How can you be sure your foundation’s Form 990-PF filing is accurate, complete, and compliant? Can you simply assume your accountant will get it right? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Regulators estimate that at least 25% of all Form 990-PF filings contain errors, which can lead to compliance issues or penalties. A Practical Guide to... Read More
Foundation boards and their accountants often use different formats for financial statements. In response, a group of experienced foundation financial officers, CPAs, and attorneys developed a uniform financial reporting system as a model for any private foundation. This uniform system can: Help your foundation prepare your Form 990-PF. The statements were created with the Form... Read More
Download a sample contract between a foundation and its auditor. Read More
Download an interest-free loan agreement between a foundation and a recipient organization. Read More
As managing director of a small family foundation, I had often wondered what would happen if the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the state attorney general came knocking on our foundation’s door. Would we be prepared for an audit? Would the foundation be in compliance with legal and tax reporting requirements? Did our original organizational... 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