LGT's Profit Sense

In a series of SEO, we’ll discuss different tasks you can do in order to help maximize traffic on your site.

Let’s start from the beginning. What is SEO? SEO stands for search engine optimization. What does that mean? Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo all use algorithms that decide how to rank sites on their pages, and SEO is the process that helps your site rank closer to the top of the page.

Passage of the new federal income tax law in late December 2017 has brought into reality a variety of concerns not-for-profits raised as the bill worked its way through the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. In addition to the increased standard deduction that’s expected to depress charitable giving, the final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) includes several other provisions that had prompted objections from charities.

What it takes to score with employees

The popular job search site Indeed.com has ranked the best not-for-profits to work for based on employee reviews, providing some useful tips on what it is that not-for-profit employees value in an employer.

Commercial Real Estate for Women’s Dallas Chapter (“CREW Dallas”), a not-for-profit organization, recently named Shea Kracheck, Tax Principal at LGT, as the 2018 President-Elect. Over her four-year term, Shea will shepherd the Board of Directors in their responsibilities for setting goals, priorities, strategic objectives, and more.

With so much on their plates, it’s not surprising that cybersecurity isn’t at the top of some not-for-profits’ to-do lists.

But cyber risks are real and can prove costly in terms of both finances and reputation. Fortunately, you can take some proactive steps to reduce your risks without breaking the bank.

Nothing can strike fear in the heart of a not-for-profit like receiving the news that it has been selected for an IRS audit. An audit can be intimidating, not to mention costly and time-consuming. Keep in mind the IRS has recently released internal guidance for requesting audit information from tax-exempt organizations.

PayPal faces lawsuit over diverted donations

Payment processing company PayPal faces a class action lawsuit over its “Giving Fund” platform. The lawsuit claims the platform lists charities that aren’t registered to receive donations and doesn’t inform donors that unregistered charities won’t receive their donations.

Board members and new staff from a for-profit background don’t always grasp the differences between the for-profit and not-for-profit ("NFP") worlds. One area of significant variation is their financial reporting approach, including both goals and practices.

The new federal procurement standards significantly alter the way not-for-profits handle purchasing. And while most organizations have already changed their written policies to comply with the new standards, you may find it easier to follow the rules on paper than in practice.

Most not-for-profit leaders understand a principal truth of their tax-exempt status: The IRS generally considers any revenue they take in that’s not related to their mission to be unrelated business income (UBI), and that income is subject to tax. Not-for-profits that don’t pay tax on that income face the possibility of back taxes, penalties and interest — and, in extreme cases, the loss of their tax-exempt status.