Podcasts by Charity Therapy
What if you could hang out with experienced nonprofit professionals and ask them your burning questions about the day-to-day life of nonprofits? What if you could take their wisdom and bring it back to your organization, for free? That's what we do on Charity Therapy. Hosted by Jess Birken - owner and lawyer at Birken Law Office. Every episode is an in-depth look at how to run a nonprofit, from fundraising to IRS woes to people problems and more! Our goal is to empower nonprofits to achieve your mission by doing things right.
Further podcasts by Jess Birken, MNM, JD
Podcast on the topic Gemeinnützig
All episodes
100: A Twinkie for Your Brain from 2023-11-30T09:00
On this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I dig deep into Founderitis, also known as Founder's Syndrome, in the world of nonprofits.
As we answer a listener's que...
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099: Pump It Up! from 2023-11-16T09:00
On this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I break down nonprofit bylaws and everyyyyything you didn’t even know you needed to know. Trust me - by the end of this episode, you'll b...
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098: Politics Are Weird from 2023-11-02T08:00
In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are diving into the nitty-gritty of politics within the nonprofit world.
Have you ever wondered if your nonprofit can ...
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097: Girl Scouts&Vocabulary Lessons from 2023-10-19T08:00
In this episode of Charity Therapy, we’re diving deep into the mysterious realm of nonprofit chapters and affiliates.
If you've ever been perplexed by the nonprofit wo...
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096: This Ain’t the Hobbit! from 2023-10-05T08:00
In this episode, we're tackling a BIG topic in the nonprofit world - how much should you do yourself vs hiring a professional? The nonprofit sector is FULL of DIYers, and sometimes tha...
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095: Meeting Skeletons from 2023-09-21T08:00
Hey there, nonprofit party people! In this episode of Charity Therapy, we're back again, diving headfirst into a topic that sounds about as thrilling as watching paint dry: meeting min...
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094: The Anxiety Conga Line from 2023-09-07T08:00
In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I bravely step into the IRS maze.
Don't worry - we've got a flashlight and a sense of humor to guide us through!
<... Listen
093: Buses and Boats and RVs, Oh My! from 2023-08-24T08:00
Hi there, fellow nonprofit champions! In this episode of Charity Therapy, we’re diving deep into the tangled world of strategic planning and how to lead a nonprofit team without losing...
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092: Red Flags&Lemonade Stands from 2023-08-10T08:00
Hey there! Welcome back to another exciting episode of Charity Therapy! We’re diving into the complexities of moving a nonprofit organization this time.
Yes, you heard...
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Welcome to Charity Therapy! from 2023-07-27T17:25
What if you could hang out with experienced nonprofit professionals and ask them your burning questions about the day-to-day life of nonprofits? What if you could take their wisdom and bring it ...
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091: My Life the Musical from 2023-07-27T08:00
Hey there! We are back again, and this time we’re delving into the nitty-gritty of growing a small team in the nonprofit sector.
We've been through the ups and downs o...
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090: The Wisdom of a 14-Year-Old from 2023-07-13T08:00
It's me again--ready to challenge what you think you know about the nonprofit sector.
In this episode, I invite my guest - my 14-year-old - Max, to take a deep dive in...
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089: Midwestern Shame Spirals from 2023-06-22T08:00
In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I dive into the often-misunderstood world of conflicts of interest in nonprofits. What is a conflict, really? Is it a terrible, horrible,...
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Hitting the Hail on the Ned from 2023-06-08T08:00
When you think about nonprofits, lots of different things come to mind - missions and visions, fundraising, hard-working staff, and strong communities. But do you know what most folks ...
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Money, Money, Money from 2023-05-25T08:00
In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I tackle another fundraising question - this time about dealing with difficult donors. This episode is a prime example of why it’s SO im...
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Don’t Sue Each Other! from 2023-05-12T10:00
Everyone wants to be an insider, right?! Well for nonprofits, that “insider” label can make things a little more complicated. Conflicts of interest have entered the chat! Can b...
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One Giant Blooper from 2023-04-28T10:00
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Fighting to the Death for Some PTO from 2023-04-14T10:00
Organizational culture is what gets created when we’re busy doing EVERYTHING else. So, what do your fundraising practices say about your culture? We pulled this episode from th...
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Magic Wands&Shiny New Toys from 2023-03-24T11:00
Talking about fundraising can be overwhelming and FULL of jargon – but not when Patrick Kirby does it! Today we’re joined by Patrick of Listen
Let’s Keep This Private from 2023-03-10T11:00
The nonprofit world throws out that “501(c)(3)” moniker left and right – but what does that really mean? The IRS doesn’t always communicate in ways the average person can (or s...
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Follow the Money from 2023-02-24T11:00
Just because your organization is striving to do good, thatdoesn’tmean you’re exempt from having todeal with trolls and scammers. There’s no scam exemption application you can file! So, what can...
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It’s Like an Onion from 2023-02-10T11:00
Executive committees – what should they really do anyway? Spoiler alert – not as much as you think! Some nonprofit boards have a nasty habit of relying on an executive committe...
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TLDR: Y’all Need Protection! from 2023-01-27T11:00
You can’t (and shouldn’t!) envision every bad thing that might happen at a nonprofit. Nobody’s got time for that! But you do need to be prepared and protected – and that means insurance! We’re p...
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Periods of Baldness from 2023-01-13T11:00
There’s this phrase “no man is an island.” Well, guess what – no nonprofit is an island, either. In this episode, we’re talking about the different ways people try to hack the board of directors...
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Making Ch-ch-ch-changes! from 2022-12-23T11:00
No one gets into nonprofit work because they LOVE all the paperwork, but that doesn’t mean you’re exempt from doing it (sorry!). There are some core documents that every nonprofit needs to keep ...
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Size Matters from 2022-12-09T11:00
Two Thumbs Down from 2022-11-25T10:00
Tis the season for… Giving Tuesday! The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, every nonprofit you’ve ever thought about will be contacting you about giving to their Giving Tuesday campaign. But should the...
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Onto the Next Chapter! from 2022-11-11T10:00
We’ve got a vocab lesson for you today – what’s the difference between a nonprofit chapter and a nonprofit affiliate? I don't blame you if you don't know - most people use those words interchang...
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Ghouls and Goblins Unite! from 2022-10-28T10:00
Hang tight – we’re going alllll the way back to our very first episode for this special Halloween celebration! Jordan Couch, lawyer from Tacoma and friend of the pod, came on to answer some ~spo...
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Join Me on my Soapbox from 2022-10-14T10:00
We’re reviving a fan favorite for this episode, so roll up your sleeves and dust off that old book of parliamentary procedures. Do nonprofits legally need to follow Robert’s Rules of Order in th...
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It’s a Burner-Outer from 2022-09-23T19:37:08
When you think about fundraising, lots of us think about DOLLARS. It’s all about raising that revenue, dollar by dollar, right? But what if we changed the way we think about fundraising altogeth...
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Here Comes the Drama Sh#tstorm from 2022-09-09T10:00:08
No matter what kind of nonprofit you run, it all depends on the people. Board, staff, volunteers, program participants, partners – it’s humans involved that make the mission delivery ha...
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Survey Says… from 2022-08-26T10:00:54
There are several different topics in the nonprofit sector that can reliably kick up some drama, and today we’re talking about a big one – executive compensation. How much money should a nonprof...
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Let’s Get Existential from 2022-08-12T10:00:58
Shutting down a nonprofit organization is a whole messy process – from the legal requirements to the emotional impact, there’s a lot to consider. Meghan and I teamed up for this episode...
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Screaming into the Void from 2022-07-22T10:00:38
Social media for nonprofits – is it a huge opportunity, or just another task to add to your growing to-do list? I invited nonprofit social media consultant Listen
Welcome to Survivor Island from 2022-07-08T10:00:35
If your nonprofit has voting members, that means your members have REAL LEGAL standing and rights. So, what happens when things go sideways with a voting member? Membership association expert an...
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There Definitely Won’t Be Bears from 2022-06-24T10:00:50
Fundraising – every nonprofit needs to do it, but not everyone knows how to do it. That’s why Simon Scriver from Fundraising Everywhere...
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April Showers bring May 990s from 2022-04-22T11:00
Magical Consulting Dust from 2022-01-14T12:00
Space Cadets&Nonprofit Comas from 2021-12-24T12:00
We’re entering 2022 and closing in on two full years of our pandemic reality – meaning that nonprofits are still making big decisions about how to keep af...
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Show Your Work! from 2021-10-22T11:00
There are lots of differences between nonprofits and for-profits, and today we're talking about a BIG one – accountability. If you own a small business, most ...
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When You Wish Upon a 1099 from 2021-09-23T16:20:27
When You Wish Upon a 1099 from 2021-09-23T16:20:27
"I Have a Nonprofit" Problems from 2021-09-10T10:00
In the nonprofit world, you see "501(c)(3)" all over the place. But what does that really mean (or not mean)? In this episode, Meghan and I talk through some questions all about IRS tax exemptio...
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Nonprofit Storytelling that Doesn't Stink! from 2021-08-27T10:00
Your nonprofit's mission is only as strong as your ability to share it. So how do you tell your story in a way that inspires people to engage, give, and share your mission? I'm joined by Emmy-wi...
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The Grayest Areas of Employment Law from 2021-08-13T10:00
A board member regularly makes flirty comments to the executive director – does this count as sexual harassment? The board decides to let go an independent contractor due to a program closure, b...
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Artsy Nonprofit or Nonprofit-y Art? from 2021-07-23T10:00
There's a large and thriving part of the nonprofit sector made up of arts organizations – but not every arts org can or should be a nonprofit. So, what's the difference really? And if n...
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Nonprofit Marketing the Joyful Way from 2021-06-25T10:00
Ephraim Gopin of 1832 Communications is a nonprofit marketing whiz, and he joined me in this episode to answer our listeners' burning questions. Sho...
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The Mission Is Your North Star from 2021-06-11T10:00
Lots of nonprofits had to change up their operations during in the past year – but how do you know what changes to make? My guest Maria Huntley, Executive Director of Listen
The Mission Is Your North Star from 2021-06-11T10:00
Lots of nonprofits had to change up their operations during in the past year – but how do you know what changes to make? My guest Maria Huntley, Executive Director of Listen
The Gates Foundation (and Divorce!) from 2021-05-26T15:54:58
Nonprofit Dissolution: It's Complicated! from 2021-02-11T19:51:23
Nonprofit Q&A: Listen to Your Nonprofit Treasurer! from 2021-01-21T22:00:16
Nonprofit Q&A: Listen to Your Treasurer! from 2021-01-21T22:00:16
Not everyone who works in nonprofits is an expert in nonprofits - and that's okay! But if you (or your treasurer) are getting a gut feeling that something isn't right, you should listen. This episo...
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Founder Feature: Nonprofits Don't Grow Overnight from 2020-11-11T20:00
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