There’s a common misconception that all nonprofit workers are volunteers; hence, little attention is given to employees’ salaries. However, like every business, the payment of nonprofit workers is essential for the efficient operation of nonprofit organizations. Therefore, the executive directors of nonprofits should implement a working strategy that allows for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries to attract, motivate and retain their workforce, especially the essential staff.
Nonprofits account for a large share of the United States workforce; it’s the third-largest employer of labor in the United States. Still, many nonprofits face a frustrating reality that undercuts their efforts to make payroll. The irregularities in cash flow have made it extremely difficult for nonprofits to cater to employees’ salaries in due time, making many employees live paycheck to paycheck. Notwithstanding, well-informed nonprofit executives and directors have learned to leverage a nonprofit line of credit to pay employees on a rainy day, especially when donations and reimbursement are delayed. 
Now, let’s dive deep into discussing the pertinent information about nonprofits’ salaries.
Summary
What Percentage of a Nonprofit’s Budget Should Go to Salaries?
Knowing the requisite funds that should be budgeted for nonprofit salaries is essential to predicting expenses and helps in allocating the necessary resources for payroll. Every nonprofit should use compliant employment and compensation practices that are in consonance with IRS standards when allocating funds for the payment of salaries. However, the longstanding method is to spend at least 65 percent of the nonprofits’ expenses on programs, including salaries.
It’s noteworthy that there’s no hard-and-fast rule guiding the emolument of nonprofit staff since they are a not-for-profit organization. But it would help if your employees receive compensation in line with salary surveys of similar groups. In addition, when deciding on the budgetary allocation of your employees’ salaries, you should factor in the cost of your area, the cost of living, the type of services your nonprofit renders, and the size of your budget. However, don’t fail to stick to your state’s minimum wage rule.
When are Nonprofit Employee Salaries Due?
Many nonprofits have realized the importance of hiring talents to effectively further their missions. Having a skilled workforce in your fold implies that your nonprofit organizations are obligated to pay their workers adequately and on time, in line with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Moreover, depending on the nature of your workers, you may have a weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly payment schedule and stay pretty streamlined in the method you use.
Most often, it’s difficult for numerous nonprofits to keep pace with a specific payment schedule while compensating their employees due to a lack of financial flexibility leading to high employee turnover within the sector. However, a nonprofit line of credit and a cash reserve have proved to be perfect financial solutions to this problem.
How Does the Founder of a Nonprofit Get Paid?
Unlike for-profit businesses, most nonprofit organizations operate on shoestring budgets, which makes the question of how a founder of a nonprofit gets paid a highly contentious one. Yet, owners of nonprofits can also get paid for running the organizations. In other words, it’s not out of order for founders of nonprofits to get fair compensation for the work they have done. Nonprofit founders’ salaries are considered part of the operating expenses, drawn from the organization’s gross revenue.
How Does the CEO of a Nonprofit Get Paid?
The management and the smooth operation of nonprofit organizations depend on the CEOs; as such, adequate compensations make them remain motivated to carry out their duties effectively. Like the employees and founders of the nonprofit, the CEOs also get paid from the nonprofits’ operating expenses in order to coordinate the overall missions of nonprofits to reach their set targets effectively.
What to Do if Your Nonprofit Does Not Have Enough for Payroll?
There’s no denying that most nonprofits heavily rely on fundraising events to generate funding to finance their payroll. However, a recent event has shown that many uncertainties can seriously hamper fundraising efforts. For instance, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted many nonprofits’ revenue generation, leading to some of them becoming cash-strapped and unable to pay their employees.
Fortunately, a nonprofit line of credit has enabled nonprofits to have a financing alternative to cater to any financial distress, including payroll. A nonprofit line of credit helps nonprofit owners prepare for cash flow crises and meet any economic challenges head-on. Many financing institutions like Financing Solutions, a leading provider of business loans for nonprofits in the form of a 501c3/not-for-profit line of credit, are readily advancing line of credit for nonprofit organizations that needs financing for a variety of purpose.
Final Thought on Nonprofit Compensation
The importance of compensation to nonprofit employees cannot be overemphasized. Experience has shown that nonprofits with optimal operations are the ones that offer higher salaries to attract a workforce with the requisite qualification and experience. On the other hand, many nonprofits struggle to give adequate compensation to their employees due to infrequent cash flow and tight operating expenses leading to high employee turnover.
Still, many nonprofit board members with an eye to a sustainable future have adopted sound financial management policies that ensure enough financial resources to advance their missions. And one of the prominent financial tools that have fostered financial stability over the years is a nonprofit line of credit.
Do You Need A Line of Credit for Your Nonprofit?
A nonprofit line of credit is a great resource tool for nonprofit financing. Smart nonprofit leaders always have a cash backup plan in the form of a line of credit to cater to emergencies or take advantage of opportunities while they wait for government grants or reimbursement.
At Financing Solutions, a leading provider of business loans for nonprofits in the form of a 501c3/not-for-profit line of credit, we offer a straightforward 2-minute application that requires no documents to receive an offer letter. Our line of credit ensures that you have a constant cash flow for the smooth operation of your nonprofit.
Unlike traditional banks and other nonprofit lenders, we don’t ask for collateral or a personal guarantee. Plus, our nonprofit financing product is pretty inexpensive.
Find out today why we have five-star ratings from the Better Business Bureau by filling out the no-obligation, 2-minute line of credit application here.