--- title: "Data: How Many Months of Reserves Do You Maintain?" id: "10483" type: "post" slug: "data-how-many-months-of-reserves-do-you-maintain" published_at: "2017-10-26T04:00:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:49:00+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/10/26/data-how-many-months-of-reserves-do-you-maintain/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/10/26/data-how-many-months-of-reserves-do-you-maintain.md" excerpt: "Establishing and maintaining reserves is integral to any organization’s financial stability, yet a recent BDO benchmarking survey, “Nonprofit Standards (opens in a new tab),” finds that nonprofits might not be putting enough away for a rainy day. “The survey found..." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "ASAEcenter" - "Asset Management" - "Budgets" - "financial services" - "liquidity" - "nonprofit" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Data: How Many Months of Reserves Do You Maintain? Establishing and maintaining reserves is integral to any organization’s financial stability, yet a recent BDO benchmarking survey, “[Nonprofit Standards (opens in a new tab)](https://www.bdo.com/insights/industries/nonprofit/nonprofit-standards,-a-benchmarking-survey-(1)/strategic-planning) ,” finds that nonprofits might not be putting enough away for a rainy day. “The survey found that nonprofits may be overlooking potentially disastrous liquidity issues,” said Adam Cole, partner and co-leader of BDO’s Nonprofit & Education practice. On average, the nonprofits surveyed maintain 8.7 months of operating reserves, but more than half reported that they have less than six months of reserves. BDO recommends that nonprofits keep at least six months of liquid unrestricted net assets in reserves. ### Months of Operating Reserves Maintained 12 months or more 20% 6 to less than 12 months 27% 1 to less than 6 months 40% None 13% *Source: BDO, Nonprofit Standards, A Benchmarking Survey, June 2017* [This article was originally published in the *Associations Now* print edition, titled “Data: Running Low on Liquid Reserves.”] Tags: [#Asset Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/asset-management/) [#Budgets](https://associationsnow.com/tag/budgets/) [#financial services](https://associationsnow.com/tag/financial-services/) [#liquidity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/liquidity/) [#nonprofit](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nonprofit/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [ArticleERISA Fiduciary Oversight Is No Longer Just a Retirement Plan IssueApril 9, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/04/09/erisa-fiduciary-oversight-is-no-longer-just-a-retirement-plan-issue/) - [VideoRisky Business: What Types of Insurance Do Associations Really Need?June 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/17/risky-business-what-types-of-insurance-do-associations-really-need/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [ArticleThe Most Expensive Thing Your Association Owns Is the Money It Won’t SpendAugust 21, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/21/the-most-expensive-thing-your-association-owns-is-the-money-it-wont-spend/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F10%2F26%2Fdata-how-many-months-of-reserves-do-you-maintain%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !