Last month, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation that aims to reform private foundations, and ensure that charitable dollars held in donor advised funds (DAFs) are distributed to working charities in a reasonable period of time. A joint press release states: “Donor-advised funds currently have more than $140 billion set... Read More
As an employer, you are responsible for documenting that your employee is eligible to work in the United States. To do this, the employee must complete Immigration and Naturalization Service Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. You, the employer, must keep this form on file for as long as the employee works for you. For small... Read More
Most foundation files of any significance should be kept a minimum of 3 years. That can add up to a lot of paper! Here are filing and storage tips: Give some thought to and take time setting up your filing system. Ultimately, you’ll waste less time and save yourself a lot of space. A good... Read More
A written job description provides a clear, high-level overview of a position and its responsibilities. At a minimum, it should include the position title and a broad summary of the role. For example: The executive director is the chief executive officer and is responsible for carrying out board policies, engaging with the philanthropic community, and... Read More
Most funders ask grantees—prospective and current—to customize their budgets and financial information to fit the funder’s requirements. Project Streamline, a collaboration of grantmakers and grantseekers working to improve application and reporting practices, recommends a different way: Make requests for nonstandard information the exception rather than the rule. Consider the real costs to nonprofits of customizing... Read More
Direct charitable activities (DCAs) are initiatives where a foundation maintains significant involvement, rather than solely awarding grants to organizations that carry out the work. Examples of DCAs: Educational Initiatives: Conducting seminars, conferences, or training sessions. Direct Aid: Providing goods, shelter, or clothing with active foundation involvement in distribution or delivery. Research & Dissemination: Conducting research... Read More