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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:

With tax season upon us, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Treasury Department are providing a variety of resources to help consumers file their returns. Whether you receive healthcare through your employer, through the Health Insurance Marketplace, or if you’ve chosen to opt-out of insurance all together, these resources will provide guidance for filing returns that reflect your healthcare choices and answer any questions that you may have.

A recent Fortune commentary entitled Why the Uber of Healthcare Is Here To Stay by Eric Kim and Chi-Hua Chien of Goodwater Capital focuses on the “consumerization” of healthcare in the face of exorbitant costs that are 2-3 times that of Europe. The article highlights the dichotomy of rising U.S. healthcare costs when compared to mediocre outcomes for consumers. 

New rules from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) now require all levels of government – federal, state, and local – to reimburse non-profits for “reasonable” overhead and administrative costs incurred while working on government projects. The new rules, called the Uniform Guidance, took effect on December 26, 2014 and apply to any projects that are funded wholly or partially through government funds.