Data Nugget: Running Low on Liquid Reserves

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 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

20 percent: 12 months or more

27 percent: 6 to less than 12 months

13 percent: None

40 percent: 1 to less than 6 months

Source: BDO, Nonprofit Standards, A Benchmarking Survey, June 2017

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