Agenda
GENERAL SESSION
LAUNCH GENERAL SESSION
8:30 AM – 9:20 AM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Heartfelt Leadership: How Ethical Leaders Build Trusting Organizations
Leaders provide the culture, environment, values and incentives that foster and encourage change. Most importantly, great leaders create environments of trust that allow employees to challenge, innovate and work as teams. Understand the qualities of a great leader and find out how you can become a great and heartfelt leader no matter your title or place in an organization.
Bob Mims, CPA – For profit/Nonprofit CFO, Memphis, TN
Credits: 1.0 ET
1:10 PM – 2:00 PM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Using AI Effectively in Not-For-Profit Organizations
Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot can transform your accounting and audit processes in the nonprofit sector. We explore practical applications, from issuing prompts to safeguarding data, ensuring you leave ready to enhance your organization’s efficiency and productivity with AI.
Thomas G. Stephens, Jr., CPA, CGMA, CITP – Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, Woodstock, GA
Credits: 1.0 OT
CHANNEL ONE
9:30 AM – 10:20 AM
Comprehensive Philanthropic Strategy – Why You Should Be Thinking 30 Years in Advance
Most organizations follow an annual budget cycle or a five-year strategic plan. Others in philanthropy engage in comprehensive campaigns. While these are important, research suggests that nonprofits should be asking about their philosophy for revenue and mission thirty years from now. This session will provide research and interactivity with participants on thinking about the collective big picture and why planned giving is the crucial element of the longer-term strategy.
Bob Mims, CPA – For profit/Nonprofit CFO, Memphis, TN
Credits: 1.0 OT
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM
How to Make Common Errors Less Common
Mistakes happen, but not all of them are inevitable. Discuss the most common accounting and reporting errors found in nonprofit financial statements, from disclosures to cashflow, and develop reliable strategies for avoiding them.
Gary W. Bishop III, CPA – Director, Forvis Mazars, Fort Wayne, IN
Credits: 1.0 AA
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM
Endowment Accounting
Nonprofit organizations are no strangers to endowments, but why are endowments reported and accounted for in the way they are today? Examine the rules and reporting requirements associated with endowments for a deeper understanding of the process as well as their restrictions.
Steve Guarini, CPA – Partner, Cohen & Company, Detroit
Credits: 1.0 AA
2:10 PM – 3:00 PM
Lease Accounting: Top Challenges & Updates
Now in its second year of implementation, the new lease accounting standard, FASB ASC Topic 842, remains a challenge for many organizations grappling with the costs and complexities of accounting for leases on the balance sheet and disclosure in the footnotes. Examine the recent amendments as well as other challenges such as determining the present value of leased assets, evaluation of materiality, sample disclosures, and more.
Duane Reyhl, CPA, CGMA – Audit and Accounting Partner, AHP, Midland
Credits: 1.0 AA
3:10 PM – 4:00 PM
Uniform Guidance: Updates & Impacts for Auditors of Federal Funds
The Uniform Grants Guidance 2024 Revision issued by the Office of Management and Budget includes several updates to the guidance that governs both the management of and audit requirements for federal funds. Assess the changes and determine their impact on audits, including single audit thresholds, de minimis rate negotiation, internal controls and more.
Dan Merritt, CPA, MBA, CGFM – Assurance Senior Manager, Rehmann, Detroit
Credits: 1.0 AA
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
Investigating the Material Implications of SAS 145
Planning and performing single audits and engagements under SAS No. 145 requires auditors to think critically about the risks of material misstatement. Explore the nuances of performing an assessment of both material noncompliance and inherent risk while understanding the differences between SAS No. 145 and SAS No. 148 and the practical application of each.
Josh Gill, CPA – Not-for-Profit Assurance Manager, Plante Moran, Kalamazoo
Credits: 1.0 AA
CHANNEL TWO
9:30 AM – 10:20 AM
Optimum Primer: Gearing Up for Audits
Good prep makes for a smoother audit process. Gear up for your next audit with a refresher on best practices with financial statements, general ledgers and effective management from both sides of the audit fence.
Joseph Cruitt, MBA – Senior Vice President-Chief Administrative and Finance Officer, American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago, IL
Abby Fahkoury, CPA – Not-for-Profit Assurance Manager, Plante Moran, Detroit
Credits: 1.0 AA
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM
About the Board
Deficiencies, or a lack of understanding, in a nonprofit’s board of directors can result in significant harm to an organization’s reputation, efficacy and financial viability. Create strategies for sound board governance by exploring effective approaches to overcoming common challenges and improving education and processes for key areas, including board recruitment, retention, recognition, succession planning and more.
Kathryn L. Davis, MSM – Board Chair, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester
Lorene Suidan, CPA – Chief Operating Officer, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester
Credits: 1.0 OT
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM
Ask the CFO: Nonprofit Edition
Analyze nonprofit dysfunction caused by leadership behavior in this session. Through a series of questions and key terms, we explore a real-life case study, identifying specific leadership behaviors that contributed to dysfunction and negative outcomes. The session concludes with an open discussion to brainstorm potential solutions.
Andrew Melton, CPA, MPA – President, Andrew I. Melton, CPA, Detroit
Credits: 1.0 OT
2:10 PM – 3:00 PM
There’s a Form 990 for That…
There are 16 different schedules that are a part of Form 990, but not every schedule is required for every nonprofit organization. Review the various Form 990 schedules and learn to identify when a particular schedule must be filed along with tips for completing them.
Linda Cooper, MBA – Senior Associate, Rehmann, Troy
Credits: 1.0 OT
3:10 PM – 4:00 PM
Tips for Talent Acquisition & Retention
Many organizations are strategizing around talent shortages, finding innovative ways to meet goals with limited staff. Determine best practices for meeting mission goals and ensuring internal controls to stay compliant, even when short-handed.
Kathy Spearing – Regional Vice President Managed Business Solutions, Protiviti, Chicago, IL
Credits: 1.0 OT
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
With Great Funding Comes Great Responsibility
In many respects, adhering to grant compliance requirements is just as important as winning the award in the first place. Whether you’ve received funding from a federal agency or a private foundation, there’s more to do than simply meet program objectives and deliverables. Staying compliant creates an on-going relationship between your organization and your funder and is integral to the successful implementation of any award, regardless of the funding source. Unfortunately, many organizations view compliance solely as a finance or administrative task when, in fact, organizations should take a multi-disciplinary approach to compliance. In this session, we will discuss ways to engage programmatic staff in grant compliance activities, and why it’s critical to do so
Nakia Bell – Director of Finance, Brookings Metro, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
Kelly Metz – Principal, O’Connor Consulting Services, LLC, Bethesda, MD
Credits: 1.0 OT