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VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: October 2026
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about managing cash flow and capacity challenges from grant funding, whether t-shirt and merchandise sales are exempt from unrelated business income tax (UBIT), adjusting KPIs for shorter-term planning, and amending Articles of Incorporation and/or Bylaws to move away from a voting membership structure.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: September 2026
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about why depreciation should be included in a nonprofit organization’s budget, the viability of consultants forming a new nonprofit to pursue grant opportunities to fund their work, the pros and cons of taking out a line of credit, and who is authorized to sign the final Form 990 for a dissolving organization.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: August 2026
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about navigating the instability of fundraising and donations, options for newspapers and journalistic organizations that are exploring 501(c)(3) status to access donations and grants, whether a new nonprofit organization should change its fiscal year when formation process has been slower than expected, and addressing indemnification language in an organization’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: March 2026
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about addressing the perception accumulating too much in operating reserves, whether it’s a conflict of interest for a Board member to make an interest-free loan to the organization, the risks of relying too heavily on deferred income, and the risks of agreeing to indemnification obligations in a contract.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: November 2025
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about best practices in structuring and approving executive bonuses, updating cost allocation methods and the importance of time sheets, cash management for organizations with healthy operating reserves, and managing the costs of insurance.
VIDEO: Using the Nonprofit Management Annual Reminder Checklist
Ben and Mike discuss the areas covered by SE4N’s Nonprofit Management Annual Reminder Checklist, how this checklists compares with and complements other management tools and resources, assigning responsibility for using the checklist each year, and more.
VIDEO: Using Funding Pipeline Reports to Navigate Financial Disruptions
Ben and Mike discuss the challenges of planning in a period of financial instability and how funding pipeline reports can help nonprofit organizations document real-time information affecting funding plans, provide a framework for assessing the reliability of future funding sources, fill in gaps not covered by financial reports, and more.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: May 2025
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about the role of legal counsel in leading updates to an organization’s employee handbook, the best time to start planning for the end of an office lease, transitioning from fiscal sponsorship to becoming an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and whether it’s a good idea to promote a staff bookkeeper or accountant to controller, director of finance, or CFO.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: April 2025
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about the potential consequences of having 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status revoked, whether a mid-year amendment to the budget should be made if an organization’s federal grants have been terminated, tax forms and disclosures required when hiring foreign contractors, and what to do when a project must be stopped in the middle of a capital campaign.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: February 2025
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about how to navigate a financial environment in which grand funding is uncertain, whether people under 18 years old can serve on a nonprofit Board of Directors, whether membership dues are treated as donations or fees for services, and whether a last-minute item can be added to the Board meeting agenda.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: December 2024
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about implementing a CEO / Executive Director succession or transition plan, how to handle errors in an already-filed Form 990, planning for the possible loss in grant funding or a change in funding sources, and whether a person can old two officer positions simultaneously.
VIDEO: Using Lines of Credit to Address Cash Flow Issues
Ben and Mike discuss lines of credit and other forms of debt, whether a line of credit can be an appropriate tool to help nonprofit organizations manage cash flow, some issues to consider before taking out a line of credit, and the importance of addressing the root causes of an organization's cash flow shortfall.
VIDEO: Why Nonprofits Should Have Operating Reserves
Ben and Mike discuss the reasons why operating reserves are essential for the financial health and sustainability of nonprofit organizations, the short-term and long-term purposes of operating reserves, lessons learned from past economic disruptions, and some recommendations for operating reserve policies.
VIDEO Q&A for Subscribers: June 2024 [SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY]
Ben and Mike answer questions from subscribers about the responsibility of a Board of Directors to fill vacancies and how vacancy appointments count towards term limits, the Board's responsibilities regarding the use of large unexpected gifts and bequests, whether Board service can be reported as an in-kind contribution, and the distinction between policies and procedures that apply to Board and the staff.
VIDEO: How and Why to Do Regular Financial Health Assessments for Your Organization
Ben and Mike discuss the importance of performing regular financial health assessments for a nonprofit organization, understanding the key components of an organization’s financial health and the appropriate financial health markers to track, how the Financial Health Assessment and Implementation Framework worksheet can be a valuable tool for your organization, and more.