Organization
In Search for Balance & Purpose, Part II
So your books are balanced. In fact, you have supported the major balances in your balance sheet and have traced the activity in your statement of revenues and expenses. The reports are ready to be published. Now what? What is the purpose of these historical reports? In my first article, I presented my opinion on…
Read MoreIn Search for Balance & Purpose, Part I
We are constantly looking for balance in our lives. Balancing work and family is a popular concern, as is balancing our investments or even balancing our diets. Can anyone ever claim to have successfully achieved balance in these areas of their lives? Once we achieve it, can we maintain it? And then, how do we…
Read MoreBoard Responsibilities and Liabilities
I recently attended the BoardSource Leadership Forum called Governance by Design as an exhibitor. The classes were created to provide information to CEOs and Board members. I attended with two objectives in mind: My objective as an exhibitor was to meet potential clients. My objective as the treasurer for a non-profit organization was to learn…
Read MoreLearn It Here, Apply It Anywhere
When I accepted the job offer from Lumix coming out of college, I was a bit nervous to change industries—my internships were related to politics, media, and outreach. Simply put, none of the outlets I worked at were CPA firms. I quickly realized the skills I would learn here are transferable and that a successful…
Read MoreSharpen Your Thinking by Jumping Out of an Airplane
When your work team needs you at a crucial juncture, will you be the one to step up? When an opportunity comes calling, will you be in the position to seize the chance? How do you put yourself in a position to succeed? Answer: Invest in yourself to sharpen your thinking. It’s tough out there.…
Read MoreDashboard Reports Rotation
Only ten minutes into my call with the board’s treasurer and we had already brought up six different financial reports we could prepare and present at the next board meeting. Each presented the organization’s achievements and shortfalls from a different perspective, and all presented information important for the board’s awareness and discussion. But honestly, six…
Read MoreThe Journey From College Student to Becoming a Full-Time Professional
For millennials, the transition from college to full-time work is fraught with barriers and roadblocks. The underemployment rate for recent college graduates stands at 46%, so when I received my job offer from Lumix to become its first digital media and administrative assistant, I was grateful (and relieved) to have the privilege of finally calling…
Read MoreAren’t Nonprofits Penalized for Having a Reserve?
This is a question, and many times, a forceful statement I hear at least once a month. My clients and members of nonprofit boards I belong to have a deep misconception that nonprofits are not allowed to accumulate savings (aka reserves). Several years ago, I did an extensive search and asked various experts in the…
Read More4 Fiscally-Responsible Changes You Can Make as a Board Treasurer
It is an honor being asked to be treasurer of the Board of a not-for-profit organization. What seems like a time-consuming task is truly an opportunity to make a fiscal difference for the organization you are invested in. As a CPA with an understanding of nonprofit experience, I have been lucky enough to serve on…
Read MoreCreating a 5 Point CFO Report
Providing monthly financial statements to the president or executive director of a non-profit organization is essential to help them guide their organization to meet their strategic objectives, but the financial statements should be geared towards board members, too. Unfortunately, many executives and board members may not understand what they are looking at. To help these…
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