Field Guide to Investment Planning For Associations
(Updated September 2011)
Making sound investment and financial strategy decisions is no easy feat, especially in light of the current economic conditions and recent banking industry meltdown. Though there is no perfect formula for an association or non-profit investment policy, there are many articles, books, and resources that detail common risks and best practices. Read on below to learn more. (K. Stockert, Information & Web Content Specialist)
Investment Planning Essentials 
The Care and Feeding of a Healthy Organization, (Nonprofit Risk Management Center).
Reserves and the Recession, (Associations Now, Aug. 2009).
Financial Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards, (BoardSource via Google Books, 2009).
The Nonprofit Board's Role in Mission, Planning, and Evaluation, 2nd Ed., (BoardSource via Google Books, 2009).
Can You Tap Your Endowment During a Downturn?, (Nonprofit World, July/Aug. 2009). Q
Investing with Care: How to Avoid Investment Scams and Surprises, (Nonprofit World, July/Aug. 2009). Q
Make Good Use of the Treasurer & Finance Committee, (Nonprofit World, Mar./Apr. 2009). Q
Can Board Members Be Liable for Investment Losses?, (Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Feb. 11, 2009).
Finance Supplement: Reserve Rules, (Associations Now, Mar. 2008).
Cash & Investment Management for Nonprofit Organizations, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. via Google Books, 2007).
Good Cash Management Shows Good Stewardship, (Nonprofit World, Nov./Dec. 2007). Q
Helping Nonprofits Profit: Small and midsize nonprofit organizations can be great clients for financial advisors, but understanding their unique needs is critical to success, (Financial Planning, Mar. 1, 2007). Q
How can I make sense of the money?, (Association Management, Jan. 2005). Q
Financial policy primer, (REALTOR® Association Executive, Fall 2003).
REALTOR® Association Resource Exchange, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 2009).
Association Executive Events, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 2009).
REALTOR® Association Management Resources, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 2009).
Investment policy, (Worcester Regional Association of REALTORS®, current as of June 2004).
Investment policy statement, (Tallahassee Board of REALTORS®, May 2003).
Fiscal policy, (Northeast Association of REALTORS®, current as of Aug. 2001).
Cash management policy, (Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS®, Apr. 20, 2000).
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy "provides a variety of services and tools to address the problems and questions you may face as an investor." Though the Office cannot detail which investments to make, it does provide tools for avoiding fraud and making wise investment decisions.
The American Society of Association Executives, ASAEcenter.org, is an international membership organization comprised of trade association and society executives. Many of the resources on this website (including sample investment policies) are accessible only with ASAE membership, but parts of the website are free and publicly accessible, such as the Associapedia Wiki.
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center, NonprofitRisk.org, is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to nonprofit organizations. The Nonprofit Risk Management Center offers accounting, investment, and budgeting modules for a fee. However, the Library offers some free, publicly accessible articles.
To search for the most recent articles on this topic, login to NAR's ProQuest account and enter subject terms such as:
- Nonprofit organizations and financial planning
- Enter into ProQuest text box as SU(nonprofit organizations) AND SU(financial planning)
- Nonprofit organizations and financial planners
- Enter into ProQuest text box as SU(nonprofit organizations) AND SU(financial planners)
Information Savvy!
Many websites, such as Wikipedia, can be great resources to quickly get oriented on a subject before conducting more in depth research. However, anyone in the world can create and maintain a website or write a seemingly legitimate article and may, intentionally or unintentionally, publish false or "misinformation." When reviewing information on the Internet, you should always consider the ABC's:
- Accuracy. Is the information accurate? Can you confirm the same information using other resources published by a different author or organization?
- Author. Who composed the information? Can you easily identify the author and contact the author or website publisher?
- Bias. What bias might the author or author organization have?
- Credibility. What is the author’s or author organization’s credentials for publishing the information? What expertise, experience, or education does the author have in this area that makes him or her qualified to write on the subject matter?
- Currency. When was the web page last updated? Is it possible the information might have changed since this web page was last published?
- Critical eye! Remember to always use your discretion and critical eye to determine whether information you find on the web (or even in books and news sources!) is trustworthy. Putting websites to the ABC test will get you started in developing a strong critical eye.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Analysis of Financial Data (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
The Budget-Building Book for Nonprofits (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
Cash & Investment Management for Nonprofit Organizations (Adobe eReader)
Compliance Management for Public, Private, or Nonprofit Organizations (Adobe eReader)
Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
Managing Risk in Nonprofit Organizations (Adobe eReader)
Model Policies and Procedures for Not-for-Profit Organizations (Adobe eReader)
Nonprofit Strategic Planning (Adobe eReader)
Not-For-Profit Budgeting and Financial Management (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
The complete guide to managing chapter funds, (Washington, D.C.: American Society of Association Executives, 2000). HF 294 V94
The policy sampler: a resource for nonprofit boards, (Washington, D.C.: National Center for Nonprofit Boards, 2000). HF 294 F63
Financial and accounting guide for not-for-profit organizations, (New York: John Wiley, 2000). HF 294 G91
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Association Budgets and Reserves
Field Guide to Strategic Planning for Associations
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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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