RSM McGladrey, Inc.: helping associations overcome obstacles.

Rapid and continual change in the business community has forced many not-for-profits to seek expert advice to remain in step and provide members with the services they require.

Obstacles include

* new economic, legislative, social, and technological developments;

* problems arising from regulatory and compliance changes regarding tax exempt status;

* assessing new nondues revenue programs to support the organization's mission;

* a decreasing base for gathering new association members;

* challenges in providing the highest quality member services at the lowest possible cost; and

* organizational hurdles including strategic planning needs, human resource issues, tax compliance, technical and software developments, and executive compensation.

Inspired solutions

Association boards and committees must continually adjust strategic plans and steer management in the right direction to adequately provide for the future. Possible solutions:

* Implement a benchmarking system and compare your performance to other similar entities.

* Create a performance management system to ascertain how dollars are made and spent.

* Create state-of-the-art, for-profit subsidiaries to coordinate proprietary products.

* Attract and retain quality executives by taking advantage of the significant increases in pre-tax retirement savings going forward in 2002 regarding 401(k), 403(b), and 457 limits.

* Stay current on legislation affecting tax status or use resources such as a consulting firm with strong not-for-profit tax experience.

Our not-for-profit services include

* accounting and tax services;

* benchmarking;

* information technology solutions;

* performance management;

* process improvement consulting; and

* executive compensation and employee benefits consulting.

CONTACT

Bob Billig

Phone: [phone]

Al Weber 

Phone: [phone]