We know that managing your group’s finances is not the first thing on your favorite things to do list. Accepting and tracking grants and donations, budgeting, accounting and filing financial reports are all necessary to run a successful nonprofit, but they are far from the fun of monitoring, protecting, and paddling rivers.
We know that questions arise from time to time and hiring an accountant is too expensive for most groups. This is your chance to ask us about any financial accounting issues your group is struggling with. We will have a CPA, Certified Public Accountant, answer the questions which we will then post on our website and The TRIB in April.
Simply send your question(s) in an e-mail to awerner@wisconsinrivers.org and please include a phone number in case we need to ask for clarification.
Mark your calendars for Saturday May 9, 2009 so you can attend our Communicating Environmentally workshop in Sauk County. The Communicating Environmentally workshop will help you wade through the decision-making process for local governments and understand how you can influence environmental policy decisions. It will also help you learn the language and techniques of environmental communication to help you be heard, be credible and make a difference in your community.
The workshop will begin at 10:00 a.m., includes lunch, and will conclude at 3:00 p.m. A nominal fee of $10.00 to cover lunch is requested, and advance registration is required for lunch planning purposes. Registration details will be available in April.
Just like managing your group's finances, every nonprofit also needs good policies to make sure your work runs smoothly and legally. Fortunately, you do not need to start from scratch. Wegner Consultants has many sample polices and other free resources on their website.
Wegner Consultants is a Wisconsin firm who has been providing professional advice and services in accounting, auditing and financial management in Wisconsin for the past 50 years. On their website, there is a variety of resources available for non-profits, including a lending library, articles and a sample forms and policies section.
Each of these documents serves as a template for non-profit groups when creating new policies and procedures. Most documents must be personalized and tailored to the specific needs of your organization, so make sure to evaluate each form accordingly. The Suggested Policies and Procedures include Conflict of Interest, Whistle Blower and Gift Acceptance policies.
Non-profit article topics include:
For more information about the Wegner non-profit services including their e-newsletter, or workshops such as QuickBooks the Basics for Non-profits, please visit the Wegner Consultants Non-profit website.
If your group also works on wetland issues, you should consider attending Wetland Connections June 21-26, 2009 in Madison.
Wetland Connections is a joint meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Wisconsin Wetlands Association & the Wetland Biogeochemistry Symposium.
In This Issue
Ask us a Question
Back by Popular Demand
Sample Policies
Wetland Connections
Read the latest issue of our quarterly print newsletter
Our Watershed Advocate Toolkit provides quick guides on issues like bylaws, river cleanups and fundraising.
Our Filings and Forms tool walks you through the state and federal forms to file when starting a nonprofit and for annual reports.