant not-for-profit (NFP) organizations: 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(a). Specifically, the IRS is looking for whether tax-exempt organizations […]
September 30, 2016
By Annmarie Novotney Exempt organizations often have a focus on events or fundraisers from which to generate additional funds to promote their missions. Frequently, games of chance like bingo, pull tabs, raffles, card games and lotteries are used as part of these events. Although it can be argued that these activities are a means to […]
September 12, 2016
Data breaches can occur in any organization, and not-for-profits (NFPs) are not immune. Oftentimes NFPs can be at risk because their systems are not up-to-date or are simplistic in nature. It’s very important for NFPs, especially those that collect donor or member information (including names, addresses, email addresses, and credit card information), to address cyber […]
September 12, 2016
Tax-exempt organizations are different from non-exempt organizations in many ways; one of which is their annual returns and exemption forms are required to be made available to the public. The law requiring public disclosure affects organizations exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (the Code) section 501(a) and described in sections 501(c) or […]
September 07, 2016
Certain transactions can be considered automatic issues for an organization if conducted with an interested person. Transactions providing an economic benefit that exceeds the value of considerations given are known as excess benefit transactions and can create a large penalty for the individuals and organization involved. Safeguard your organization from significant penalties by avoiding the […]
August 20, 2016
On August 18, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-14 Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities that simplifies and improves how a not-for-profit organization classifies its net assets, as well as the information it presents in financial statements and notes about its liquidity, financial performance, and […]
July 27, 2016
Payroll compliance may not seem like a concerning issue to your organization. You have hired an outside payroll provider. That provider diligently pays employees every two weeks, remits payroll taxes, and files all necessary returns. However, unless you inform the payroll provider of all types of compensation, you may be underreporting. For W-2 reporting purposes, […]
October 04, 2013
By: Shawn Williams, CPA, FHFMA, Audit Senior Manager As a current board member for several not-for-profit organizations, my fellow board members and executives seek my advice when reviewing and dissecting financial reports. CPAs are highly preferred during annual board recruitment due to their knowledge of finances, taxes, and accounting standards; however, the non-finance volunteers serving […]
Webinars
April 19, 2023
By Allen Norvell, CPA, MBA, Director at Blue & Co. While certainly not a new risk for not-for-profit (NFP) organizations, cybersecurity risk is increasing in profile as an area of interest among members of governance. NFPs manage a significant volume of customer and donor data. We have previously provided thought leadership to help NFPs identify […]
March 31, 2023
By Nancy Orben, CPA, Senior Manager, Laura Philpot, Senior Accountant, Business Services, and Lisa Totten, Senior Accounting Specialist at Blue & Co. Attention all not-for-profit organizations! Are you currently using QuickBooks Point of Sale in your gift shops, ticket sales, or day-to-day business? If so, you may have heard the recent news that Intuit will […]
March 14, 2023
Trusted Insights from The National Bank of Indianapolis Nonprofit Services Team Not-for-profit organizations are increasingly falling victim to fraud, with a rising number of incidents and an ever-growing amount of money being lost. Fraudsters find it easy to target not-for-profits, as their publicly available 990s provide valuable information. Protecting your organization from such fraudulent activities […]
February 20, 2023
By: Mike Gricius, Senior Manager at Blue & Co. While not-for-profits rely heavily on grants and donations to fund their charitable missions, they can also explore other funding options, such as Program-Related Investments (PRIs). PRIs offer a unique opportunity for not-for-profit entities to invest in a way that generates both social impact and financial returns. […]
February 01, 2023
By: Kandy Wischmeier, CPA, Tax Manager at Blue & Co. If your not-for-profit organization is located in Indiana and has had a significant change in the use of property, has moved in the last year, or is a new entity, you may be required to file Form 136, Application for Property Tax Exemption. Entities are […]
January 10, 2023
By: Rick Shields, Principal, CPA, CFE Effective January 1, 2023, Kentucky implemented numerous changes to its sales tax laws. Historically, not-for-profits have been able to take advantage of numerous Kentucky sales tax exemptions. In practice, that has allowed not-for-profits to operate as though sales tax does not apply to their operations. Kentucky has been expanding […]
