How-To Guides
Practical guides for development directors choosing nonprofit software, managing grant compliance, and running a tighter operation.
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Allowable Costs on Federal Grants: What 2 CFR 200 Requires
A practical guide to allowable cost standards for federal grants under 2 CFR Part 200 - the three cost tests, direct vs indirect costs, explicitly unallowable
Common Single Audit Findings: What They Are and How to Prevent Them
The most common single audit findings for nonprofits - from procurement violations and subrecipient monitoring failures to allowable cost disallowances - and
Donor-Restricted vs Board-Designated Funds: The Legal Distinction
The fundamental difference between donor-restricted and board-designated funds in nonprofit accounting - who can release each type, legal risk of commingling
Donor Retention Reports Your Board Needs
How nonprofit EDs build donor retention reports that drive board decisions. Covers retention rate calculation, LYBUNT/SYBUNT analysis, and connecting
Nonprofit Donor Retention Strategies That Actually Work
Why donor retention rates average 43-46% and what nonprofits can do to improve them, from acknowledgment timing to impact reporting and recurring gift
FASB ASC 958: What Nonprofits Need to Know About Financial Reporting Standards
A practical overview of FASB ASC 958 and ASU 2016-14 for nonprofit financial reporting - the two net asset classes, required financial statements, functional
Funder Reporting Templates: What to Include and How to Structure Each Report Type
Funder reporting templates help nonprofits structure grant progress and financial reports. This guide covers what federal, state, and foundation funders
Grant Award Acceptance Checklist for Nonprofits
A practical grant award acceptance checklist for nonprofits: review terms, set reporting cadence, map restrictions, assign owners, and avoid turning an award
Grant Budget Amendment Process for Nonprofits
How nonprofits should handle grant budget amendments: when approval is needed, what to document, how finance and development should coordinate, and what
Grant Budget Modifications: Rules, Prior Approval, and Documentation
When do grant budget modifications require prior approval? A practical guide to the 2 CFR 200.308 rules, line-item flexibility thresholds, how to request
Grant Budget Tracking: What It Is and How to Do It Without Audit Risk
Grant budget tracking means monitoring expenditures against each grant's approved budget in real time. This guide covers what proper tracking requires, why
Grant Closeout Checklist for Nonprofits
A step-by-step grant closeout checklist covering the SF-425 final financial report, equipment disposition, record retention timelines, subrecipient closeout
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