I had the opportunity to attend Tech Soup’s Net Squared Conference in San Jose on May 30^th and 31^st 2006.  Aspiration’s own Allen Gunn facilitated several sessions at the conference and I had the opportunity to learn a lot about Web 2.0 and all the exciting new things that nonprofits are and can do on the web www.netsquared.org [1].

I also had the opportunity to lead a small Q & A session during the Tips and Tricks part of the afternoon session titled “How to improve your nonprofit operations in under two months.”  I came up for the title for my Q & A session because I recently noticed a trend I take when I start working for an organization.  I follow a sequence of steps during the first two months of working for an organization to improve its operations and ultimately save the organization MONEY. Its not that the organization is running their nonprofit poorly, its just the organization can do things to improve its operations, save the organization money, which in return will help it to better achieve its mission. 

Here are the steps I take to improve my nonprofit operations in two months or less. These are helpful steps for Executive Directors, and nonprofit Administration folks.

• Accounting/Fiscal [1]:
• Review the accounting books and resolve accounting/bookkeeping errors
• Incorporate Nonprofit Chart of Accounts or clean up the chart of accounts,
• Organize the accounting paper files so they are ready for an accounting review or audit
• Create accounting/booking procedures manual to keep in compliance with GAAP procedures
• Create reimbursement/check request and other necessary fiscal forms.
• Review vendor lease agreements as well as bill paying practices and implement any cost saving methods the organization can take with working with its vendors.

• Risk Management [1]:
• Review the organization’s Insurance policies making sure all the policies are current with the correct information
• Request special event forms from my Liability insurance provider (to fill out and submit every time the organization holds an off site event)
• Purchased errors and omissions insurance for Aspiration, to protect us when we do consulting work.

• Office Space [1]:
• If needed, identify, negotiate, plan and implement the organization’s new office move.

• Human Resources [1]:
• Hire a personnel attorney to review and provide recommendations for Personnel Manual to be in compliance with the state’s employment law.
• Created new hire packet and training orientation procedures for new employee.  

• Legal [1]:
• For Aspiration I hired a Nonprofit Specific attorney to provide legal advice to handle California filings (Aspiration relocated its office from Massachusetts to California) and also to provide advice about our fiscal sponsor projects.

I have linked to blog posts where I discuss these steps in greater detail.