Joe Talks Nonprofits

Most nonprofit boards are overlooking a fiduciary risk hiding in plain sight: employee benefit plans. If your organization has a 401(k), 403(b), or a defined benefit retirement plan, this episode explains why the board may already be the default fiduciary—and what that means for compliance, oversight, and personal liability. Joe Blatt brings 40 years of public accounting experience to the conversation, breaking down the gover...

Are you a nonprofit board member? Does the organization’s financial statements make you uncomfortable? Do you need help understanding how they work and what to look for when you are reading them? Most nonprofit board members are handed financial statements they don’t fully understand and expected to govern with confidence anyway. Joseph Blatt shows you exactly what to look for first, which numbers matter most, and the r...

How do foreign museums, universities, and global charities raise money in the U.S. without losing the tax deduction? The answer is the quiet but highly regulated world of "American Friends" organizations - and if you work in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, or philanthropy, this episode could save you from costly mistakes. Joseph Blatt pulls back the curtain on how these U.S.-based nonprofits really operate, why they exist, and w...

Nonprofit organizations rarely fail because of one sudden disaster - they fail because too many early warning signs get ignored. If you lead a board, finance team, or nonprofit program, this episode gives you a practical dashboard for spotting trouble before it becomes a crisis. Joe Blatt draws on 40 years as an auditor and consultant to show how the real risks hide in plain sight: shifting demographics, tightening liquidity, overr...

Your nonprofit organization can be growing and still be one incorrect system, one missed control, or one leadership gap away from disaster. Joe Blatt shows board members and nonprofit leaders how an operational assessment reveals whether the organization underneath the growth is actually built to sustain the mission. Too many boards mistake an operational assessment for an audit, a strategic plan, or consultant jargon. Joe breaks d...

Fiscal sponsorship can turbocharge a new organization’s growth—but it also opens the door to costly legal pitfalls you can’t afford to ignore. Most nonprofits dive in without understanding the IRS’s watchful eye—and that oversight can threaten your mission and reputation. In this episode, Joe Blatt breaks down the complex world of fiscal sponsorship into simple, actionable insights. Discover why the si...

Unlock the Secret to Rock-Solid Nonprofit Governance: The Audit Committee Charter

A formal, well-crafted audit committee charter isn’t just administrative jargon — it’s your nonprofit’s strongest shield against financial risks, compliance breaches, and donor mistrust. If your organization has an audit committee but lacks a clear charter, you're flying blind on one of the most critical oversight functions....

Avoid costly mistakes with your nonprofit’s gift acceptance policies—discover how to safeguard your organization from overlooked risks in this essential episode.

Accepting gifts can seem straightforward, but without clear policies, your nonprofit risks environmental liabilities, legal complications, and reputation damage. Joe Blatt draws from his decades of experience in public accounting to reveal the critical component...

Most nonprofit boards overlook the real power of KPIs—until they're caught off guard by surprises. What if tracking the right numbers could give you early warnings and save your organization from crises? In this episode, Joe Blatt shares the secret sauce behind effective KPIs that help boards stay ahead. Discover how to cut through dashboard overload, focus on performance and risk indicators, and use data to drive strategic d...

Most nonprofits unintentionally risk losing their tax-exempt status during election years — and many don’t even realize their organization crossed the line.
In this episode, Joe Blatt reveals the critical do’s and don’ts of lobbying and political activity for nonprofits, cutting through the confusing legal maze to show you exactly what’s permitted — and what could jeopardize your 501(c)(3) sta...

Did you know that 90% of fraud in nonprofits involves asset misappropriation, and nearly 33% of those losses could have been prevented with stronger internal controls? If you think audits will catch fraud, think again—audits only happen once a year and often miss ongoing schemes. This episode reveals the critical internal control gaps that insiders often exploit and shows you proven strategies to close those loopholes. Joe Bl...

Most nonprofits overlook or poorly enforce three critical governance policies—yet these are the backbone of transparency, legal compliance, and trust. Discover the simple, actionable steps to safeguard your organization from legal risks, reputational damage, and internal conflicts, so you can focus on your mission with confidence. In this episode, I will reveal why every nonprofit board must implement a conflict-of-interest p...

How to Read a 990 like an Insider

Did you know that nearly every nonprofit must file the IRS Form 990 annually — a critical document that can make or break your organization’s reputation? If you think this is just a boring tax form, think again. This form is a powerful transparency tool that can reveal red flags, uncover compliance issues, and even influence your funding prospects. In this episode, Joe Blatt breaks down ...

Before you say yes to volunteering or joining a nonprofit board, slow down and ask the right questions. In this episode, Joe Blatt explains the difference between hands-on volunteering and board service, what each role actually requires, and how to decide which path best fits your time, skills, and values. Joe shares practical advice on how to research a nonprofit, spot red flags, and understand the responsibilities that come with ...

In this eye-opening episode of Joe Talks Nonprofits, Joe Blatt reveals the hidden risks and overlooked opportunities in non-cash contributions that could make or break your organization’s mission. Are you confident in how your nonprofit handles donated property, art, vehicles, or even cryptocurrency? If not, you’re risking legal pitfalls, compliance issues, and inaccurate financial reporting. Joe dives into the complexi...

Endowments are one of the most misunderstood areas of nonprofit finance—and one of the most important. In this episode of Joe Talks Nonprofits, Joe Blatt breaks down the essentials every board member, executive director, and finance leader must understand to steward endowment funds responsibly.

You’ll learn:

• What an endowment actually is—and why it’s different from other restricted gifts
• The three types of ...

Most nonprofits get tripped up not by their mission, but by the confusing world of contributions—and how mismanaging them can threaten their very survival. If you're a board member, CFO, or nonprofit professional, mastering these complexities is crucial to keeping your organization compliant, transparent, and financially healthy. In this episode of Joe Talks Nonprofits, Joe Blatt, a seasoned expert with over 40 years of exper...

In this podcast, Joe Blatt discusses the finance and governance of nonprofit organizations. This is the first in a series of podcasts meant to help board members finance executives as well as other understand how nonprofit organizations work. He covers the fundamental differences between nonprofit and for-profit organizations, the fiduciary responsibilities of board members, revenue generation in nonprofits, as well as compliance r...