We’ve enjoyed being voyeurs of the impact investing interplay in the US and UK for some time now. But the writing is on the wall: impact investing is gaining momentum here too so it may be time to get acquainted....
Take two scenarios. A small environmental organization wants to take part in the Ontario government’s microFIT program to demonstrate the possibilities of solar power, but needs a loan to buy the equipment to make participation possible. An artists’ organization and...
Most of us do-gooders have heard of social finance, an approach to managing money that gives back to society or the environment while still producing a financial return. We hear about social enterprises harnessing finance this way, but charities and...
March: the month that normally segues winter into spring. But did you know it's also Fraud Awareness Month? The issue was brought into sharp focus this month with scammers using the March 11 earthquake in Japan to commit charity donation...
Do you have enough staff members with the appropriate skills to handle all of the responsibilities involved in efficiently running your nonprofit? If yours is like many other small/mid-size nonprofits and charities, this is an ongoing challenge. And it can...
Budgeting has been described as a cornerstone of an organization's financial management foundation. The budget serves as a benchmark against which financial results are measured, and variances from budget can be used to guide management's decision making. There are a...
In today's difficult economy, proper cash flow management is more important than ever for almost any organization. One of the most common causes of cash flow problems is poorly managed accounts receivable. Poorly managed receivables may necessitate drawing down your...
My board chair wants to change audit firms to one where a friend of hers is a partner. If their quote is reasonable, is that ethically OK? I am assuming you are referring to the financial audit, since you likely...
Audited financial statements are becoming a standard best practice among charitable organizations seeking to provide reassurance of financial integrity to stakeholders. The government, donors, suppliers, board members and other volunteers often look to this annual examination of an organization’s financial...
In honour of the 15th anniversary of CharityVillage®, following are 15 tips to help you tune up your nonprofit’s annual budget for optimal performance. 1. Use the organization’s overall mission and strategy to drive the budget. Planning is key to...
