[Nathaniel]

A good approach is to connect social media where it naturally supports the website’s goals, such as social feeds, sharing buttons, donation campaigns, and newsletter sign-ups. APIs can also help connect these tools with other nonprofit systems; for example, the Nonprofit Check Plus API can be useful when verifying nonprofit information as part of a workflow.

[Nathaniel]

The distinction between an “interested person” and a “disqualified person” is an important one, especially for nonprofits that rely on the IRS sample conflict of interest policy. The IRS model can be a useful starting point, but organizations should not assume it covers every situation addressed by IRC Section 4958.

In practice, a conflict of interest policy should reflect the organization’s actual risks, governance structure, and applicable laws. For healthcare nonprofits, that may include additional consideration of Stark Law and False Claims Act requirements. It can also be helpful to have processes for regularly verifying an organization’s current nonprofit status and compliance information. Tools such as the Nonprofit Check Plus API can support that verification process, although they would complement rather than replace legal or governance review.

Using the IRS sample as a guide while having counsel review and tailor the policy seems like a practical approach, particularly for organizations with limited internal legal resources.

[Nathaniel]

Thank you for sharing this question, Terri. The replies here are really helpful, especially the point about separating the organisation’s share from the amount owed to the winner. I also appreciate the reminder that the accounting treatment can depend on whether the organisation controls the full proceeds. For a 50/50 arrangement, keeping that distinction clear seems to make the bookkeeping much easier to follow. I would still check the final treatment with the organisation’s accountant, particularly where local gaming rules apply.

[Nathaniel]

Thanks, Roger, for raising this. There are some good ideas in the replies, particularly around keeping operating cash accessible while allowing genuinely idle funds to earn something. I also like the suggestion of having both a reserves policy and an investment policy. That gives the board something clear to work from instead of making each decision from scratch. For a small nonprofit, keeping the process simple and easy to manage seems quite important.

[Nathaniel]

I would look for budgeting software that works comfortably with the existing accounting setup rather than creating another isolated system. Since FundEz is already being used, compatibility and straightforward data transfer would probably be high on my list. Good budget software should make input easier, support different scenarios, and reduce the amount of spreadsheet gymnastics involved. Excel still has its place, especially for quick modelling, but it can become rather lively when several people edit the same file. I would test a few options using a real budget before committing. The best system is usually the one people will actually use consistently.