As we blogged in June 2012, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was granted authority to make advanced payments for Community Grants that are less than $25,999. DHHS requested this authority to “help alleviate the administrative burden for staff and to support small emerging nonprofit organizations that may  have insufficient cash reserves to initiate services and invoice on a cost reimbursement basis”.

So, here we are in September with a request and some highlights from today’s DHHS workshop for the 45 nonprofits that are eligible for an advance payment.  As soon as we receive an electronic copy of the presentation, we’ll provide a link in our e-newsletter, the Roundup.

The Highlights

• Eligible nonprofits will receive information on advance payments with their contracts, and not before.
• Nonprofits (aka vendors) will be required to request or decline the advance payment. option  If you haven’t received the form, check with your contract monitor.
• Talk with your contract monitor about which payment arrangement would be most helpful to your organization.
• Make sure to  understand the differences in expenditure and performance reporting requirements.

The Request - tell us:

• Which payment arrangement you selected and why?
• If you opted for the advanced payment, how was the experience? Did it ease cash flow?  Were there any other benefits?  Any hassles?
• What would improve the way the county does business with nonprofits?

And, if you haven’t already done so, consider participating in FIRM ( Financial Reporting and Management Institute),  a public-private initiative that aims to enhance the ability of Montgomery County-serving nonprofits to serve the community by strengthening their financial management and leadership.  FIRM will be offered two times in 2012-13 and the enrollment deadline is October 1, 2012.  Click here for details.