Not yet convinced of the value of a foundation website? Consider this: People are looking for you online—Basic information about your foundation is available online at sites like GuideStar, but without a website of your own, you miss the opportunity to share more about your foundation—and to do it quickly, clearly, and at little expense.... Read More
Should you choose to hire paid staff, compensation must be reasonable, and the services provided must be reasonable and necessary to carry out the private foundation’s tax-exempt purpose. Compensation even may be provided to a disqualified person (i.e., staff or board member) as long as these standards are met. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says... Read More
There isn’t a right or wrong way to administer your foundation—staffed or unstaffed, paid or volunteer, consultant or employee. Choose the right model for you Volunteers Many small foundations are administered entirely by volunteers. Often, a founder or board member responds to calls, keeps records, and pays bills, just to name a few common tasks;... 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
Private foundations play an important role in communities across the country—filling the shelves of food pantries, employing directors of youth centers, advocating for human rights, and much more. Opportunities abound for you to make a difference through private foundation giving. How do you determine if a private foundation is right for you? Know the field... Read More
When should a foundation rescind a grant? How is the rescission accomplished? The obvious answer to the first question is that a funder should rescind a grant when the grantee fails to use the grant funds for the purposes for which the grant was made. Most commonly, such failure is because the grantee’s need for... Read More