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In late February 2015 the Independent Sector released its updates to the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practices, a set of 33 principles that guide self-governance for nonprofit organizations and foundations.  The 2015 edition is the first time these principles have been significantly updated since they were initially released in 2007. 

For most of us, sitting is just part of the job. We sit at our desks, we sit in meetings, we sit at lunch.  Then maybeafter work we finally get out of the office and move our bodies through exercise.  But even if we power through a grueling 60-minute workout, new research shows that it won’t cancel out all that sitting from earlier in the day – and it doesn’t guarantee our health. In fact, even those who meet the public health guidelines for exercise may have elevated health risks if they sit for too long.

Beginning in 2018, organizations that provide high-cost employer-sponsored healthcare to employees will be required to pay a non-deductible excise tax, dubbed the “Cadillac tax.”  Organizations that afford more than $10,200 per individual and $27,500 per family for employee healthcare will be taxed 40% of the overage amount (pre-tax employer contributions to HRAs, HSAa, FSAs, and MSAs are included). By 2018, the American Health Policy Institute predicts that 38% of large employers (with more than 1000 employees) will have to pay the tax, and 17% of all businesses in the US will be responsible for payment.

While healthcare coverage reporting isn’t mandatory for applicable large employee (ALE) members until 2016 (for the 2015 tax year), many organizations want to get a jump start on identifying exactly what that reporting will look like for future returns.  As such, the IRS has finalized forms 1094-C and 1095-C, which can be filed on a voluntary basis for 2014 tax returns.

Keeping up with social media is a key aspect of marketing for nonprofits. But it can also be an overwhelming task considering how quickly new social media outlets come on board and how much information passes through them each day. 

We’re already a month into the new year, and you’re looking for new information to improve the performance of your nonprofit: Are you considering alternate marketing strategies? Interested in learning about a recent piece of software or technology? Or is there a certain segment of the philanthropic population you just can’t seem to crack? Here, in chronological order, are suggestions for some of the top conferences in the United States for nonprofits to gather, exchange information, and generally up their game in 2015: