Request a Copy of Perspectives
Want a copy of
our most recent Perspectives,
our newsletter for not-for-profit and government organizations?

See our newsletters page.
BKD in Foundations Article
Comments by BKD Partner Holly Pantzer are featured in "Advising Private Foundations," an article published in the Journal of Accountancy. More »»
Helpful Web Sites
Council on Foundations

Foundations

BKD Not-for-Profit & Government Group helps provide financial, management, operations and technology solutions to hundreds of foundations and other tax-exempt organizations.

Solutions like the following can help your foundation achieve its mission and meet the expectations and demands of your stakeholders:

Financial Accountability

Sound financial management requires strategic planning to set priorities and goals, budget for fiscal discipline and prepare meaningful financial statements and reports that demonstrate accountability. BKD’s accounting expertise can provide solutions to these needs. We can help:

…We have been totally pleased
with BKD's performance and professionalism. The have done a wonderful job of staffing our engagement with highly skilled and thoroughly accurate professionals. They take a very critical approach to their review, ensuring our financials are accurate and in accordance with accounting principals. I am very happy to recommend BKD as a highly professional and very thorough auditing and tax firm.
— Ron Winkler, Vice President & Treasurer
University of Oklahoma Foundation
Norman, Oklahoma
  • Develop policies and procedures to demonstrate corporate responsibility and accountability
  • Produce meaningful financial statements and management reports
  • Assist with internal audits
  • Implement best practices resulting from Sarbanes-Oxley
  • Strengthen internal controls
  • Improve utilization and tracking of restricted resources
  • Develop strategies for improving profitability of various programs and cost allocation plans to measure their profitability
  • Analyze and forecast cash flows
  • Perform feasibility studies, financial projections and operational reviews
  • Develop budgets and business plans aligned with strategic priorities
  • Provide benchmarking comparison
  • Explore financing alternatives

Asset Valuation, Reporting & Preservation

Income generated from a foundation’s assets is the largest, and many times the only, revenue source supporting programs and grants. That’s why valuing, preserving and reporting these assets is critical for a foundation. We can help:
  • Develop and implement investment strategies, including asset allocation and spending rates and monitor investment manager results through BKD Wealth Advisors, LLC
  • Value closely held investments by certified valuation analysts
  • Report policies and procedures
  • Assist with program-related investments, such as loan programs and expenditure responsibility grants

Managing Payout & Grant-making

Are your grant-making policies appropriate? Does annual payout reduce excise taxes? Does the timing of grant payments create the desired impact while increasing investment return? Do internal systems capture the information necessary to run and evaluate your program? Do grantees report program or grant results? BKD can help you:
  • Design and implement grant program, policies and procedures
  • Monitor grantees, including specific testing of grantee program expenses
  • Design and implement appropriate internal controls for your grant programs
  • Calculate excise taxes, monitor minimum required payout and carryforwards available
  • Analyze cash flows for program-related expenditures and assess the impact on excise taxes
  • Evaluate the need for an operating foundation to provide particular program activities

Planned Giving

As the transfer of wealth in the U.S. escalates, public charity foundations and community foundations are increasingly using instruments that help donors during their lifetime and then benefit the foundation and/or their supported charity. These arrangements, commonly referred to as split-interest agreements, may pose a recordkeeping and tax challenge for your organization. BKD can help your foundation:
  • Implement policies and procedures to protect you and your donors
  • Evaluate the tax implications of the various types of agreements, including specific payment and reporting requirements
  • Establish donor-advised funds

Tax Risks & Opportunities

The IRS has significantly “turned up the heat” on its enforcement activities, including examinations and penalty assessments. BKD provides a wide variety of tax compliance and consulting services that will help foundations manage their risks and exploit opportunities as follows:
  • Perform diagnostic reviews in various areas, including intermediate sanctions, unrelated business income tax, retirement plans, executive compensation and self-dealing
  • Assist with tax-exemption applications, private letter ruling requests and IRS/state examinations
  • Monitor public support requirements during advance ruling period and recommend changes in status
  • Preparation and/or review of tax returns, including training and other assistance

Technology

BKD Technologies helps membership organizations make the most of their technology investment. As licensed resellers of Microsoft Dynamics GP® and Sage Software® financial applications products, both industry specific and general business, we can help you:
  • Select, implement and support new systems and software
  • Track membership activity and donations
  • Coordinate project and grant information
  • Customize fund accounting
  • Assess your IT security risks and implement improvements
  • Increase operational efficiency

For More Information

Contact your BKD advisor or:

Debi Ladyman
BKD Not-for-Profit & Government Group Leader
888.476.7258