JMT's Nonprofit World Blog

JMT Consulting Group Named a 2011 VAR Star

December 13, 2011

We are thrilled  to be included among the 2011 VAR Stars.  Long time industry journalist, Bob Scott, editor of Bob Scott’s Insights, makes the selection based on a variety of factors:

2011 VAR Stars have a practice involving the sale of mid-market financial software and while most derive significant revenue from other sources, accounting software is the core to their business.

Revenue is not a factor in selection and VARs are not rated. The No. 1 and No. 100 members of this list have equal standing. Factors taken into consideration included growth, industry leadership and innovation. There are very large and very small dealers in this list. An effort was also made to selects resellers who represent a broad range of products.

This year, VAR Star candidates were asked what they have done to respond to the economic conditions. Several common areas emerged from those VARs who commented (not all provided this information.) Few of these were surprising, but all are important.

They are as follows:

  • Diversifying product lines.
  • Holding onto talent.
  • Maintaining or increasing marketing budgets.
  • Performing mergers and acquisition.

We are honored to be among this list of industry innovators.  All of the factors that go into selecting a VAR Star have been things we have considered and acted on to better serve our clients, nonprofits across the country who have put their faith in us to assist them with their fund accounting and fundraising software and technology solutions. We do these things first and foremost for our nonprofit community – but we are delighted to be recognized by such an industry leader.

 

Penalties for Late Consolidated Fiscal Reports

November 18, 2011

Do you receive payments from the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Medicaid payments from the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), or the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)?

If so, you’ll want to investigate late filing penalties association with Consolidated Fiscal Reports (CFR).

In the November MP&S Nonprofit Alert from Marks Paneth & Shron, the following was reported:

The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is planning to implement a 2% penalty for late submission of the Consolidated Fiscal Report (CFR).  A not-for-profit service provider’s reimbursement will be cut by 2% and the rate will be restored only upon submission of the CFR.  There will be no refund on the money lost during the overdue period.

According to the New York State Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming Manual, all service providers must submit their completed CFR to the applicable State funding agencies not later than 120 days after the end of the reporting period.  If an extension is submitted, the due date is not later than 150 days after the end of the reporting period.  An extension request must be electronically submitted.  For example, a June 30, 2011 CFR, with an extension is due on December 1, 2011.  Late submissions of a CFR, including all certifications and attachments, may result in a sanction or penalty being imposed against the service provider.

Providers who receive Medicaid payments from the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) relative to certified program services can have their payments temporarily withheld up to 20% for the first month under sanction.  Such reductions will be increased in each subsequent month by 10% until the CFR is submitted.  Providers who receive payments under contract with OMH can have their entire quarterly payments withheld until a satisfactory submission has been received.

Similarly, the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) can impose sanctions for late filing of the CFR as prescribed in OASAS Local Services Bulletin 2001-05.

The current regulations allow OPWDD to withhold up to 5% of the revenue in certain programs; however, it was not strictly enforced.  Now OPWDD is planning to impose a sanction of 2% on all programs.  Originally, OPWDD planned to implement a 10% cash hold-back policy on all programs but that proposal was rejected.

JMT Consulting Named to Sage Chairman’s Club

November 11, 2011

“We are very proud to work with business partners who are among the best in the industry,” said Tom Miller, VP of Channel Management for Sage. “Our thanks and congratulations for exceptional service to our customers go to our Sage President’s Circle and Chairman’s Club members for 2011.”

We received the news that for the 9th year we have been named to Sage President’s Circle and the 5th consecutive year we’ve been included in the Sage Chairman’s Club.  Both awards are for outstanding performation for the company’s 2011 business year.

It’s always nice to win awards and be acknowledged by your partners and colleagues.  But we are always aware that what this award really represents is that you, members of the nonprofit community, have put your trust in us.  We take that very seriously. And we are grateful and proud to be of service to the wonderful nonprofits that serve our communities and the world.

We thank you for trusting us.  We are committed to helping you achieve your mission.  The award from Sage simply reminds us of what you have already awarded us.  Thank you.

Brooklyn Lunch & Learn for Nonprofit Executives

November 9, 2011

Selecting a fund accounting system for your nonprofit organization is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make.  So why not take advantage of an opportunity to compare and contrast some of the top selling solutions?

JMT Consulting provide this opportunity at the local Lunch & Learns we host throughout the country for nonprofit executives who want to learn more about the fund accounting solutions available today and take a closer look at cloud computing as one of the options.

When searching out options, it’s easy to get information on a single solution – what’s more difficult is to compare and contrast the solutions in a meaningful way.  We offer that chance at the Lunch & Learn.

We’ve scheduled an event for:

Brooklyn, NY
Date: November 17, 2011
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: The Pearl Room
8203 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209

Join JMT Consulting for a free gourmet lunch and a discussion about the typical accounting dilemmas facing nonprofits.  We’ll compare and contrast two leading financial accounting solutions, Intacct and Sage (MIP) Fund Accounting that can make your organization more effective.  You’ll also have a unique opportunity to network with other local nonprofit financial and executive directors.

Over lunch, we will discuss ways you can:

  • Translate organizational goals into system requirements
  • Discover potential inefficiencies in your current system
  • Identify features that could save you time and resources
  • Evaluate the benefits of cloud-based systems
  • Determine the ROI of different system options

With over 2,000 nonprofit clients, JMT Consulting Group is the leading technology partner for nonprofit organizations in the United States. We combine cutting edge software with customized services, and a range of training opportunities to address the unique requirements of nonprofits.

Registration:  To register, please click here.

Kansas City (MO) Nonprofit Executive Lunch and Learn

November 9, 2011

We are inviting Nonprofit executives in the Kansas City area to join us at The Capital Grille for lunch and a presentation comparing leading fund accounting solutions to help you determine which solutions and technology can best fit your organization’s needs and aspirations.

Every organization is different with different resources at their disposal.  What may be the perfect choice for one organization could be a poor choice for another organization.  So how do you differentiate?  You could collect piles of information on each option but then how do you compare and contrast with limited knowledge of the options?  That’s where we come in.

Join JMT Consulting for a free gourmet lunch and a discussion about the typical accounting dilemmas facing nonprofits.  We’ll compare and contrast two leading financial accounting solutions, Intacct and Sage (MIP) Fund Accounting that can make your organization more effective.  You’ll also have a unique opportunity to network with other local nonprofit financial and executive directors.

Over lunch, we will discuss ways you can:

  • Translate organizational goals into system requirements
  • Discover potential inefficiencies in your current system
  • Identify features that could save you time and resources
  • Evaluate the benefits of cloud-based systems
  • Determine the ROI of different system options

Selecting a fund accounting system for your nonprofit organization is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make.  So why not take advantage of an opportunity to compare and contrast some of the top selling solutions?

JMT Consulting provide this opportunity at the local Lunch & Learns we host throughout the country for nonprofit executives who want to learn more about the fund accounting solutions available today and take a closer look at cloud computing as one of the options.

We’ve scheduled an event for Kansas City on November 17, 2011:

Kansas City, MO
Date: November 17, 2011
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: The Capital Grille
4740 Jefferson Street
Kansas City, MO 64112

When searching out options, it’s easy to get information on a single solution – what’s more difficult is to compare and contrast the solutions in a meaningful way.  We offer that chance at the Lunch & Learn.

With over 2,000 nonprofit clients, JMT Consulting Group is the leading technology partner for nonprofit organizations in the United States. We combine cutting edge software with customized services, and a range of training opportunities to address the unique requirements of nonprofits.

Registration:  To register for the Lunch & Learns, please click here.

What Every Nonprofit Should Understand About Cloud Computing

November 8, 2011

Compared to other sectors, nonprofits have a technology gap.  A recent Johns Hopkins University study surveyed the root causes of the nonprofit technology gap and identified lack of money, lack of time and lack of expertise as the top three challenges.

What is interesting is that Cloud Computing addresses all three of the challenges faced by nonprofits.  When solutions are resident in the Cloud, nonprofits can buy subscriptions (usually monthly) to application use.  This is often referred to as SaaS or Software as a Service.

So what is SaaS?  At the most simple level, it’s the answer to the question – do you rent or do you own your software?

Software solutions that are “owned” by a nonprofit reside at the physical location of the nonprofit (on-premises or “single-tenancy”).  Every organization has its own copy of the software.  While your organization may have a certain version of the software, the software publisher is regularly issuing new versions and updates of the software.  As a result, it is not uncommon for an organization to be “behind” in terms of most recent version of the software.

On-premises software requires IT support, upgrades, supporting infrastructure (servers, etc.) and the maintenance costs of software and infrastructure.

Cloud solutions are “rented” by the nonprofit organization.    The software resides in the cloud, and is “multi-tenancy.”  Because the solution is in the cloud, the software publisher is always providing the most recent version of the software – so only one version of the software is in use and all users are using the same version.  All server and program upgrades, maintenance, etc., are the responsibility of the solution provider – not the nonprofit organization.

While cloud computing sounds new, you’ve probably been using many cloud-based solutions personally for a long time – online banking, purchasing through amazon.com, booking airline tickets, etc.

So here is a quick and simple compare and contrast between On-Premises Model and a Cloud-based Model:

On-Premises – Upfront License Fees

Cloud – Pay for what you use

On-Premises – 18+% Annual Maintenance Fee

Cloud – Included in subscription

On-Premises – Customer bears all IT infrastructure costs and risk

Cloud – Vendor’s bears all IT infrastructure costs and risk

On-Premises – “Ship and Forget”

Cloud – Vendor Accountability

We see the following as significant benefits for Nonprofits utilizing cloud computing:

  • Anytime/Anywhere access – wherever you can access an Internet connection, you have access to your cloud-based solution
  • Limited IT resources are required
  • Faster time to deployment, faster time to value, and less risk
  • Easier and less expensive to customize/more flexible/ more open
  • Positive experiences with other cloud-based products
  • Better security and operations that otherwise could afford
  • More cost-effective than other alternatives

If you do a quick Google search of cloud-based nonprofit applications, you’ll find brands such as Intacct, Convio, Sage Fundraising Online, Tapestry, Fellowship Technologies, SalesForce.com, WebEx, Google, ADP and PAYCHEX, to name just a few.

JMT Consulting is experienced with both on-premises and cloud-based solutions and can help you find the perfect solution for your nonprofit.

Nashville Lunch & Learn November 16

October 31, 2011

Join JMT Consulting for a free gourmet lunch and a discussion about the typical accounting dilemmas facing nonprofits.  We’ll compare and contrast two leading financial accounting solutions, Intacct and Sage (MIP) Fund Accounting that can make your organization more effective.  You’ll also have a unique opportunity to network with other local nonprofit financial and executive directors.

Over lunch, we will discuss ways you can:

  • Translate organizational goals into system requirements
  • Discover potential inefficiencies in your current system
  • Identify features that could save you time and resources
  • Evaluate the benefits of cloud-based systems
  • Determine the ROI of different system options

Selecting a fund accounting system for your nonprofit organization is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make.  So why not take advantage of an opportunity to compare and contrast some of the top selling solutions?

JMT Consulting provide this opportunity at the local Lunch & Learns we host throughout the country for nonprofit executives who want to learn more about the fund accounting solutions available today and take a closer look at cloud computing as one of the options.

We’ve scheduled an event for Nashville on November 16, 2011:

Nashville, TN
Date: November 16, 2011
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Chappy’s
1721 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203

When searching out options, it’s easy to get information on a single solution – what’s more difficult is to compare and contrast the solutions in a meaningful way.  We offer that chance at the Lunch & Learn.

With over 2,000 nonprofit clients, JMT Consulting Group is the leading technology partner for nonprofit organizations in the United States. We combine cutting edge software with customized services, and a range of training opportunities to address the unique requirements of nonprofits.

Registration:  To register for the Nashville Lunch & Learns, please click here.

JMT Lunch & Learn Coming to Houston

October 31, 2011

Selecting a fund accounting system for your nonprofit organization is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make.  So why not take advantage of an opportunity to compare and contrast some of the top selling solutions?

JMT Consulting provide this opportunity at the local Lunch & Learns we host throughout the country for nonprofit executives who want to learn more about the fund accounting solutions available today and take a closer look at cloud computing as one of the options.

When searching out options, it’s easy to get information on a single solution – what’s more difficult is to compare and contrast the solutions in a meaningful way.  We offer that chance at the Lunch & Learn.

We’ve scheduled an event for Houston on November 15, 2011:

Houston, TX

Date:  November 15, 2011

Time: 12:30-2:00pm

Location:  III Forks

1201 San Jacinto Street

Houston, TX 77002

Join JMT Consulting for a free gourmet lunch and a discussion about the typical accounting dilemmas facing nonprofits.  We’ll compare and contrast two leading financial accounting solutions, Intacct and Sage (MIP) Fund Accounting that can make your organization more effective.  You’ll also have a unique opportunity to network with other local nonprofit financial and executive directors.

Over lunch, we will discuss ways you can:

  • Translate organizational goals into system requirements
  • Discover potential inefficiencies in your current system
  • Identify features that could save you time and resources
  • Evaluate the benefits of cloud-based systems
  • Determine the ROI of different system options

With over 2,000 nonprofit clients, JMT Consulting Group is the leading technology partner for nonprofit organizations in the United States. We combine cutting edge software with customized services, and a range of training opportunities to address the unique requirements of nonprofits.

Registration:  To register for the Lunch & Learns, please click here.

Fund Accounting Options – Boston Lunch & Learn

October 22, 2011

We’ve been all over the country hosting Lunch and Learns for nonprofit executives who want to learn more about the fund accounting solutions available today and explore the option of cloud-based computing for their organizations.

When exploring new solutions, it’s easy to get information on a particular solution – but rarely is there an opportunity to compare and contrast different solutions to get an idea of what the best fit would be for your organization.  That’s what we do at the Lunch and Learn events.

We’ve scheduled an event for Boston on November 15, 2011:

Boston, MA
Date: November 15, 2011
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Oceanaire
40 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108

Join JMT Consulting for a free gourmet lunch and a discussion about the typical accounting dilemmas facing nonprofits.  We’ll compare and contrast two leading financial accounting solutions, Intacct and Sage (MIP) Fund Accounting that can make your organization more effective.  You’ll also have a unique opportunity to network with other local nonprofit financial and executive directors.

Over lunch, we will discuss ways you can:

  • Translate organizational goals into system requirements
  • Discover potential inefficiencies in your current system
  • Identify features that could save you time and resources
  • Evaluate the benefits of cloud-based systems
  • Determine the ROI of different system options

With over 2,000 nonprofit clients, JMT Consulting Group is the leading technology partner for nonprofit organizations in the United States. We combine cutting edge software with customized services, and a range of training opportunities to address the unique requirements of nonprofits.

Registration:  To register for the Lunch & Learns, please contact us at 888-368-2463 or at info@jmtconsulting.com.

11 Reasons You’ll Love Sage Grant Management

October 21, 2011

If your organization relies heavily on grant funding, you need an automated system that addresses every stage of the grant life cycle, from application to final reporting.  Using spreadsheets is frustrating, time-consuming, and prone to data entry errors or incomplete reports.

Here are 11 reasons we think you’d love Sage Grant Management:

  1. It has built in success measures and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  2. There are intelligence dashboards that provide instant visibility into performance for any program or grant
  3. It has easy to use reporting tools with grant-specific reports for success measures, performance, and budgets
  4. You can streamline project management and encourage greater collaboration
  5. You’ll enjoy organization-wide document sharing, including document tracking and version control
  6. Advanced budgeting capabilities are available to you, including multiple budget templates, line-item budgeting, and pro-forma budgeting for grant application
  7. Workflow management to improve productivity and efficiency across the organization
  8. Access to contact and communication management to build donor relationships
  9. Ability to track grant applications, including data tracking and reminders to help you manage your entire grant pipeline
  10. Internal controls to ensure the highest levels of accountability and security
  11. Seamless integration with Sage Fund Accounting providing up to the minute program and grant balance tracking, indicators, and financial oversight

By effectively managing the grant pipeline, Sage Grant Management can help ensure your organization applies for enough grants to fund its mission and to provide a stable cash flow.  It also enables executives to review organizational performance at-a-glance and make informed decisions about programs, grants, and future plans.

Have additional questions?  Want to get started using this powerful application immediately?  Give us a call we’re happy to help – 1-888-368-2463.

Sage Fund Accounting User Group Meeting – Boston 11-15-11

If you use Sage MIP Fund Accounting and you’re in the Boston area, mark your calendar and join us November 15 from 9:00 – 11:00 for a User Group Meeting. Learn how the Advanced Financial Reporting Capabilities of Sage Fund Accounting can help you: Master the tools within MIP to build reports and learn how [...]

Intacct Advantage 2011 Conference

We are looking forward to attending the Intacct Advantage 2011 Conference October 26 – 28 in Las Vegas. It will be an opportunity to connect with our customers who are using Intacct for nonprofits and we always enjoy the opportunities to see you face to face.  We’ll also be taking part in the educational sessions [...]

Comparing Fund Accounting in the Cloud and on Premise: New York Lunch & Learn

Nonprofit executives are cordially invited to our November 1, 2011 Lunch & Learn A CFO’s Guide to Evaluating Nonprofit Financial Systems. It’s one thing to gather information, but to have an opportunity to see how solutions compare and contrast is usually very helpful in determining what options would be most beneficial for your organization. Date: [...]

Increase Your Organization’s Financial Health with Sage Grant Management

On Monday, September 26 from 2:00 – 3:00e we will be having a live webcast on how you can improve your grant management with Sage Grant Management a comprehensive and collaborative tool that will save your team time and repetitious input while streamlining the grant management workflow. Ditch the spreadsheets and move into a streamlined, [...]

Sage Fundraising Online Mobile Giving

Ethics in Fundraising

Ethics in Fundraising was the topic for last night’s #Fundchat. (#Fundchat is a Twitter chat that takes place every Wednesday night 9:00e.)  Given that participants are limited to 140 characters or less – it was a lively discussion.  Here were the 8 questions that the group discussed: Does your organization embrace the Donor Bill of [...]

INNOVATE is Less than a Month Away!

We’re hosting INNOVATE in Las Vegas with the same high-quality learning session but also the first ever opportunity to enjoy Las Vegas in the evening. We look forward to seeing you there – we have a group of repeat attendees who year in and year out tell us that they always come away with valuable [...]

A CFOs Guide to Nonprofit Financial Systems for Minneapolis Nonprofit Directors

September in Minneapolis is beautiful and full of activity:  the Vikings are back on the field, the Twins are winding down their season, it’s still nice outside to enjoy the lakes and bike paths, and JMT Consulting Group is hosting a Lunch& Learn at B.A.N.K. Restaurant downtown! Please join us to learn about choosing the [...]

Central California Legal Services on JMT Consulting Group

A CFO’s Guide to Nonprofit Financial Systems Coming to Cherry Hill, NJ

Would there be a better way to spend the lunch hour on September 20 than enjoying a wonderful meal at The Capital Grille with other nonprofit executives while learning the latest on financial systems and the various technology platforms that you could put to use for your nonprofit? We hope you will join us to [...]