Foundations

Our foundation clients are involved in impactful work across their regional and service footprints. At Maher Duessel, we understand the unique challenges faced by private and public charity foundations as you work to match funding with needs for the betterment of communities. Our focused team empowers your work through specialized knowledge and unmatched experience, helping you navigate the complexities of rules, regulations, and compliance to help you maximize your impact. Whether you’re a private foundation with a single donor or a public charity with an endowment, we provide tailored audit and tax services to meet your needs.

Proactive and purposeful.

Our engagement with your foundation goes beyond audits and tax preparation. With ongoing communication and proactive advice, we help you navigate challenges before they become issues. From understanding unrelated business income to preparing for an IRS examination, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. We dedicate significant resources to staying ahead of industry developments, leading education on a national level and relaying this knowledge to you.

Programs and activities provided by our foundation clients.

• Community development initiatives
• Community engagement and research programs
• Education support including funding programs for colleges and universities
• Grants to other non-profits
• Health and human service agency fundraising
• Hospital fundraising
• Library fundraising
• Medical and health research programs
• Scholarships for students

Guiding you to excellence. 

• We have a detailed understanding of the financial reporting requirements of foundations, including knowledge of the intricacies involved with donor advised funds, scholarships, endowments and more. Our service to foundations dates back to 1998 when we began auditing the foundation of a large Western Pennsylvania community college. With over 25 years of experience serving foundations, we value the impacts of your good works, and we have the expertise to assist you with a broad range of matters.
• Several of the non-profits and governments that we serve consist of affiliate foundations that require separate audit and tax filings. These affiliate foundations support organizations such as colleges and universities and health and human service providers. We are equipped to provide congruent service to those affiliates. Typically, the same team members perform the audit and tax filings for the foundation and the main reporting entity. This streamlined approach adds to the efficiency of the engagement process.
• Some of our foundation clients, including organizations involved in medical research, require a Single Audit. We have substantive experience in all facets of Single Audit compliance and make a concerted effort to stay on top of the latest Uniform Guidance regulations. We then relay this knowledge to our clients through communication throughout the year while also inviting them to our annual Continuing Professional Education (CPE) seminars where Single Audit topics are included. 
• The leaders of the firm's foundation practice, Elizabeth ('Betsy') E. Krisher, CPA, CGFM, and Michelle L. Bryan, CPA, both have extensive experience leading audit/tax engagements for prominent foundations in the Pittsburgh region including an educational foundation of a community college, the foundation connected to a large faith-based institution, and a foundation specializing in women's health care research. Ms. Krisher and Ms. Bryan are supported by a team of managers who have specialized experience in foundation accounting, auditing, and tax matters as well.
   

Services we provide for foundations.

• Financial Statement Audits
• Single Audits
• Grant Audits
• Audit Assistance and Financial Statement Preparation
• Accounting Consulting 
• IRS Form 990, 990-PF, 990-T, and other IRS Tax Filings

Publications