Most food banks, homeless shelters and other social-services nonprofits constantly face hard decisions about how to use their limited funds. Should they spend as much as possible on meeting the immediate needs of people who need help? How much of their budget is appropriate to spend on new equipment, skilled managers and everything else required for an organization to thrive and endure?

To help nonprofits tackle this quandary, we teamed up with two other business professors, Arian Aflaki and Goker Aydin, to develop a mathematical model to guide nonprofits on how to divvy up their spending to optimize both current performance and future resilience through their spending priorities.

Having observed how charity watchdogs like Charity Navigator rate nonprofits, our model takes into account that spending more on core programs leads to increased funding for a nonprofit. In consultation with the Indiana Hoosier Hills Food Bank, we also studied the relationship of administration costs with a nonprofit’s capacity, which comprises the organization’s infrastructure, equipment, staff and other resources. This capacity is crucial for the nonprofit’s ability to meet its immediate and future needs.

Building on this, our research challenges the conventional wisdom that nonprofits should allocate nearly all of their budget to program costs.

In today's complex financial landscape, strategic tax planning is crucial, particularly when it comes to building a robust retirement nest egg. At Horizon Private Wealth Management (HPWM), we often emphasize the indispensable role of tax-deferred retirement accounts, which include options like 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

Tax-deferral isn't just a postponement of your tax obligations; it's a purposeful financial strategy designed to provide growth that is potentially free from current taxation. By directing your investment capital into tax-deferred accounts, you are not only delaying the inevitable tax outlay but also perhaps reducing the overall tax burden over the course of your financial lifecycle.

The interplay of tax-deferral and compound interest

Compound interest is a well-understood principle of investment growth. The magic happens when the interest generated by your initial investment is reinvested, creating a cyclical pattern of escalating gains. 

Nonprofits can apply to receive funds from the Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund, a $25 million program to help expand employer-subsidized childcare benefits. Grants, administered in partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Family and Social Services Administration, can be used to sponsor dependent care assistance plans, provide on-site or off-site childcare, and childcare tuition benefits. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 22. Learn more

Public Advocates in Community Re-entry has been selected to receive a $2.75 million Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Legacy Grant. The funds will be used to build a new facility, Christel DeHaan Turning Point Plaza, that offers employment readiness, advanced training programming, and recovery support services.

The Butler Accelerator for Education and Workforce Innovation Powered by Gener8tor is accepting applications for its three-month program in education technology. Topics include innovations in K-12 education, universities, and individual learning. Apply by Jan. 1, 2024

The Indiana Department of Health has provided Indiana University Health Foundation and Indiana University Community Health a $2.5 million state grant to hire more workers to reduce infant mortality and address health disparities. The initiative is an expansion of the Indiana WeCare program and iHEART collaborative. Learn more

Lilly Endowment has issued a $578,285 grant to support the implementation of TechPoint Foundation for Youth’s new five-year strategic plan. The funds, which will be dispersed over a three-year period, will support efforts to broaden experiential programs, grow partnership networks, and strengthen human and financial resources. Read more

Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership recently broke ground for a 33-unit townhome development at 2434 and 2444 Winthrop Ave. The project will offer market rate and affordable housing for homebuyers earning up to 80 percent of the area’s median income. Learn more

A new report provides a comprehensive look at Central Indiana’s older adults (age 55 and older), the fastest growing demographic in the region. By the year 2030, one in every five residents will be over the age of 65. The annual report is supported by the Central Indiana Senior Fund and its partners. Read more

Housing unStable: Policy and advocacy solutions to housing stability webinar on Nov. 14 from noon-1 p.m. Learn simple and achievable strategies to increase the power of your work through policy advocacy. Presented by Prosperity Indiana. Cost: Free. Register 

Identifying and mitigating risk webinar on Nov. 15 at noon. Hear from a panel of local experts in the human resources, legal, tax and financial industries to learn how common nonprofit challenges can be turned into opportunities for growth. Presented by National Bank of Indianapolis and Hedges. Cost: Free. Register

Learn the tactics to communicate across the six generations webinar on Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. Gain insights from psychologist Dr. Jean Twenge, author of Generations, and Erin Reilly, Twilio's Chief Social Impact Officer, on how to connect across a multi-generational audience. Presented by SSIR and Twilio. Cost: Free. Register

Find existing data workshop on Nov. 16 from 9-11 a.m. at Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, 535 W. Michigan St., Room 257. Learn the strengths, weaknesses, and costs of readily available data sets so you have the information you need to locate the data that is right for you. Presented by SAVI. Cost: Free. Register

Successfully navigating through economic uncertainty session on Nov. 16 from 1:30-3:10 p.m. With economic uncertainty at a post-pandemic high and climbing fast, it’s important to put your business in the best position to weather the storm. Learn how. Presented by Barnes Dennig. Cost: Free. Register

Make decisions with data webinar on Nov. 28 from 9-11 a.m. An instructor will reach out to registrants prior to the workshop to discuss projects and help identify the data and other information needed for successful outcomes. Presented by SAVI. Cost: Free. Register

Excel MS Office Software Refresher Series (Part 2) on Dec. 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Gain a better understanding of Excel features and capabilities through focused discussion and demonstrations on formulas to perform calculations, analyze data, and create presentation charts, pivot tables, and graphs. Presented by IUPUI Professional Development and Continuing Education. Cost: $75. Register  

AmeriCorps Seniors is seeking volunteers aged 55 and older. Opportunity programs include Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion Program. Learn more and apply

Charitable Allies  Guide to adoption agreements if your nonprofit is a rescue, sanctuary, shelter or similar organization. 

United Way of Central Indiana  “United Way of Central Indiana’s Economic Impact” report analyzes the economic impact of 1,775 grants to 387 organizations totaling $135 million. 

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Vice President - Indy Arts Council

On-line Content and Community Connector - Not-for-profit News/Charitable Advisors