Finding 1173332 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-12
Audit: 386915
Organization: North Country Food Bank, Inc. (MN)
Auditor: BRADY MARTZ

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Unallowable fundraising costs were charged to federal grants, specifically t-shirt expenses for a celebration.
  • Impacted Requirements: Costs must comply with Uniform Guidance 2 CFR section 200.442, which prohibits unallowable expenses related to fundraising.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and update policies for expense allocation to ensure only allowable costs are charged to grants.

Finding Text

2025-002 (Significant Deficiency) – Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Program: AL 10.565, 10.568, and 10.569 Food Distribution Cluster Criteria: Per Uniform Guidance 2 CFR section 200.442, costs for fundraising that are not specifically related to the federal award are unallowable. Condition: Costs of t-shirts used for fundraising was included in the population of expenses allocated to the grant. Cause: Management oversight Effect: The Organization charged unallowable expenses to the grant. Context: As part of the single audit testing, 40 transactions were selected for testing. One invoice tested was for t-shirt costs for the Organization’s 40th Anniversary. Half the t-shirts were used for fundraising purposes. This is considered unallowable costs as it is costs for fundraising that is not specifically related to the federal award. Questioned Costs: $841 – half of invoice amount for 40th celebration t-shirts. Repeat Finding: Yes. Prior audit finding 2024-002. Recommendation: The Organization should review their policies and procedures for allocating expenses to grants and only charge allowable expenses. View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the recommendation and will review their procedures for allocating expenses

Corrective Action Plan

Contact Person: Susie Novak Boelter, Executive Director Corrective Action Plan: The Food Bank will review their procedures for allocating expenses to grants to ensure only allowable expenses are charged to the grant. Completion Date: Immediately

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1173329 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173330 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173331 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.569 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FOOD COMMODITIES) $1.72M
10.568 EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS) $181,000
10.565 COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM $122,302
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $98,209
10.164 WHOLESALE FARMERS AND ALTERNATIVE MARKET DEVELOPMENT $56,968
10.576 SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM $1,064