Looking to Head Down the (Virtual) Road to AICPA’s Not-for-Profit Conference

Over the years, we here at Thompson Grants have gone to countless grant and audit-related conferences and events. At times, we would even discuss in this blog particular topics we hoped to learn more about during event sessions. If there were multiple events facing us, we have been known to lead off the blog post with the lyrics from Willie Nelson's song, “On the Road Again.” Well, as of late, we can announce that we’re on the road again – well, to be truthful, on the road straight to our home office computer.

Last month, we attended the National Grants Management Association’s 2020 Virtual Grants Training and Summit, which was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference provided multiple leads for our sales department, and we have published six articles stemming from sessions at the conference. We also heard the latest from OMB about the issuance of revisions to the uniform guidance, which are anticipated to be released “this fall, if not as early August” (see our latest video in the Video Corner section to find out more).

Now, we will be returning to the computer, instead of D.C.’s Wardman Park Hotel, to attend the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s (AICPA) Virtual Not-for-Profit Industry Conference June 22-24. Thompson Grants is serving as media partner for the event, and Thompson subscribers will be notified on how to receive a $100 discount to attend the conference. The COVID-19 pandemic disruptions have created unique and ever-evolving challenges for nonprofits, and this conference offers sessions aiming to help guide them through these challenges, as well as to provide the latest on the CARES Act and the pandemic’s impact on audits.

Of course, the AICPA Not-for-Profit Industry Conference, for us, has always been something of an unofficial milestone when it comes to the Office of Management and Budget Compliance Supplement. One could argue that OMB would seek to issue the finalized Compliance Supplement prior to this conference to enable auditors and attendees in attendance to have the latest official word on how federal awards would be audited. We would be surprised if OMB issues the 2020 version prior to the conference, as they have their hands full with the uniform guidance revisions and determining whether to enable agencies to extend flexibilities to recipients suffering losses due to COVID-19.

Still, we’re looking forward to attending the Single Audit Update session, which has always been one of the most informative conference sessions that we cover. We also are interested in the Improving Audit Quality session and the Audit Q&A session. We hope to provide all our subscribers — whether they are an auditor, nonprofit, other grantee, awarding agency or another type of organization — with some useful information as to what to expect going forward. “I can’t wait to get on that (virtual) road again!”

Join us for our following Federal Grants Forums:
Federal Grants Forum: Chicago, IL | August 12 – 14, 2020
Federal Grants Forum: Denver, CO | October 7 – 9, 2020

Learn more at http://grants.thompson.com/conferences.aspx.