It’s all about the lights! Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) I love holiday lights!  In our neighborhood, great herds of lighted dear have taken over; grazing in one yard after another.  While the little lighted deer family in our yard is modest, I just read about some holiday light displays that can raise [...]

Goldilocks and the Three Chairs— staying in focus Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) Once upon a time, there was a woman named Goldilocks who was ready to update her living room.  The décor had been the same for so many years, it seemed tired.  The seating wasn’t functional, so her family spent most [...]

Your Wish List—a new approach Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) A recent survey says, while holiday shoppers are out buying gifts for others, 8 out of 10 plan to buy a few gifts for themselves.  This is a great idea I’m sure we can learn from.  After all, who knows what’s on your [...]

Stone Soup— a story of engagement Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) After Thanksgiving, I always make soup--which reminded me of this old story.  Long ago, three soldiers walked through the countryside, making their way home.  Without food or money, they camped by the side of the road.  They gleaned what they could from [...]

Leadership Succession— are you ready to make the leap? Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) It’s hard to imagine your organization without the key members of your management team.  They hold the knowledge, experience and relationships that drive your mission-related impact.  Your CEO and key managers have years of institutional knowledge.  They run your [...]

Supporting Nonprofit Accountability—a community-based solution Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) While many foundations require financial accountability, oversight and good governance practices, here’s one innovative foundation that actually makes it happen!  Recently, we had the opportunity to present our 501(c)(fit!) Financial Leadership Training Seminar in Wytheville, Virginia, an old place with new ideas for [...]

The Phantom Vendor Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) I love answering the door on Halloween.  We get a lot of princesses, superheroes and ghosts who look a lot like our neighborhood kids, along with some I just don’t recognize at all.  It doesn’t matter who’s behind the mask, though, everyone gets candy. Trick-or-treaters [...]

Do you have ghost employees? Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) As Halloween approaches, we love haunted houses, ghost walks and tales that make us look over our shoulder from time to time.  You know those stories.  Someone hears eerie noises, but when they investigate, no one’s there.  It must have been a ghost.  [...]

Your Audit – How’s it going? Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) Most nonprofit leaders have been involved in selecting an auditor.  Audited financial statements are key to obtaining grant money and supporting the Board’s oversight.  But most would agree that audits come with headaches when the audit doesn’t go as expected.  You’ve probably [...]

Risk and Your Reserve Joan M. Renner, CPA, CGMA, Director 501(c)(fit!) We’ve all been involved in planning a charity event of some kind, a gala, a barbecue, a 5k.  When I’m involved in planning an event, I stress about what might go wrong, and I go into checklist mode. One time, I had a checklist [...]