In This Issue
IRS Reviews Vary Widely
   
IRS reviews of charities and other nonprofits were once relatively rare. For example, only the largest nonprofits would find an IRS audit team at their door.

But in recent years the agency has put an emphasis on enforcement in all ...(Read More)



"I have enjoyed working with Bobbie Hales, and Gilbert Associates, for over 10 years now. I greatly appreciate that we can contact them with any accounting or audit questions that come up over the course of the year, not just during the audit. Our annual audit are always conducted professionally and done thoroughly. I highly recommend Gilbert Associates."

  --East Bay SPCA
SEPTEMBER 2015

The board makes the difference between a good nonprofit and a great one, and can even make or break an organization. Preparing new board members to forge ahead - and excel at the job - takes navigation. We offer six tips for getting new board members up to speed and keeping them on the right course. 

We also discuss what might trigger an IRS review and offer a rundown of the three main types of reviews: the field audit, the office or correspondence audit, and the compliance check. 
 
If you need further assistance with any of the topics discussed in this issue, please give us a call. W e are here to help! 
 
 
How to Take the Stress Out of an Independent Audit
  
When you think of your next audit by an outside CPA firm, do you fear hearing words such as "unexplained differences," "unsatisfactory explanation," "noncompliant" and "we'll need more time"? If you have an audit phobia, you're not alone: Some nonprofit leaders equate an independent audit with criticism, demands and time taken from their workweek.

But such anxiety may be unwarranted. An audit provides you with a genuine assessment of your organization's financial condition and the controls surrounding its financial reporting - and it can provide your constituents with peace of mind ...(Read More) 
6 Tips for Developing Spectacular Board Members
   
Your nonprofit board is like the helmsman of a ship, steering it out of dangerous waters and toward strategic decisions. But preparing new board members to forge ahead - and excel at the job - takes navigation.

Here are six tips for getting new board members up to speed and keeping them on the right course:

1. Orient them to your organization. Board members need to understand your nonprofit. What's your mission, who are your stakeholders and what services do you provide? Are there strategic goals in place? A formal orientation is an opportunity to give new members a foundation on which to perform ...(Read More)