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
How do you avoid self-dealing? The IRS developed self-dealing rules to ensure that foundations use their assets solely for charitable purposes. However, foundation managers not familiar with the law can find themselves violating self-dealing rules without even knowing it, or having any self-serving intent. And, ignorance of the rules or acting without malice will not excuse... Read More
Download an interest-free loan agreement between a foundation and a recipient organization. Read More
Download a sample contract between a foundation and its auditor. 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