Not-for-Profit Accounting Blog

SFAS 157 – A Not-for-Profit Perspective
By Dick Larkin

Nonprofit organizations use fair value accounting when they are:
(1) required by certain accounting standards to use fair value for certain transactions and balances, and
(2) permitted by certain other accounting standards to use fair value for certain other transactions and balances.

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Endowment Funds and FSP 117-1
By Dick Larkin

A question has come up as to just what constitutes an endowment fund for purposes of application of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Staff Position (FSP) 117-1, Endowments of Not-for-Profit Organizations: Net Asset Classification of Funds Subject to an Enacted Version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and Enhanced Disclosures for All Endowment Funds, (now part of ASC 958-205). For example,must a perpetual, irrevocable third-party trust be included with endowments?

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Budgeting in the Current Economic Environment
By Lee Klumpp

In the not-for-profit world it is often the case that the budget is not issued on time, nor is the first issuance typically the last. Instead there are a multitude of last minute changes that force the budget process to continue into the next year. As a result the budget may not be usable on a comparison basis as an effective management tool until several months into the next year.

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GAAP Codification

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued its "Accounting Standards Codification" (ASC) which includes all Statements on Financial Accounting Standards and Interpretations (SFAS’s and FIN’s), Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) consensuses, Accounting Principles Board (APB) opinions, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statements of Position (SOP) and AICPA Audit Guides and other literature. The codification was formally issued July 1, 2009 and is effective for all periods ending after September 15, 2009.

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Summary of Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Effective Dates
By Tammy Ricciardella

There have been numerous accounting pronouncements issued and the following is a brief summary of those applicable to nonprofit organizations and their effective dates.

FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes

Effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 for a nonpublic entity unless they are a consolidated entity of a public enterprise or have already issued a full set of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that included the disclosure requirements of FIN 48. A nonpublic entity is one that does not have (a) debt or equity securities that are traded in a public market or (b) whose financial statements are filed in accordance with a regulatory authority.

The effective date above reflects the two deferrals of FIN 48 for nonpublic entities addressed by FSP FIN 48-2 and FSP FIN 48-3.

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Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Illustrative Auditee Practice Aids
By Tammy Ricciardella

In response to the federal study on the quality of audits performed under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-133) the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Governmental Audit Quality Center (GAQC) launched a series of task forces to address the deficiencies noted in the study. One of the task forces established was the SEFA (Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards) task force.

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IRS Extends FBAR Filing Deadline for Persons with Signature Authority
By R.Michael Sorrells

With the growing number of investments in offshore funds, the IRS is boosting its scrutiny of accounts established in certain tax havens to identify possible sources of income that are not currently being taxed. As part of its efforts, the IRS is focusing more attention on Form TD 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts ("FBAR"). The FBAR is required to be filed by US persons (including tax-exempt organizations) having a financial interest in or signature authority over any financial account in a foreign country if the aggregate value of those accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. The FBAR is due annually on June 30, with no permissible extension. Penalties for failure to file this form are significant: $10,000 per return.

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403(b) News
by Bob Lavenberg

On July 20, 2009 the Department of Labor ("DOL") Employee Benefits Security Administration ("EBSA") issued Field Assistance Bulletin ("FAB") 2009-02 Annual Reporting Requirements for 403(b) Plans which provides some relief with regard to the reporting requirements for 403(b) plans beginning with the 2009 plan year.

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Update on Management and Governance
By Laura Kalick

Although there is no specific Internal Revenue Code section that grants IRS authority to ask management and governance questions on the new Form 990, IRS takes the position that a well-governed organization is more likely to be tax compliant. In fact, the IRS has agent training materials on its website and will produce a post-audit checklist to see if an organization has fewer adjustments to an audit if the organization has used best management and governance practices.

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Each and every year, the Federal government pours billions of dollars into the pool for non-profit organizations and state and local governments.  Attached to these dollars are strict stipulations that these organizations must follow.  To ensure adherence, the Single Audit Act, as amended, requires each reporting entity that spends $500,000 or more in a year to obtain what is known as a “single audit.”  In this type of audit, an opinion is not only expressed on the reporting entity’s financial statements, but also on the financial and compliance aspects of Federal awards.

The auditee has important roles and responsibilities in a single audit.  One of these responsibilities is the preparation of a statement known as the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).  This schedule details, amongst other things, total Federal awards expended by the reporting entity during the year and is required under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.  If this schedule is prepared incorrectly or if the schedule is incomplete, there is the potential that a control deficiency exists which will need to be reported.   

To ensure that that the SEFA is prepared correctly and that it represents the complete picture of Federal awards expended, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Governmental Audit and Quality Center has released illustrative practice aids.  Click here to access these practice aids.

For more information on issues facing the not-for-profit industry, contact Skoda Minotti at 440-449-6800.

Unfortunately, the downturn in the economy has effected many not-for-profit organizations that provide invaluable services to numerous communities and individuals.  For some of these organizations, management has thrown its hands in the air, determined that they just cannot provide these services anymore, and closed their doors.

A recent survey of about 100 not-for-profit organizations indicated that about 90% of those organizations have been directly affected by the downturn in the economy, some even severely.  Another survey indicated that, of approximately 1,000 not-for-profit organizations, only 16% expect to cover operating costs in 2009 and 2010.

Public funding is down, endowments are down and earned income is likely down.  There are a few steps that organizations can take to try and stop the bleeding, or at least slow it down:
 

• Take a closer look at how you are operating internally and how you are administering your programs.  Do the programs align with your mission?  Can you change the way you administer programs, achieving the same results but in a less costly manner?
• Make your mission known.  Let others know how important your services are, and how you are providing benefit to the community and individuals.  Be vocal.
• Take advantage of the situation to eliminate inefficient programs and expenses.  
• Work with existing funders to try and overcome the roadblocks.
• Take the time to analyze the situation, and develop a realistic plan to deal with the situation at hand.

We have seen first-hand how the downturn in the economy has effected not-for-profit organizations.  These are just a few steps you can implement to help your organization survive, and continue to provide the invaluable services that it does.  

For more information on the issues facing the not-for-profit industry, contact Skoda Minotti at 440-449-6800 or visit us online.

Topics covered: Cleveland Accounting Services, Akron Accounting Services, nonprofit organizations