Creating Social Capital for Not-for-Profit Support

Ask any non-for-profit development director and they will tell you there are two ways to fundraise: 

• Ask 1000 people for $10
• Ask 10 people for $1000

Which is the easier task? In terms of time and resources spent, certainly option B is the easier option. But in terms of broader reach and influence over a large audience, option A is a formidable contender because of something called social capital. Social capital is a concept that points to the power of networks to build a powerful entity, such as support for a cause, political candidate or even a corporate brand.

5 Valuable CGMA Resources for Business People

The AICPA and CIMA continue to make available valuable management accounting reports and tools available for CPA, CGMAs and those considering the CGMA. Check out the following to help you develop new skills and bring best practices to your organization.

Live Blogging the CGMA Launch

AICPA Insights live blogged from the interactive business forum celebrating the launch of the Chartered Global Management Accountant on January 31. Follow the real-time event as it unfolded in New York and London and was viewed live in other regions around the world. A launch event in Kuala Lumpur took place earlier in the day. The CGMA was established through a joint venture between the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Internal Control - Integrated Framework - 20 Years Later

Almost 20 years ago, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), of which the AICPA is a member, produced the landmark Internal Control – Integrated Framework. With this published framework, COSO, an organization providing thought leadership and guidance on internal control, enterprise risk management and fraud deterrence, established a common internal control model against which companies and organizations may develop and assess their control systems. It became the world’s most widely used internal control framework.

But a lot has happened since 1992, such as the Internet! With advances in technology and business operations, the time was right for the framework to be updated so it could remain relevant and useful. In November 2010, COSO announced such a project. An online survey in January 2011 gleaned input from a broad audience. Last month COSO released the proposed updated Internal Control – Integrated Framework Exposure Draft to obtain input from the users of the framework and the general public. As a member of COSO, the AICPA has a representative on the COSO Board and a representative on the project’s Advisory Council.

In the News: Big Tax Changes to Come in 2012

The Wall Street Journal recently spoke to Melissa Labant of the AICPA’s tax team about tips for taxpayers as they wait to see if Washington addresses major tax questions in 2012; a number of major tax cuts are set to expire at year's end. Labant noted that several changes for this tax year could pose traps for those who are unaware.  Among the changes is the elimination of the charitable IRA donation, which expired at the end of 2011. IRA owners 70½ or older were previously able to donate up to $100,000 of assets per year to a tax-exempt charity. Individuals were able to use this donation as part of their required IRA payout, if they hadn't taken one. Adding to the confusion, many experts expect Congress to reinstate the law at some point in 2012. "If you want an IRA donation to be all or part of your required withdrawal, wait for Congress to act," advised Labant.