Nonprofit Everything

If there’s something more terrifying than having to tell a grantor that they’re wrong, we haven’t heard of it. Is it even possible to push back on a state agency interpreting a federal grant incorrectly? Stacy and Andy have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about when it’s appropriate for the board to lead committees, and Andy goes off on a tangent about needing to get three bids for things. Thanks for joining us this week, and please don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: What committees should be board run?skip to this question How do I correct a grantor who is misinterpreting federal guidance? – skip to this question Do we really need three bids for services? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Should the executive director select their own replacement? Andy and Stacey certainly have some thoughts on that topic! Also this week, an organization needs help attracting new and different volunteers, and we discuss whether a nonprofit should set up a for-profit subsidiary. Thanks for joining us this week! Don’t forget to check out the show notes at nonprofiteverything.com, and be sure to send us your nonprofit questions at questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: How do we expand our corps of volunteers? – skip to this question Can a nonprofit set up a for-profit subsidiary? – skip to this question Should the executive director select his replacement? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Nevada Volunteers Taproot Foundation Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

If you’ve spent years proudly telling donors that you’re all volunteer run, is it even possible to hire paid staff when you need to level up? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about the possibility and consequences of failing the Form 990’s “Public Support Test,” and Stacey shares some ideas to help celebrate an organization’s tenth anniversary (while Andy wisely stays silent). Thanks for being a loyal listener/nonprofit rockstar, and keep those questions and comments coming. Next week the theme is “things I wish my board would ask me” so warm up your typing fingers and send us stuff at questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Ideas for our organization’s 10th anniversary? – skip to this question Can you fail the Public Support Test? – skip to this question How do we graduate from being an “all volunteer organization”? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

This week Stacey and Andy delve into the Nonprofit Everything archive to bring you a thematically consistent series of previously aired questions. Which is a fancy way of saying “Hey! It’s a clip show!” From episode 79, we talk about how to handle a board member that’s publicly off mission. From episode 103, we hear from a nonprofit with a board member in the newspaper for the wrong reasons. From episode 89, a board member asks the ED to record a campaign ad for her. Thanks for joining us this week, and please send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Should an ED record a campaign ad for a board member running for office? – 2:33 One of our board members was involved in a scandal. Should we have said something? – 8:29 Help! One of our board members is Tweeting racist nonsense! – 16:39 Mentioned this week: Clip Show The 501(h) Election (IRS) Benefits of the 501(h) Election Rules about lobbying activity (IRS) Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

It’s guest expert time! This week, Stacey is joined by April Mastroluca, Chief Solution Finder at Synergy Nonprofit Consulting to talk about the convergence of political campaign season and gala event season. Are there rules about ads in programs? Should we recognize elected officials and candidates who attend our events? What should we do if a candidate antagonistic to our mission wants to attend an event? Should we ever provide complimentary tickets to elected officials? That’s a lot of questions, but the podcast is even better when you send yours to us: questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Thanks for listening! (And don’t miss the show notes this week. They’re jam packed with good infromation!) Topics: Can we sell program ads to politicians? – skip to this question Recognizing political figures at events? – skip to this question Should you comp event tickets to politicians? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Synergy Nonprofit Consulting Advocacy Resources IRS rules about inviting a political candidate to speak at an organization event Alliance for Justice information about lobbying and gift rules for every state Practical Guidance: What Nonprofits Need to Know About Lobbying in Nevada Election Dos and Don’ts for Nonprofit 501c3 Organizations Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Should we be buying mailing lists to expand our reach, or is that a tactic from the olden days? Stacey and Andy certainly have some thoughts! Also this week, we talk about how strict to be when using the words “evidence based program” (in that exact order) and disagree strongly on the utility of exit interviews. We’re awarding ten points if you can guess which one of us thinks they’re a waste of time. We’re thankful that you’ve chosen to spend time with us today, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Should we be buying mailing lists? – skip to this question What are “evidence based programs” really? – skip to this question Are exit interviews helpful? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on Apple Podcasts! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

If better boards can prevent nonprofit failures, would it be smart to require boards to take governance training? Stacey and Andy have some thoughts. Also this week, we talk about an executive director’s responsibility to prevent a bad board member nomination, and have both a short and a long answer to a question about founders. Thanks for joining us this week, and don’t forget to send your questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Can the executive director veto a board nomination? – skip to this question Should the state mandate governance training? – skip to this question What’s the first conversation an ED should have with a founder? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on iTunes! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Is there some magic language we can use to magically make a sponsorship tax deductible? Andy and Stacey have some thoughts. Also this week, we find out how to see who’s sharing your nonprofit mission and why its important, and try not to get buried in accounting speak when discussing split-interest agreements! Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to send any and all questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Can a podcast sponsorship be a donation? – skip to this question Who are our nonprofit peers? – skip to this question We have a donor interested in a charitable gift annuity. What is that? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Candid (formerly Guidestar (formerly the National Center for Charitable Statistics)) USASpending.gov FASB – The Financial Accounting Standards Board National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Review us on iTunes! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Is there some use for emeritus boards? Stacey and Andy have thoughts! Also this week, a new nonprofit wonders what kind on insurance coverage they should have, we find out how to determine when a contribution should be officially received, and discuss how frequently a board chair should meet with the executive director (is quadrennially too often?) Thanks for joining us this week, and be sure to send your nonprofit questions to questions@nonprofiteverything.com! Topics: Do we have appropriate insurance coverage? – skip to this question I heard at a workshop that EDs and board chairs should meet weekly. Really? – skip to this question If we record grants in the year we receive them, it makes my P&L look weird. Is there a better way to do this? – skip to this question What’s the purpose of an emeritus board? – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on iTunes! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast

Are your staff meetings snoozers? One of our listeners has this challenge and Stacey and Andy are here to help! (Can we make them more dangerous — like with fire?) Also this week, we discuss the historical antecedents of hierarchical organizational charts, and chat about the pros and cons of giving refunds for program events. Do you have questions? Send them to us at questions@nonprofiteverything.com. Topics: Should we give refunds for program events? – skip to this question How do we prevent boring meetings? – skip to this question Shifting to a hierarchical org chart – skip to this question Mentioned this week: Review us on iTunes! Review us on Spotify! Review us on Podchaser! Hang out with us on Discord! Ask us a question Sponsor the podcast