VSCPA Nonprofit Resource Center

Is your nonprofit organization looking for information on budgeting, tax planning or audit committees? Are you looking for a dynamic speaker on financial topics, or need advice on financial issues? Let Virginia CPAs help! As part of our Financial Fitness campaign designed to improve the financial health of Virginians, the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA) offers a wealth of resources, including programs to connect volunteer CPAs with your organization or company as a pro bono community service.

The Virginia Society of CPAs offers a series of free resource guides to assist nonprofit organizations with financial management issues.

• Responsibility and Liability of Nonprofit Board Members
• Income Tax Issues Affecting Small Nonprofit Organizations
• Budgeting: A Guide for Small Nonprofit Organizations
• Audit Guide For Audit Committees of Small Nonprofit Organizations
• Comprehensive Guide to Issues Facing Nonprofit Organizations

VSCPA Nonprofit Pro Bono Assistance Program

Through the VSCPA Nonprofit Pro Bono Assistance Program, Virginia CPAs provide free assistance and advice on financial issues to charitable nonprofits in need in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Some examples of financial advice include: tax preparation, pre-audit preparation, financial management, etc. We also send out openings to our CPA members if you're trying to fill a vacancy on your board of directors.

VSCPA Nonprofit Articles

If you're looking for quick and concise information tailored just to nonprofits, check out the following articles from the VSCPA:

• Test Yourself! Are You Ready to Serve on a Nonprofit Board? 
• It's Go Time: Form 990 Changes Are Live 
• The House the Nonprofit Built
• Nonprofits: Get 990-Ready!
• The Profitable Nonprofit
• How Can I Help? Responsibilities of Serving on Nonprofit Boards
• Endow It?
• Implementation Uncertainties: Should Nonprofits Comply with SOX?
• Serving on Nonprofit Boards: Use Your Head and Your Heart
• How Can You Hit the Spot? Finding the Right Audit Firm for Your Nonprofit 

VSCPA Speakers Bureau

The VSCPA Speakers Bureau provides Virginia CPAs to speak to various audiences — from school children to retirees — on topics related to money management and basic financial responsibility. With more than 9,000 CPA members statewide, the VSCPA connects nonprofits, schools, civic groups, chambers, media and other organizations with CPAs from their local communities! Topic examples include nonprofit issues, financial literacy/planning, small business advice, accounting education and careers, and more!

VSCPA "Find a CPA" Program

For locating a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that you can hire who specializes in nonprofit services, visit our “Find a CPA” online search engine! This free service is provided by the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants to help connect you with a CPA in your geographic region that can best meet your financial and business needs. You can look up a company by name or by ZIP code, city, services offered or industries served. Matches will be listed in alphabetical order.

AICPA Audit Committee Brief: Benefits of Audit Committees in Not-For-Profit Organizations

Audit committees have a big job to do in an organization — demanding  a huge time commitment and  accountability, Although challenging, a carefully structured audit committee could boost the success level of your organization. The Audit Committee Brief, developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), explains the benefits that an effective audit committee can produce for a not-for-profit organization.

Additional Nonprofit Resources

• Stay Exempt — Tax Basics for 501(c)(3)s: Free online workshop from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on tax compliance issues confronted by small and mid-sized tax-exempt organizations. Visit www.stayexempt.org for more information.
• GRBA Nonprofit Pro Bono Clearinghouse: The Greater Richmond Bar Association runs a clearinghouse to provide legal assistance to nonprofits in the Richmond area. Visit www.grbf.org/clearinghouse.htm for more information.
• CTLP Tax Resource Center for Nonprofits: The Community Tax Law Project assists nonprofit organizations in Richmond and Central Virginia whose mission is to assist low income individuals. Visit www.ctlp.org/nonprofit.htm for more information.
• Nonprofit Accounting Basic$: A resource designed by the Greater Washington Society of CPAs to help you produce accurate records and reports, encourage and measure accountability, and successfully manage and sustain your nonprofit organization.
• Starting a Nonprofit — What You Need to Know: A manual designed by students from the University of Richmond School of Law, to assist individuals in establishing nonprofit organizations that address important societal needs and in operating those organizations most effectively.

For more information about VSCPA resources and programs for nonprofits, contact VSCPA Community Relations Coordinator Tracey Zink at (804) 612-9427.