Horizons Spring/Summer 2021

Expanding Organizations' Reach Organizations should also continue looking for innovative ways to enhance program delivery and donor, staff, board, and volunteer engagement. Connecting in-person is ideal, but there are silver linings in a virtual environment that allow not-for-profit organizations to expand their geographic footprint. Whether it is being able to serve a population that was not previously accessible, reaching an expanded donor base through virtual special events and fundraising campaigns, or enhancing your Board with specialty expertise from a non-local member, these opportunities will remain beyond the pandemic. Flexible working arrangements may be necessary as organizations move forward. Virtual engagement will be crucial. To allow for this flexibility and engagement, organizations will need to ensure they have the technology infrastructure in place to allow employees to successfully perform their job responsibilities anywhere, anytime. A digital transformation may be necessary to allow employees to best execute the organization’s mission, goals and objectives. A key element of this may be centralized data management. The ability for all employees to be able to make strategic and necessary decisions based on anytime access to the same data could increase mission effectiveness. This centralized data management will also be beneficial to not-for-profit organizations as they consider how the fundraising environment is evolving post pandemic. Community and program impact has always been emphasized by funders and granters. This will be of even higher importance Talent & Technology Reflecting on this future working environment, not-for-profit organizations also have to consider how this affects their most valuable resource, their talent.

This hybrid type environment may yield benefits to an organization such as cost savings arising from a reduction in physical infrastructure.

as Charity Navigator roles out its new Encompass Rating System, which includes a new impacts and results beacon. This beacon assesses how well a nonprofit delivers on its mission by estimating the actual impact a nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves and determining whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact. Data management and tracking will be fundamental. All of these considerations should be on an organization’s radar as it moves forward in the future.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT SERVICES As a recognized leader in the not-for-profit sector, RubinBrown has the resources essential to serve arts and cultural organizations, foundations, private schools, religious organizations, social service agencies, trade and membership associations, and other nonprofit organizations.

Judy Murphy, CPA, CGMA Chair & Partner Not-For-Profit Services 314.290.3496 judy.murphy@rubinbrown.com Amy Altholz, CPA, CGMA Partner-In-Charge Not-For-Profit Services 314.290.3369 amy.altholz@rubinbrown.com

Spring/Summer 2021

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