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In today’s increasingly digital environment, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for nonprofit (NFP) organizations. While many NFPs operate with smaller teams and tight budgets, they still handle sensitive information—donor records, payment data, client demographics, and sometimes even health‑related or financial assistance files. Unfortunately, cybercriminals recognize this and often view NFPs as soft targets with valuable data. Because community trust is so important, a cybersecurity incident can create financial and reputational hurdles for an organization. The good news, however, is that strong cybersecurity foundations do not always require major capital investments. With strategic planning and a focus on essential controls, even the most resource‑constrained organizations can significantly reduce cyber risk. 

A new federal executive order aimed at eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse signals a clear shift for healthcare and not-for-profit organizations that receive federal funds. While oversight of federal programs is nothing new, this order formalizes a cross-agency task force and raises expectations around documentation, internal controls, and accountability, particularly for organizations that participate in Medicaid, Medicare, and federal grant and assistance programs.

Beginning with calendar year 2026, public housing agencies (PHAs) will be required to submit an annual Federal Financial Report (SF-425) for each operating subsidy grant. Reporting will continue annually until all funds are fully expended or returned to HUD. These changes reflect HUD’s increased focus on transparency, grant life cycle oversight, and compliance monitoring.

To quote George R. R. Martin, “Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” The same can be said for Schedule A. When it comes to qualifying as a public charity, the IRS offers more than one path forward. In Part I of this series, we explored the Schedule A Part II public support test—a common route for donor‑supported organizations. In this second installment, we turn to the Schedule A Part III test, an alternative approach designed for organizations that operate under a fee‑for‑service or program‑revenue model. While the tests are different, both can ultimately lead to the same destination: public charity status. 

This is the first in a two-part series that provides a detailed examination of Form 990, Schedule A, offering practical guidance to the many organizations responsible for its complete and accurate preparation. This article focuses on organizations that qualify under Part I, Line 7 – 509(a)(1) – and the steps required to substantiate this classification through the Part II public support test. 

Charitable organizations play a vital role in addressing social issues, supporting communities, and promoting public welfare. As part of their mission, these organizations often make direct charitable expenditures to fund projects, provide services, and support individuals in need. However, with the privilege of tax-exempt status comes the responsibility to ensure that funds are used appropriately and in compliance with regulatory requirements. One crucial aspect of this compliance is expenditure responsibility, a concept that ensures charitable resources are used for their intended purposes. 

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement No. 105, Subsequent Events to enhance the transparency, consistency, and value of financial reporting related to events that occur after the financial statement date, but before the financial statements are issued. The statement realigns existing guidance by clearly describing the subsequent events' time frame, distinguishing between recognized and non-recognized subsequent events, and providing specific disclosure requirements. 

Rolling out new software isn’t just clicking “Install” and calling it a day. It’s more like planning a wedding. There’s the venue (servers), the guests (users), and yes, the unexpected costs that show up like distant relatives. In today’s digital-first world, implementing software is a strategic investment that can boost efficiency, strengthen compliance, and support long-term growth. However, the true cost goes beyond the sticker price on that shiny new platform. For nonprofits operating on limited budgets, careful planning is essential to avoiding hidden costs when making a technology upgrade. 

The affordable housing landscape in the United States is on the cusp of significant change with the introduction of the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. For nonprofit organizations operating in the affordable housing sector, this proposed legislation brings both new opportunities and important considerations. Here’s what you need to know. 

Liquidity is the lifeline of any nonprofit organization. Strong liquidity ensures uninterrupted programs, financial stability, and the flexibility to respond to unexpected challenges. This article shares practical steps to monitor and manage liquidity effectively, including setting clear policies, tracking cash flow, using key financial ratios, managing reserves, and leveraging technology. By following these best practices, organizations can maintain resilience, build trust with stakeholders, and stay focused on their mission—even during uncertain times.

Private foundations are vital players in the philanthropic landscape, channeling resources toward charitable, educational, and scientific causes. However, to maintain their tax-exempt status and avoid excise taxes, these organizations must comply with strict IRS rules—particularly those governing qualifying distributions. In the second installment of our trilogy, we will follow the McQueen Family Foundation to determine their qualifying distributions. As a non-operating foundation, this is a crucial step in their annual compliance requirements. 

The Minimum Investment Return (MIR) is a critical component for all private foundations. It is a standardized calculation based primarily on the value of the foundation’s investment (i.e., non-charitable use) assets to ensure that endowments are put to charitable use rather than accumulating excessive wealth with little to no public benefit. By adhering to IRS guidelines and maintaining diligent records, foundations not only avoid costly penalties but also contribute meaningfully to the communities and causes they support. 

A new Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump on August 7, 2025, brings major changes to how federal agencies handle discretionary grants. Titled "Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking," the changes in this Order introduce more political oversight, tighter controls on how funds are used, and new compliance rules that will directly affect organizations receiving federal funding. 

Capital campaigns can be game changers for nonprofits, enabling bold investments in infrastructure, programs, and long-term growth. Whether you're building a new facility, expanding services, or upgrading technology, a capital campaign aligns fundraising with your strategic vision. 

Signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) marks a significant step forward in addressing America’s growing need for affordable housing. With the demand for low-cost units far outpacing supply nationwide, the legislation offers targeted solutions aimed at making development more feasible and sustainable.

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly woven into nonprofit operations, boards are stepping into a new and critical role. Traditionally focused on mission oversight and fiscal responsibility, today's boards must also shape how AI is introduced, governed, and aligned with the organization’s values. Below are the seven most important actions a board can take to ensure responsible and strategic AI implementation. 

Credit, purchase, and debit cards each offer convenience for small-dollar purchases, but carry varying levels of risk. Strong internal controls are essential to prevent fraud, misuse, and compliance violations.

Nonprofit leaders must assess the risks and strategically position their organizations to adapt to changing funding landscapes. This article outlines key steps to help your organization proactively evaluate funding vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and plan for sustainable operations. 

With default federal student loan collections now resumed by the Department of Education, higher education institutions and other effected nonprofits need a strategy to ensure compliance. 

Most nonprofits rely on federal and state government funds to fulfill their missions. With a federal funding freeze in the headlines, many clients are asking us how they can best prepare for a freeze and protect their organizations if funding is cut. Here are three steps you can take today to stay ahead. 

As the new year begins, your organization may be starting to plan for your next fundraising event. In addition to raising money for the organization, fundraising events are a wonderful way to build relationships within the community, raise awareness for a cause, and provide a meaningful experience to donors. Beyond the excitement and benefits of these events, there are important Form 990 reporting and compliance requirements that you must consider. Below are the most frequently asked questions we receive from our clients. We hope this helps you avoid some common pitfalls around fundraising events.

Is your nonprofit using a break-even bottom line as your ultimate budget goal? If so, you may be missing out on opportunities to strategically further your mission. By looking at your budget using a statement of financial position perspective, rather than just a profit and loss perspective, you can gain a more complete financial picture of your organization.

As organizations navigate the complexities ahead in 2025, economic uncertainty presents both challenges and opportunities. Organizations must strategically address financial stability, donor engagement, federal compliance requirements, and workforce management to sustain their missions. This article dives into five critical finance trends and explores how nonprofits can effectively adapt.

The housing industry is subject to ongoing regulatory changes that are critical to their operations. Recently, we shared changes impacting compliance for multifamily housing, but that's just one example; all facets of the industry are subject to ongoing changes to compliance.

If it’s been a while since your nonprofit organization last conducted a review of its governing documents and policies, worry not, you’re not alone! This article will highlight a few of the most critical documents applicable to nonprofits to ensure you remain in compliance and good standing.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) signed the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act (HOTMA) into law on July 29, 2016. For multifamily housing owners, HOTMA went into effect on January 1, 2024, and owners are expected to be fully compliant by January 1, 2025.

Not-for-profit board members need to wear many hats for the organization they serve. Every board member begins their term with a different set of skills, often chosen specifically for those unique abilities. As board members, we often assist the organization in raising money and as such, it is important for all members of the board to be fluent in the language of fundraising. Here are some basic definitions you need to know, and the differences between them

Of all the changes that came with the sweeping Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in late 2017, none has prompted as big a response from our clients as the changes TCJA makes to the qualified parking deduction.

A capital campaign is a big undertaking. During the planning stage of a capital campaign you need to not only focus on your donor outreach strategy, but also on outreach materials. 

Good fundraising and good accounting do not always seamlessly align. While they all feed the same mission, fundraisers work to meet revenue goals while accountants focus on recording transactions in compliance with accounting standards. 

As 2018 is about to come to a close, organizations with fiscal year ends after December 15, 2018, are poised to start implementing the new not-for-profit reporting standard. Here are three areas to address before the close of the fiscal year to set your organization up for a smooth and successful transition, and keep in compliance:

With the wind down of the Federal Perkins Loan Program and announcement that the Federal Capital Contribution (FCC) (the federal funds contributed to the loan program over time) will begin to be repaid, higher education institutions must now decide how to handle these outstanding loans.

Last week, in addition to The Eagles Greatest Hits (1971-1975) album becoming the highest selling album of all time, overtaking Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the IRS issued Notice 2018-67—its first formal guidance on Internal Revenue Code Section 512(a)(6).

Over the course of its day-to-day operations, every organization acquires, stores, and transmits Protected Health Information (PHI), including names, email addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, and social security numbers.

Recently the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) finished its Governmental Accounting Research System (GARS), a full codification of governmental accounting standards.

As we begin the second year of Uniform Guidance, here’s what we’ve learned from year one, and some strategies you can use to approach various challenges, all told from a runner's point of view.

When it comes to offering non-qualified deferred compensation to executives of not-for-profit organizations, there aren’t many options.

With the implementation of GASB 72 now in full force, GASB organizations are hard at work drafting their new fair value disclosures. The addition of a fair value hierarchy table in the footnotes will add a bit more thickness to a likely already hefty financial package. 

Why it can happen to you and how to protect yourself. We’ve all seen the headlines. Stories about not-for-profit fraud have been popping up in the news, and the statistics confirm what you might have suspected: fraud in the not-for-profit sector is on the rise.

Read this if you are a fiduciary for a defined contribution retirement plan.

Over the past several years, fiduciaries of defined contribution (DC) retirement plans—particularly 401(k) plans—have faced a sustained wave of ERISA class‑action litigation. While early cases focused heavily on excessive recordkeeping fees and imprudent investment options, recent lawsuits have sharpened their focus on plan forfeitures and revenue-sharing accounts, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty related to how these amounts are used, allocated, and disclosed.

Plaintiffs’ firms are increasingly targeting routine plan practices that were historically viewed as operational or discretionary, arguing that these practices result in unnecessary plan expenses or unfair cost shifting to participants. As a result, plan sponsors, committees, and service providers are reassessing long‑standing practices through a litigation‑risk lens.

Forfeitures: From administrative tool to litigation target 


What’s being challenged  

Forfeitures typically arise when participants terminate employment before becoming fully vested in employer contributions. Most plan documents allow forfeitures to be used to: 

  • Reduce employer contributions 
  • Pay plan administrative expenses 
  • Be reallocated to participant accounts 

Recent litigation alleges that fiduciaries breach their duties of loyalty and prudence when forfeitures are used to reduce employer contributions instead of offsetting plan expenses paid by participants. Plaintiffs argue that this effectively benefits employers at participants’ expense, even when the plan document expressly allows such use. The DOL has also targeted plans that use language that is not clear or is inconsistent with the use of forfeitures. For instance, in 2023, the DOL alleged that a plan failed to follow its own governing documents regarding the use of forfeiture funds. The judge ruled in favor of the DOL, requiring the plan sponsor to restore $575,000 to plan participants.

Key litigation themes 

  • Failure to prioritize forfeiture use to pay plan expenses 
  • Inadequate consideration of participant impact 
  • Lack of documented fiduciary deliberation 
  • Mismatch between plan document language and actual practice 

Courts have not universally agreed with plaintiffs, but the claims themselves are costly to defend and have led to settlements—even where plan language is permissive.

Revenue sharing: Heightened expectations around fee controls 


What’s being challenged 

Revenue sharing—where a portion of investment fees is used to pay recordkeeping or administrative costs—remains a common industry practice. However, plaintiffs continue to challenge: 

  • The reasonableness of total plan fees 
  • The use of asset‑based revenue sharing instead of per‑participant fees 
  • Alleged failure to monitor accumulating revenue credits or “ERISA accounts” 

A frequent allegation is that fiduciaries allowed revenue-sharing balances to accumulate beyond reasonable plan needs or failed to rebate excess amounts to participants, resulting in participants indirectly subsidizing plan expenses without adequate disclosure.

Key litigation themes 

  • Inadequate benchmarking of recordkeeping fees 
  • Lack of periodic review and return of excess revenue 
  • Failure to convert to flat‑dollar (per‑capita) fees as plan assets grow 
  • Insufficient transparency around revenue‑sharing mechanics 

Best practices to prevent—or defend against—litigation 

While litigation risk cannot be fully eliminated, plan management can significantly reduce exposure through disciplined fiduciary governance.

1. Align plan operations with plan document provisions 

  • Confirm that forfeiture and revenue‑sharing practices strictly follow plan document language. 
  • Periodically review whether current provisions remain appropriate given plan size and demographics. 
  • Consider updating plan administrative policies to clearly follow the priority rules in the plan documents for forfeiture use, if ambiguity exists. 

2. Document fiduciary decision‑making 

  • Detailed committee minutes should reflect discussions of forfeiture usage, fee structures, and participant impact. 
  • Evidence that fiduciaries considered alternatives is often more important than the outcome itself. 
  • Regular review is essential, rather than relying on “set it and forget it” approaches. 

3. Benchmark fees regularly 

  • Perform periodic recordkeeping and investment fee benchmarking using independent data. 
  • Ensure comparisons reflect plan size, complexity, and service scope. 
  • Evaluate whether revenue-sharing remains appropriate as plan assets grow. 

4. Actively monitor revenue-sharing accounts 

  • Review revenue‑sharing or ERISA accounts at least annually. 
  • Establish policies for the timely use or rebate of excess balances. 
  • Ensure consistent and equitable allocation methodologies. 

5. Evaluate participant impact 

  • Analyze how forfeiture usage and revenue‑sharing arrangements affect different participant cohorts. 
  • Be especially mindful of whether participants bear expenses that could otherwise be offset. 

6. Enhance fee transparency and disclosures 

  • Confirm required participant disclosures accurately explain revenue‑sharing arrangements. 
  • Align committee understanding with what participants are told. 
  • Reduce confusion and litigation risk with clear communication. 

Focus on fiduciary process 

The recent litigation trend does not suggest that forfeitures or revenue sharing are inherently improper. Rather, courts and plaintiffs’ counsel are signaling that process, documentation, and participant‑centric decision‑making are paramount. For plan fiduciaries, the question is no longer just what the plan allows—but whether fiduciaries can demonstrate a prudent, well‑reasoned process that prioritizes participants’ interests. As always, your BerryDunn team is here to help.

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Reducing ERISA litigation risk for 401(k) plan fiduciaries

Community engagement is at the heart of what we do as parks and recreation professionals. When it works, it builds trust, strengthens programs, and leads to better, community-driven decisions. When it falls short, participation drops, projects lose momentum, and we risk hearing from the same voices over and over.  

The reality is that most engagement challenges are shared across agencies. The difference lies in how we respond. With the right strategies, even persistent barriers can become opportunities to connect more meaningfully with our communities. 

Why community engagement still matters 

Strong engagement leads to better outcomes—plain and simple. It increases transparency, improves equity in decision-making, and helps ensure parks and programs reflect real community needs.  

More importantly, it reinforces something we all value: trust. When people feel heard, they’re more likely to stay involved, support initiatives, and advocate for your system long term. 

Common barriers to community engagement—and practical ways to overcome them 
 

1. Balancing the vocal minority and the silent majority 

Every engagement process has its regulars—the highly engaged individuals who consistently show up and share feedback. Their input is valuable, but it can unintentionally skew perception if it’s the dominant voice. Meanwhile, the majority of the community often remains quiet due to time constraints, lack of awareness, or uncertainty about how to participate.

What works in practice: 

  • Diversify outreach methods (social, text, in-park signage, events) 
  • Offer low-effort ways to participate, such as quick polls or QR codes 
  • Facilitate meetings intentionally to prevent any one voice from dominating 

The goal isn’t to quiet the vocal group—it’s to broaden the conversation. 

2. Addressing survey fatigue 

Surveys are a staple in engagement, but over-reliance can backfire. Long, frequent surveys often lead to lower response rates and less reliable data.  

What works in practice: 

  • Keep surveys brief and focused on a single topic 
  • Reduce frequency and be strategic about timing 
  • Pair surveys with interactive experiences like idea walls or live feedback stations 

Closing the feedback loop is critical here. When people see how their input shaped outcomes, future participation becomes easier to earn. 

3. Competing with convenience 

We’re not just competing with other priorities—we’re competing with convenience. If engagement requires too much effort, many people will opt out. 

What works in practice: 

  • Bring engagement to existing touchpoints: events, rec programs, community spaces 
  • Offer hybrid options (in-person and digital) to meet different preferences 
  • Make participation engaging—interactive displays, giveaways, or hands-on activities 

Think about engagement as an experience, not an obligation. 

4. Navigating trust gaps 

In some communities, skepticism toward government can limit participation before engagement even begins. That hesitation often stems from past experiences or a perception that input won’t lead to meaningful change.  

What works in practice: 

  • Partner with trusted community leaders and organizations 
  • Use plain, approachable language—avoid overly formal or institutional tone 
  • Show consistency by engaging early and often, not just during major projects 

Trust is built through repetition and authenticity, not just well-designed outreach campaigns. 

5. Doing more with limited resources 

Budget constraints are a reality for most agencies, but meaningful engagement doesn’t require a large investment—it requires intentionality.  

What works in practice: 

  • Focus on high-impact, low-cost tactics (pop-up engagement, digital tools) 
  • Leverage partnerships with local organizations, schools, and businesses 
  • Use technology to scale outreach without significantly increasing costs 

The most effective strategies are often the ones that meet people where they already are. 

A more effective approach moving forward 

Across all of these barriers, one theme stands out: engagement works best when it’s designed around the community—not the process. 

Leading practices emphasize engagement that is: 

  • Immersive (interactive and participatory) 
  • Customized (tailored to specific audiences) 
  • Convenient (easy to access and contribute) 
  • Inclusive (welcoming to all voices) 
  • Defensible (transparent and data-informed) 

When these principles guide your approach, engagement becomes more than a checkbox—it becomes a strategic advantage. 

Now turn these ideas into action 

Overcoming barriers to community engagement isn’t about finding one perfect tactic. It’s about layering strategies, staying flexible, and continuously refining your approach based on what works. The communities we serve are dynamic. Our engagement strategies should be too. 

How we can help 

BerryDunn's consultants work with you to improve operations, drive innovation, and identify service improvements based on community need—all from the perspective of our team’s combined 100 years of hands-on experience. We provide practical park solutions, recreation expertise, and library consulting. Learn more about our team and services. 

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Overcoming barriers to community engagement in parks and recreation

When the federal government shut down for 43 days (October 1 – November 12, 2025), millions of families worried about losing access to WIC—the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides healthy food and nutrition support to pregnant women, mothers of infants and young children, and children 5 years and younger.

The shutdown exposed critical vulnerabilities in how WIC is funded. While states and USDA implemented emergency measures to keep the program running, the experience underscored the need for structural reforms and more proactive planning.

So how did states keep the program running—and what can be done to better protect WIC in the future?

How states maintained WIC services during the shutdown

1. State strategies to sustain WIC funding
States relied on a patchwork of strategies to maintain benefits in the short term. Some used leftover funds and manufacturer rebates, while others tapped emergency reserves or activated executive authorities:

  • Colorado set aside $7.5 million before the shutdown even began
  • Connecticut used emergency powers to authorize state funding
  • Wisconsin declared a state of emergency to accelerate funding for food programs
  • Hawai'i and Iowa used bridge funding to keep benefits flowing

2. Federal actions to support WIC continuity
USDA also took steps to stabilize the program during the disruption:

  • Released $150 million in contingency funds and reallocated $164 million in unspent funds
  • Authorized bridge funding, with assurances that states would be reimbursed after the shutdown ended

Contingency strategies states considered for WIC operations

Even with these efforts, states prepared for the possibility of more severe disruptions by considering actions such as:

  • Restricting eligibility to high-risk populations (e.g., pregnant women and infants)
  • Implementing waitlists for new applicants
  • Accelerating SNAP benefit issuance, drawing on historical precedent

Strategies to strengthen WIC program resilience

The shutdown highlighted several opportunities for states to strengthen preparedness:

  • Pre-authorize emergency WIC funding: Engage legislatures and budget committees to allocate interim funding during federal gaps
  • Codify executive flexibilities: Establish clear authority for rapidly deploying state resources in a crisis
  • Advance USDA coordination: Secure reimbursement commitments and guidance before a shutdown begins

Federal policy proposals to protect WIC funding

H.R. 5740—the WIC Benefits Protection Act—proposes to make WIC funding mandatory, so families would not have to worry about losing benefits during a shutdown. The bill aims to strengthen and stabilize one of the nation’s most effective nutrition programs for vulnerable mothers and children.

If enacted, the legislation would transition WIC from discretionary to mandatory funding beginning in FY2026, ensuring uninterrupted nutrition benefits regardless of appropriations disruptions and improving consistency in eligibility and program operations.

However, as of May 2026, H.R. 5740 has been introduced but has not been enacted, meaning WIC funding still relies on annual congressional appropriations.

Current funding reality for WIC

In response to the 2025 shutdown, Congress ultimately passed legislation to fully fund WIC for fiscal year 2026, providing short-term stability for states and participants.

This funding is expected to support the full caseload of eligible participants and maintain core benefits, continuing a long-standing bipartisan commitment to fully fund the program.

However, because WIC remains funded through the annual appropriations process, the program could still face uncertainty during future funding disruptions. 

State-level impacts of mandatory WIC funding

If a proposal like H.R. 5740 were enacted, states could see several key benefits:

  • Elimination of uncertainty tied to annual federal appropriations
  • Stable, predictable funding for both benefits and administration
  • Reduced risk of program disruption during future shutdowns
  • Potential increases in participation due to clearer eligibility, with costs federally supported

Key takeaways on WIC funding stability

The 2025 shutdown demonstrated that quick thinking and strong federal–state partnerships can keep WIC running in the short term. But it also made clear that stopgap measures are not a long-term solution.

While Congress ultimately fully funded WIC for FY2026, that action did not resolve the underlying structural challenge: the program still depends on annual appropriations. Without longer-term reform, similar risks could emerge in future shutdown scenarios.

Proposals like H.R. 5740 highlight a path forward—but until changes are enacted, ensuring continuity will continue to depend on advance planning, coordination, and contingency strategies at both the state and federal levels.

How BerryDunn can help

BerryDunn’s consulting services support current and emerging demands and prepare clients to successfully navigate change. Our team openly communicates and collaborates with project stakeholders to gain a clear sense of organizational needs and then develop strategies and tactics to address them. Serving as trusted advisors, our team provides ongoing expertise and support so that state staff can remain focused on providing high-quality services to individuals and families. Learn more about our services and team. 

Article
How WIC stayed strong during the government shutdown—and what's next

Read this if you are a chief compliance officer or an AML/CFT officer at a community bank, credit union, or broker-dealer firm. 

The US Department of the Treasury’s 2026 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment (NMLRA), which was issued in March 2026, provides a comprehensive look at the most significant illicit finance threats facing the US financial system. While the report spans the entire economy, several themes are particularly relevant for community banks, credit unions, and broker-dealers—all of which remain critical entry points and transit nodes for illicit funds. 

Why this matters for banks and broker-dealers

The Treasury report confirms that the core money laundering threats—fraud, drug trafficking, cybercrime, human trafficking, corruption, and professional money laundering networks—have not changed. What has changed is scale and velocity.

Criminals are generating larger proceeds more quickly by: 

  • Leveraging digital channels, social media, and encrypted communications 
  • Using artificial intelligence (AI) to create synthetic identities, deepfakes, and believable scam communications 
  • Moving funds rapidly across banks, broker‑dealers, money services businesses (MSBs), and digital asset platforms 

For smaller institutions and broker‑dealers with limited compliance resources, this evolution increases both operational risk and regulatory exposure. 

Fraud risks facing banks and broker-dealers 

The NMLRA identifies fraud—not drug trafficking—as the largest source of illicit proceeds entering the US financial system. The most common suspicious activity includes:  

  • Investment fraud 
  • Business email compromise 
  • Confidence scams 
  • Elder financial exploitation 
  • Digital asset‑related scams 

Key implications:

  • Community banks and credit unions are frequently used as deposit and transit accounts for fraud proceeds, often involving unwitting account holders or money mules (people who collect or receive illicit proceeds and then transport, transfer, or convert the funds on behalf of another person or organization). 
  • Broker‑dealers face rising exposure to: 
    • Ramp‑and‑dump (a market-manipulation scheme where bad actors artificially “ramp” up a stock’s price/volume—often via deceptive promotion—then sell into the spike, leaving other investors with losses) and pump‑and‑dump (similar manipulation: promoters “pump” a stock with misleading hype, then “dump” their shares at inflated prices) securities schemes 
    • Foreign‑based investment clubs operating via social media 
    • Omnibus and correspondent-style accounts masking beneficial ownership 

Regulators are increasingly focused not just on transaction monitoring failures, but on whether firms understand how modern scams operate and have controls aligned to current typologies. 

Digital assets and stablecoins: No longer peripheral 

Although the report notes that most laundering still occurs through fiat channels, digital assets—especially stablecoins—play a growing role across fraud, ransomware, sanctions evasion, and drug trafficking. 

For community banks and broker‑dealers, the takeaway is not limited to crypto custody or trading: 

  • Fraud proceeds are often converted into stablecoins after passing through traditional deposit accounts. 
  • Digital asset kiosks, over-the-counter (OTC) brokers, and foreign exchanges are frequently downstream of US institutions. 
  • Even firms that do not directly offer digital asset products may still be the first regulated touchpoint in the laundering chain.

Institutions are expected to recognize digital asset exposure through customer behavior, not just through product offerings.

Regulatory expectations are increasingly risk‑based—and personal 

The assessment highlights that most anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement actions in recent years stem from: 

  • Weak internal controls 
  • Inadequate customer due diligence 
  • Insufficient authority, independence, or resourcing of the BSA (Bank Secrecy Act)/AML officer 
  • Failure to reassess risk as products, technologies, or customer behavior change 

Notably, enforcement actions and SEC/FINRA cases against broker‑dealers emphasize individual accountability, including AML and compliance officers. 

What regulators are signaling: 

  • “Check‑the‑box” AML programs are no longer sufficient 
  • Firms must demonstrate active understanding of emerging risks 
  • Boards and senior management are expected to own AML risk, not delegate it entirely 

Community institutions face unique pressure points 

The Treasury report recognizes that most US banks and credit unions are small institutions, often operating with lean compliance teams while facing the same threat environment as large, global firms. 

Common vulnerabilities include: 

  • Rapid customer onboarding driven by competition and fintech pressures 
  • Mergers or core conversions that disrupt customer risk profiles 
  • Third‑party and fintech relationships that blur AML accountability 
  • Overreliance on vendors without sufficient internal challenge or oversight 

At the same time, Treasury explicitly acknowledges the need to avoid excessive compliance burden, reinforcing that risk‑based tailoring—not volume of suspicious activity reports (SARs)—is the benchmark.

How community banks, credit unions, and broker-dealers can stay ahead 

The 2026 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment reinforces a central message: Illicit finance risk is no longer confined to niche products or large institutions. 

Community banks, credit unions, and broker‑dealers sit at critical points in the financial ecosystem. Institutions that proactively align their AML programs to modern fraud typologies, digital behaviors, and evolving regulatory expectations will be best positioned to manage risk without incurring unnecessary burden.

Practical takeaways for financial institutions and broker-dealers 

  1. Refresh fraud risk assessments: This is especially important for elder customers, peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, wire activity, and investment‑related referrals. 
  2. Revisit customer due diligence: Focus on beneficial ownership, nominee activity, and unexplained changes in behavior. 
  3. Assess stress‑test controls around money mule activity: Funnel accounts, rapid movement of funds, and pass‑through behavior remain top red flags. 
  4. Evaluate digital asset exposure—even indirectly: Consider how customers interact with exchanges, kiosks, or stablecoins outside the institution. 
  5. Ensure BSA/AML governance is board‑engaged: Regulators increasingly expect documented oversight and challenge from senior leadership. 

BerryDunn can help

Our risk management team helps clients develop and implement effective risk management programs tailored to each organization’s size, risk level, and resources. If you have questions, please reach out to your BerryDunn financial institutions and broker-dealers teams. 

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2026 National Money Laundering Risk Assessment: Impacts on banks & broker‑dealers

As states apply Medicaid work requirements, policymakers and stakeholders must look past top-line enrollment projections to grasp the full scope of the impact. Experience shows that work requirements introduce administrative complexity, enrollment volatility, and financial ripple effects across Medicaid programs, health insurers/managed care organizations (MCOs), providers, and employers. 

For stakeholders evaluating potential implementation, the central question is not simply how many people will lose coverage, but rather: how will this policy reshape enrollment, risk pools, utilization, provider finances, and commercial insurance markets within a specific state? 

Answering that question requires state-specific actuarial modeling grounded in real-world experience. 

Medicaid work requirements: Lessons from early state experience 

Two states, Arkansas and Georgia, that have already implemented work requirements offer important insight. The experiences in these states have highlighted the following themes:1,2 

  • Administrative complexity materially impacts state budgets and decreases Medicaid enrollment. 
  • Coverage losses were primarily driven by verification and administrative hurdles instead of actual noncompliance. 
  • Labor market impacts may be limited as there has been no evidence that the requirements led to sustained increases in employment.  

Expected impacts of Medicaid work requirements

The impact of these work requirements will vary by state but will likely include: 

  • Loss of coverage due to administrative challenges rather than true ineligibility 
  • Enrollment shifts by eligibility category and age group 
  • Increased turnover frequency and coverage gap duration 
  • Short-term increased utilization and severity of services due to delayed care during coverage loss 
  • Longer-term acuity changes tied to interrupted care

Impacts across market segments 

Work requirements do not affect Medicaid agencies in isolation. The effects cascade through multiple stakeholders. 

State Medicaid Programs 

For Medicaid agencies, expansion adults may experience greater volatility in enrollment and average member cost. Turnover will be particularly consequential, and these interruptions in care create instability in both enrollment and expenditure projections. The effects will vary significantly by state due to differing demographics, labor markets, managed care penetration, and verification processes. Accurate forecasting requires custom modeling.  

MCOs 

For MCOs, work requirements can introduce risk pool and rate-setting challenges. Even modest increases in turnover can materially impact medical loss ratios, risk adjustment performance, and rate adequacy. Since every Medicaid program operates within a unique state environment, actuarial modeling must use state-specific data.  

Providers 

Providers, particularly safety-net hospitals and community clinics, may face critical challenges: lost Medicaid revenue, increased uncompensated care, and greater revenue cycle volatility. Providers experience increased financial pressure when coverage gaps move patient care out of primary clinics and into emergency rooms. A shift toward reactive, inpatient treatment disrupts care continuity and increases the volume of uncompensated services. Bespoke modeling could increase the accuracy of cost projections for providers based on their specific data and circumstances.  

Employers 

Work requirements may also affect employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), especially among small employers, as they historically have had a higher percentage of employees covered by Medicaid. Coverage gaps may worsen employee health status and increase absenteeism and turnover. There may be pressure to offer ESI to maintain workforce stability. Employers may be incentivized to look for defined contribution options for health insurance. There is also the potential for upward pressure on fully insured premiums due to hospital cost shifting and potential higher claim costs if individuals transitioning from Medicaid into ESI have higher unmet health needs. Large employers may be less impacted by employees’ losing coverage. However, there are still potential increases in claim costs tied to uncompensated care costs shifting into commercial healthcare costs and potentially higher claim costs for employees shifting from Medicaid. There is also potential labor market dynamics impact as health coverage becomes a larger share of total compensation, affecting hiring decisions, job quality, and worker mobility. 

Understanding these dynamics requires modeling not only Medicaid enrollment changes, but also downstream impacts on commercial insurance markets. 

Why bespoke actuarial modeling matters 

State Medicaid programs operate in vastly different environments with unique populations and managed care structures. Implementation choices create nuances, such as moving from monthly to quarterly reporting or utilizing automated wage verification, can significantly shift enrollment and costs.  

Our actuarial team builds customized models to account for these variables and provide more precise projections. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), when service delivery patterns shifted dramatically, our actuaries built a specialized model to help each client adapt individual reimbursement strategies and monitor utilization trends, which was critical to maintaining the provider networks in the early stages of the PHE. 

The same disciplined, scenario-based approach applies to Medicaid work requirements. Bespoke modeling allows you to: 

  • Model enrollment changes by category of aid and demographic segment 
  • Quantify procedural disenrollment risk 
  • Estimate turnover-related utilization volatility 
  • Model potential health status deterioration due to coverage gaps 
  • Assess impacts on capitation rates and commercial premiums 
  • Support rate negotiations and policy decision-making 
  • Evaluate employer benefit strategies, including fully insured options, level-funded plans, and defined contribution options like Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs)

Most importantly, outcomes can fluctuate based on state-specific design and implementation capacity. This variation underscores the need for customized, state-level modeling rather than a reliance on broad national assumptions. 

Our work is grounded in state-specific data and operational realities. We prioritize cross-market financial dynamics to provide a precise and actionable analysis for each unique environment. 

Turning policy uncertainty into actionable insight 

Medicaid work requirements are more than an eligibility policy. They represent a structural shift with implications across public programs, managed care, provider finance, and employer-sponsored insurance. For stakeholders navigating this evolving landscape, robust and customized actuarial modeling is essential. By combining deep Medicaid experience with advanced customized modeling capabilities, our team helps clients move beyond uncertainty and provides clear data-driven insight into financial exposure, operational risk, and strategic opportunity. In an environment defined by policy change and market interconnectedness, precision matters. 

Key takeaways 

  • Medicaid work requirements primarily reduce coverage through administrative barriers, not widespread noncompliance. 
  • Enrollment volatility and coverage gaps create downstream effects on utilization, risk pools, and costs. 
  • Early state experience shows limited employment gains, alongside meaningful disruption to Medicaid programs. 
  • Impacts extend beyond Medicaid to MCOs, providers, employers, and commercial insurance markets. 
  • State-specific actuarial modeling is essential to accurately forecast enrollment shifts, financial exposure, and cross‑market impacts.    

About BerryDunn 

Our team plays a key role in helping healthcare clients maintain financial stability by accurately assessing risks. Like our clients, who range from not-for-profit managed care organizations, risk-bearing provider systems, and group health insurance purchasers to state insurance regulators and government healthcare policy agencies, each of our solutions is unique. We embrace innovative, creative ideas to achieve the best possible results, and tailor our engagements to meet each client’s needs, providing the right services at the right time. Learn about our team and services.

References 

  1. Arkansas study 5 Key Facts About Medicaid Work Requirements | KFFMedicaid eligibility and enrollment in Arkansas 
  2. Georgia study CMS’s Georgia Waiver Extension Underscores the Failure of Medicaid Work Requirements – Center For Children and Families 
  3. State level cost/enrollment estimates Medicaid Cuts and the States: Tracking State-Specific Estimates of the Impacts of Proposed Changes 


 

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Medicaid work requirements: Market impacts and the need for state-specific actuarial modeling