Resource Directory | Nonprofit Genie (FAQs)

990 Forms

Are there special things I should look for when completing a Form 990?
(01/16/2006)

Are we required to file the 990 with our state government as well?
(01/16/2006)

Besides the 990, are there other federal reporting requirements for nonprofits?
(01/16/2006)

Can we post our 990 on the Internet?
(01/16/2006)

Do all nonprofits have to file Form 990 each year?
(01/16/2006)

Do we have to give a complete copy of the 990 to requestors?
(01/16/2006)

How much can we charge for copies of our 990?
(01/16/2006)

If someone asks for a copy of our 990, what are we required to provide?
(01/16/2006)

Once we've completed the 990, where must it be filed?
(01/16/2006)

We think there is a campaign out to harass us by making complicated and demanding requests for our 990. Is there anything we can do?
(01/16/2006)

What are the rules for HOW to provide copies of Form 990 and Form 1023?
(01/16/2006)

What are the rules for posting our 990 on the Internet?
(01/16/2006)

What if we won't be able to get our forms done on time?
(01/16/2006)

What is IRS Form 990, and how is it used to evaluate nonprofits?
(01/16/2006)

What is Schedule A?
(01/16/2006)

What is the penalty if we're late in filing our Form 990?
(01/16/2006)

What other resources are available involving Form 990?
(01/16/2006)

When is Form 990 due?
(01/16/2006)

Where can I get a blank 990?
(01/16/2006)

Where can I read more about the 990?
(01/16/2006)

Board Governance

Board Café - FAQs
(05/01/2006)

Consultants

What questions should I ask a prospective consultant?
(01/16/2006)

How should I check a consultant's references?
(01/13/2006)

How should I interview a consultant?
(01/13/2006)

Databases

What are some tips on database design and use?
(01/13/2006)

Which database application should I use, Microsoft Access or FileMaker Pro?
(01/13/2006)

Fiscal Sponsorship

Are there organizations that are "in the business" of fiscal sponsorship?
(01/17/2006)

Do we need an attorney to work out a fiscal sponsorship agreement?
(01/17/2006)

Do you have an example of a fiscal sponsorship agreement between a professional fiscal sponsor and its projects?
(01/17/2006)

Do you have an example of a fiscal sponsorship agreement between two nonprofits?
(01/17/2006)

How can a new nonprofit get started right away without waiting to file all its papers and obtain tax-exempt status?
(01/17/2006)

How do I go about looking for a fiscal sponsor?
(01/17/2006)

How much do fiscal sponsors charge?
(01/17/2006)

If my group is operating under a fiscal sponsor, and we’ve decided to become an independent nonprofit, what are the steps we should take?
(01/17/2006)

In what situations do groups use fiscal sponsors? What types of groups find them the most useful?
(01/17/2006)

Sample: Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement
(01/17/2006)

Sample: Fiscal Sponsorship Grant Agreement
(01/17/2006)

What are some of the services typically provided by fiscal sponsors?
(01/17/2006)

What are the benefits of using a fiscal sponsor?
(01/17/2006)

What are the reasons to provide fiscal sponsorship to another organization?
(01/17/2006)

What are the risks of being a fiscal sponsor for others?
(01/17/2006)

What can a fiscal sponsor provide us that we couldn’t do on our own?
(01/17/2006)

What happens if we want to leave a fiscal sponsor?
(01/17/2006)

What is a "fiscal agent"? Is a fiscal sponsor different from a fiscal agent?
(01/17/2006)

Where can I read more about fiscal sponsorship?
(01/17/2006)

Fundraising

How do I figure out how much someone can give to my organization?
(01/17/2006)

How do I get my board involved in fundraising and how much should a board member give?
(01/17/2006)

How do we select fundraising software?
(01/17/2006)

How do you ask for a "major" gift?
(01/17/2006)

What should we look for in a director of development and what is the typical salary range?
(01/17/2006)

Why are people afraid to ask for money?
(01/17/2006)

How can our board members help raise money?
(01/16/2006)

Funds Management

How are budgets used in nonprofit organizations?
(01/17/2006)

How can we allocate indirect costs to programs?
(01/17/2006)

How do we account for pledges?
(01/17/2006)

How do we interpret our financial statements?
(01/17/2006)

How do we interpret the financial statements of a nonprofit organization?
(01/17/2006)

How do we prepare for an audit?
(01/17/2006)

How much cash should we hold in reserve?
(01/17/2006)

How should we invest our short-term cash balances?
(01/17/2006)

Is there a way to just show a figure for "net fundraising events" rather than listing each event under both income and expense?
(01/17/2006)

Should we get an audit?
(01/17/2006)

What accounting software should a nonprofit organization use?
(01/17/2006)

What are internal controls?
(01/17/2006)

What are the alternatives to an audit?
(01/17/2006)

What are the differences between nonprofit and for-profit accounting?
(01/17/2006)

What are the elements of an accounting system?
(01/17/2006)

What does an Auditor do?
(01/17/2006)

What financial reports do management and the board need?
(01/17/2006)

What financial statements are nonprofits required to issue?
(01/17/2006)

What is an A-133 Audit?
(01/17/2006)

What is an audit?
(01/17/2006)

What is an internal accounting control system and how can we make ours effective?
(01/17/2006)

What is cash flow and how should we manage it?
(01/17/2006)

What is depreciation?
(01/17/2006)

What is the board's responsibility in investment?
(01/17/2006)

What is the difference between cash-basis and accrual-basis accounting?
(01/17/2006)

What is the unrelated business income tax?
(01/17/2006)

What should our chart of accounts include?
(01/17/2006)

Information Technology

What are the components of an IT plan?
(01/17/2006)

What are the key points to remember in IT planning?
(01/17/2006)

What are the prerequisites of an IT planning process?
(01/17/2006)

What are the steps in IT planning?
(01/17/2006)

What is Information Technology (IT)?
(01/17/2006)

What is IT planning?
(01/17/2006)

Where can I find IT planning resources?
(01/17/2006)

Why do I need to make an IT plan?
(01/17/2006)

Insurance

Case Studies: Could something like this happen in your organization?
(01/17/2006)

D & O Coverage Forms: Cutting through the confusion
(01/17/2006)

Policies and Procedures: How can you minimize the chances of facing an employment-related lawsuit?
(01/17/2006)

Prevention and Protection: What are the keys?
(01/17/2006)

Things every director and officer should know -- commonly asked questions
(01/17/2006)

What board practices are particularly important to guard against lawsuits?
(01/17/2006)

Where does Directors & Officers Insurance fit into the overall insurance picture?
(01/17/2006)

Nonprofit Enterprise

What is social entrepreneurism?
(01/16/2006)

Can the nonprofit sector really create jobs in the mainstream economy?
(01/16/2006)

How do I go about starting a nonprofit enterprise?
(01/16/2006)

How do we determine what kind of business to start?
(01/16/2006)

How do we educate ourselves on these issues?
(01/16/2006)

How do you draw these excellent people to your venture opportunity?
(01/16/2006)

Isn't it illegal for a nonprofit to run a for-profit business? What are the laws and regulations regarding the creation of nonprofit enterprises?
(01/16/2006)

Should a businessperson or a nonprofit person manage the business? Should she have an MBA or an MSW?
(01/16/2006)

Should I bring in a consultant? How do I know when to do so?
(01/16/2006)

Should I just get an MBA student to take care of this for me (to plan, give advice, etc.)?
(01/16/2006)

What are the eight most critical success factors?
(01/16/2006)

What are the reasons for creating nonprofit enterprise?
(01/16/2006)

What are the reasons for not attempting to launch a nonprofit enterprise?
(01/16/2006)

What kinds of industries are the best for nonprofits interested in job creation?
(01/16/2006)

What organizational capacity do you need to be successful?
(01/16/2006)

What will be the impact of this on our organization? Should I anticipate board and staff changes?
(01/16/2006)

Where can I get the money to do this?
(01/16/2006)

QuickBooks

Can I produce GAAP or audit-like financial statements in QuickBooks?
(01/17/2006)

Can QuickBooks be used for fund accounting?
(01/17/2006)

Does it matter which version of QuickBooks I use?
(01/17/2006)

How do I know if QuickBooks is right for my nonprofit organization?
(01/17/2006)

Is there a way to track grants and contracts in QuickBooks?
(01/17/2006)

Is there a “right” way to use QuickBooks?
(01/17/2006)

What is QuickBooks, and how can nonprofits use it?
(01/17/2006)

Starting a Nonprofit in California

How can I find out how to start a nonprofit organization?
(06/04/2007)

What forms do I need to complete?
(06/04/2007)

Strategic Planning

How much time and money does it take to do Strategic Planning?
(01/17/2006)

What are the keys to effective Strategic Planning?
(01/17/2006)

What does a "Strategy" look like?
(01/17/2006)

What if I have only one or two days to do Strategic Planning?
(01/17/2006)

What is a business plan?
(01/17/2006)

What is strategic planning?
(01/17/2006)

What is the difference between Strategic Planning, Long Range Planning and Operational Planning?
(01/17/2006)

What is the language of Strategic Planning in the nonprofit sector?
(01/17/2006)

What should we not expect from Strategic Planning?
(01/17/2006)

Why plan?
(01/17/2006)

Volunteers

How do I build a stronger volunteer/staff partnership?
(01/17/2006)

How do I develop an advisory council?
(01/17/2006)

How do I develop creative volunteer roles?
(01/17/2006)

How do I find daytime volunteers?
(01/17/2006)

How do I recruit from African-American churches?
(01/17/2006)

What are some ideas for recruiting volunteers?
(01/17/2006)