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How-To Guides

Practical guides for development directors choosing nonprofit software, managing grant compliance, and running a tighter operation.

Page 35 of 40

Decision path

How to Handle Disallowed Costs on a Federal Grant

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A practical guide to disallowed costs on federal grants, covering questioned costs, 2 CFR 200 principles, self-reporting, repayment, and prevention.

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Maintain SEFA Records Between Audits

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A practical guide to maintaining SEFA records year-round - why SEFA errors happen, maintaining a running schedule, cluster program identification

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Manage a Grant Rebudget Request

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When rebudgeting requires prior approval, how to write the request, how to track cumulative transfers, and how federal and private funder requirements differ.

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Manage Grant Closeout Record Retention

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A practical guide to grant closeout record retention under 2 CFR 200.334 - what to keep, how long, what format, how to organize the file, and the mistakes

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Onboard a New Grants Manager Without Losing Institutional Knowledge

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How to onboard a new grants manager, document institutional knowledge, build a 30/60/90 day plan, and preserve compliance continuity.

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Prepare an SF-425 Federal Financial Report, Step by Step

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A step-by-step guide to completing the SF-425 Federal Financial Report - every section explained, GL reconciliation before submission, common errors on lines

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Prepare for a Program Officer Site Visit

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What program officers look for during a site visit, a 30-day prep checklist, what documents to have ready, and how to handle questions about budget variances

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Present Grant Financials at a Board Meeting

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How to present grant financials at a board meeting, including a one-page summary, compliance questions, restricted funds, and variance discussion.

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Reconcile Donor CRM Data with Restricted Grant Funds

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Development and finance track the same funders in different systems with different data. This guide explains why the records diverge, what a reconciliation

Updated Apr 26, 2026 4-8 hours initial reconciliation; 1-2 hours monthly maintenance

How to Request a No-Cost Extension on a Federal Grant

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A no-cost extension extends your period of performance without additional funds. When to request one, what justification works, agency-specific procedures

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Run a Grant Kickoff Meeting That Actually Prevents Problems

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A grant kickoff meeting done well surfaces compliance obligations, assigns ownership, and creates the cross-functional handoff that keeps finance and program

Updated Apr 26, 2026

How to Set Up a Grant Compliance Calendar

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A grant compliance calendar is not the same as a reporting calendar. This guide covers what recurring compliance tasks to schedule, how to assign ownership

Updated Apr 26, 2026

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