December 2015

As 2015 comes to an end, the Edelstein nonprofit team would like to wish you and your family a warm holiday season and a happy 2016.

This free special report published in the Journal of Accountancy discusses key recommendations to prevent and detect fraud, a topic that organizations in all industries must be wary of.  Nonprofits operate in a unique environment that makes them particularly susceptible to fraud such as, significant control by a limited number of people, reliance on volunteers, and lack awareness of their vulnerability to fraud.  We encourage you to visit this link and download the report.

Read more. 

Crowdfunding is the practice of raising funds through an online community that provides specific rewards to donors.  When nonprofits use crowdfunding, the monies raised are part contribution and part exchange for value.  While crowdfunding is a new way for nonprofits to raise money for a specific program or project, there are some things that nonprofits need to beware of before launching a crowdfunding campaign. This article from The PPC Nonprofit Update helps guide you as you make a decision about whether crowdfunding is right for your organization.

Read more.

Philanthropy’s 2015 Buzzwords

As 2015 draws to an end, this article highlights 10 phrases that have become part of the lexicon of philanthropy during the year.  These buzzwords point to future trends and describe how we talk and think. Some are new while others have been firmly embedded in our vocabulary over time. Words speak to trends and as author Lucy Bernholz points out, they also “demonstrate how important evidence and effectiveness have become to many nonprofits.”

Read more.

The Largest U.S. Charities For 2015

Each year, Forbes analyzes the top 50 charities in the United States. This year the top five include, United Way, followed by Salvation Army, Feeding America, Task Force for Global Health, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  The Forbes top 50 charities collectively received $33 billion in donations in 2015, an increase of $2 billion from the previous year. 

Read more.