Schedule: By Topic

Finance and Management | Fundraising | Governance | Human Resources | Leadership
Marketing and Communications | Public Policy | Theme-Related

Finance and Management

The New IRS Form 990 – Who, What, Where, When and Why?

Thursday, 1 – 2:15 p.m.

2008 marks the first reporting year under the new IRS Form 990 – the first major rewrite in almost 30 years. This overview session will be geared toward nonprofit staff and board members who are looking for some time to become familiar with the new form and how it differs from the old form. We’ll cover the basic questions: Who needs to start using the new form right way (and who will now file another version of the 990)? When do organizations need to begin using the new form? Why did the IRS redesign the form? What are the major changes in the new form compared to the old form? Where can organizations get more information about the new form? In the end, you’ll have a better sense of how this new form will impact your organization into the future.

Heidi Neff Christianson, attorney, Moore, Costello & Hart, P.L.L.P.

The “How” of the New IRS Form 990: Make Changes Today for Successful Filing Tomorrow

Thursday, 2:45 – 4 p.m.

In this session, you will dive deeply into the new IRS Form 990 to learn about policies, practices, and procedures your organization may want to adopt today so that filing the new form will go as smoothly as possible. In particular, this session will focus on the governance policies that the IRS is seeking – including document retention and destruction, whistleblower, gift acceptance, compensation, and joint ventures – and provide some tips and sample policies, too. The session will also highlight recordkeeping and accounting changes your organization may need to make in order to have all the numbers it needs to complete the new core form and relevant schedules. Come ready to make your IRS Form 990 “to do” list!

Heidi Neff Christianson, attorney, Moore, Costello & Hart, P.L.L.P. and Karen Gries, CPA, LarsonAllen LLP

Better Outcomes, Lower Costs: Score a Home Run with Advance Audit Preparation

Friday, 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Yes, advance planning can make an audit go more smoothly, but which specific preparations will help your organization achieve the best possible results? In this session, our presenters – the CFO of a large nonprofit organization and its auditor – will describe how they worked together throughout the year to achieve the highest quality of audit outcomes with the lowest relative costs. Through their tips and tactics, you will learn how to improve your organization’s audit outcomes, strengthen its internal controls and reduce its audit costs. Our presenters will also highlight how your organization can efficiently and effectively prepare for the new audit risk standards.

Tom Hodnefield, CPA, officer, HLB Tautges Redpath, Ltd. and Mary Kinder, CFO, Minnesota AIDS Project

Getting and Staying Compliant – Basics of Financial Management for Grants

Friday, 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

When it comes to managing a government grant, getting and staying compliant with appropriate regulations can make the difference between on-going funding and spending hours defending your actions, returning grant funds or even worse. This session will overview some of the federal Office of Management and Budget regulations (OMB Circulars) and suggest a budgetary process that will keep both nonprofit staff and government officials happy with the results and generate positive grantor/grantee relationships.

Reid Zimmerman, principal, Zimmerman Consulting