Nonprofit organizations are at the forefront of meaningful change, but their success depends on sound financial leadership and accountability. Join fellow CPAs, auditors and nonprofit financial leaders in exploring the latest challenges, emerging trends and new standards shaping the sector.
Looking for live instruction and networking opportunities? JOIN US for the in-person option instead.
PRICING DETAILS
Register early to
take advantage of the best price! Please note, discounted pricing is already
reflected in the online price. No promo code is needed.
Through September 25:
$219 MICPA Members / $369 Non-Members
September 26 - October 9: $239
MICPA Members / $389 Non-Members
October 10 - October 23: $259 MICPA Members
/ $409 Non-Members
Alliance Partner:
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CPAs who are auditing, employed by or on the board of a not-for-profit organization.
After registering for this event, you can customize your sessions via 'My Registrations'
Generative AI - Practical Uses for
Not-for-Profit Organizations
With all the funding cutbacks facing
the not-for-profit industry, it is more important than ever to harness the
potential of generative AI to get more done with fewer resources. We show you
practical ways to use this technology and help you understand how to apply it
safely and effectively as a powerful digital assistant.
John Higgins,
CPA.CITP – Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory, LLC,
Rochester Hills
09:35 AM - 10:25 AM
Architecting a Risk Assessment Framework
Nonprofit organizations must be able to assess and address
compliance, operational and financial risks. Review the current Risk Assessment
Standards to develop a framework for how to avoid common pitfalls, using Quality
Management Standards and best practices.
Steve Guarini, CPA
– Partner, Cohen & Company, Detroit
Spotting Trouble Before It Hits: Keeping your
Form 990 Schedules Error Free
This presentation aims to shed light
on the common reporting issues and errors nonprofits face when completing
various schedules attached to Form 990. Form 990 plays a crucial role in
maintaining public trust and meeting IRS requirements. However, its complexity
can lead to inadvertent mistakes—especially within the associated
schedules—which may result in compliance risks.
Brandy L. Mikula,
CPA – Principal, Maner Costerisan, Lansing
Amber L. Rathbun,
CPA – Senior Manager, Maner Costerisan, Lansing
10:35 AM - 11:25 AM
Single Audit Planning 101
Last year,
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued updates to its OMB Guidance for
Federal Financial Assistance which increased the single audit threshold from
$750,000 to $1 million. Review key components of the update and create an audit
engagement checklist with an emphasis on avoiding common single audit
errors.
Wendy Thompson, CPA – Training Manager, Yeo
& Yeo, Saginaw
The Understated Matter of
Expenses
Expenses are the core estimate at the heart of nonprofit
financial statements, demonstrating how effectively, or ineffectively, an
organization manages the funds entrusted to them by stakeholders. Investigate
the underlying components of functional expense allocations and joint costs,
including common pitfalls, best practices and more. Then, apply your new
knowledge to create a practical framework for addressing functional expense
allocations more accurately and effectively.
William Donahue – Partner, Assurance
Services | Audit, Nonprofit, Aprio, LLC | Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, Rockville,
MD
11:35 AM - 12:25 PM
Fiscal Sponsorship for the Fiscally Responsible
When a
nonprofit organization provides administrative support and shares its tax-exempt
status with group, individual or project that does not have a 501(c)(3) status,
it is engaging fiscal sponsorship. Understand the key implications of fiscal
sponsorship, including sponsor models, best practices for structuring an
arrangement, tax pitfalls and benefits, legal requirements and other
considerations.
Patricia J. Mayer – Director, Except
Organizations, Baker Tilly, San Diego, CA
Ali Shalak – Moss
Adams, Las Vagas, NV
Nonprofit IT &
Security
Nonprofit organizations are more plugged in than ever, from
collecting donations online to hosting e-commerce stores on their websites. Yet,
recent studies demonstrated that 68% of nonprofits have not created policies or
procedures to address cyber vulnerabilities. Assess the cybersecurity risks
specific to nonprofit organizations and discuss strategies for driving
improvements in awareness, expertise and policy.
Kyle
Schofield – Client Director, Quattro Business Support Services,
Marietta, GA
The Human Side of Leadership
Numbers, deadlines, and expectations often take center stage
in our professional lives—but what about the people behind them? Explore how
leadership is less about authority and more about humanity. Discover how humor,
empathy, and authenticity can transform the way you lead—helping you inspire
trust, drive collaboration, and earn respect in the process. Expect to laugh,
reflect, and walk away with practical tools you can use immediately to lead
yourself and others with greater impact and meaning.
Lisa Dy, CPA,
MBA – Owner and Mindset Coach, Boundless Potential Coaching, LLC,
Concord Township, OH
02:10 PM - 03:00 PM
Making Common Errors Less
Common
From data entry errors to misclassified expenses, accounting
professionals are bound to encounter mistakes eventually. Review the most common
accounting errors and determine strategies for not only avoiding them, but for
properly responding when they occur, including methods for internal logging,
client disclosure and more.
Monica Stasch, CPA – Assurance
Senior, Plante Moran, Southfield
Melissa L. Stein, CPA – Assurance
Manager, Plante Moran, Southfield
On the Dash: Every Reason Your NFP Needs a
Dashboard
Collecting data is easy; visualizing it is an
entirely different concept, which is why dashboards have become an important
tool among nonprofit board members and staff. Identify practical uses for
dashboards, including the organization of data, monitoring trends, tracking key
performance indicators (KPIs) and more.
Lorene N. Suidan,
CPA – Chief Financial Officer, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester
Hills
03:10 PM - 04:00 PM
Mastering Single Audit Internal
Controls
Any nonprofit that spends $1 million in federal funding in
a fiscal year is subject to a single audit. Review the primary objective and
core requirements of single audits, determine effective internal controls for
managing federal awards and develop applicable testing criteria.
Dan Merritt, CPA, MBA, CGFM – Principal, Rehmann,
Detroit
04:10 PM - 05:00 PM
HR Issues in Nonprofits: Structures, Compliance
& Resources
Explore how nonprofits can structure HR functions
effectively based on size, need, and budget, while navigating today’s complex
state and federal compliance requirements. Gain practical insights and access to
free or low-cost resources to support ongoing HR needs and strengthen
organizational best practices.
Jodi Schafer – Owner, HRM
Services, LLC, Williamston
To Be Continued: Inside Going Concern
Analysis
Determine steps for assessing an organization’s ability to
continue given current circumstances and events, including assets, debt,
expected contributions and other factors. Build a system of analysis that
satisfies requirements set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and
accurately demonstrates an organization’s viability.
Holly B.
Pisano, CPA – Assistant Practice Lead/CFO, Not for Profit Division,
Quatro Business Support Services, Detroit
Konrad Schweitzer,
CPA – Principal, Public Sector, Assurance and Financial Reporter,
Rehmann, Troy