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Charity Therapy

Charity Therapy

Auteur(s): Jess Birken MNM JD
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À propos de cet audio

 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.Jess Birken, MNM, JD 543617 Développement commercial et entrepreneuriat Entrepreneurship Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • 154: It's Gravy, Baby! | What is a Nonprofit Audit? with Hannah Hugen

    154: It's Gravy, Baby! | What is a Nonprofit Audit? with Hannah Hugen
    Dec 24 2025
    Think an audit is something to fear for your nonprofit? I get it! But what if it's actually a powerful tool for growth? In this episode, I sit down with nonprofit auditor Hannah Hugen from Abdo to unpack what an audit really is and why it's not nearly as scary as it sounds. Real Listener Question: "We filed the 1023-EZ and said we'd stay under $50K… but now a funding opportunity would push us past that. Will the IRS audit us? Should we say no to the money?" Hannah and I dig into what an audit actually involves, what the IRS does (and doesn't) care about, and how nonprofits can prepare for growth without panicking. We also talk through the "scary myths" that float around new organizations and the real steps you can take now to avoid future chaos. If you've ever wondered what auditors look for, how to document properly, or what GAAP even means, this conversation breaks it down in plain English. What You'll Learn: What a nonprofit audit actually isWhen the IRS might look at your organization and why it's not as dramatic as rumors implyHow to show good-faith financial projections from your 1023-EZWhy documentation habits will save your future selfThe difference between cash and accrual accountingPractical steps to get audit-ready even if you're small Bottom line: You don't need to fear audits — you just need systems, clarity, and good habits. Your nonprofit deserves room to grow, and the right preparation makes that growth possible without being overwhelmed. Resources from this Episode Understanding Cash vs. Accrual Accounting: https://youtu.be/5tSI1IPBVWkInternal Controls 101: https://birkenlaw.com/blog/internal-controls-101/Connect with Hannah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-hugen-b0045a1b5/Learn about Abdo: https://abdosolutions.com/Previous Episode: How to Fix the Culture of Overwork at Your Nonprofit with Rachel Platt https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct153/Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CT154HH_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ Listen & Engage Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon MusicRate & Review on Apple Podcasts: Click "Ratings and Reviews" then "Write a Review"Send us your nonprofit questions: https://birkenlaw.com/podcast/#podcast-st Stay Connected Sign up for the Birken Law Email list: https://birkenlaw.com/signup/ Follow us on Facebory ook, Instagram, Twitter
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    18 min
  • 153: It's a Triple Whammy | How to Fix the Culture of Overwork at Your Nonprofit with Rachel Platt

    153: It's a Triple Whammy | How to Fix the Culture of Overwork at Your Nonprofit with Rachel Platt
    Dec 11 2025
    If your team is exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly working nights and weekends, you might be dealing with more than a scheduling issue. You might be dealing with a culture problem that is hurting your mission. In this episode, I invited my friend and people strategy expert Rachel Platt of Plattinum Consulting to talk with me about the hidden issues inside nonprofit overwork and what it really takes to build a sustainable organizational culture. Real Listener Question: I'm a new staff member, and everyone at this nonprofit works tons of overtime without being paid (as hourly employees). The ED works all the time, and the team is drowning under an unspoken expectation to always be on. How do we fix it?? In this conversation, Rachel and I dig into what overwork actually signals inside a nonprofit, why compliance and culture go hand in hand, and how leaders can unintentionally create burnout without ever meaning to. We also talk about the uncomfortable truth that many nonprofits have normalized unhealthy habits in the name of "the mission," and why that approach backfires every time. We share practical ways to reset expectations, open the right conversations, and rebuild trust without blame. You might hear some things that feel familiar, because almost everyone in the sector has lived some version of this. What You'll Learn: The first steps to take when your team is chronically overworkingHow leadership habits shape culture more than policiesWhy "mission passion" cannot replace fair compensation or boundariesWhat you can and cannot ask hourly staff to doSimple tools that help reset norms around urgency and availabilityHow to start culture change when you're the new person on the teamWhy clarity, consistency, and modeling healthy behavior matter Bottom line: Your people are how your mission gets done. If they are burning out, you are losing capacity, trust, and impact. A healthier culture is possible, but it starts with honest conversations and leadership modeling the behavior they want to see. Resources from this Episode Learn more about Platinum Consulting: https://www.plattinumconsulting.com/Reach out to Rachel Platt here: rachel@plattinumconsulting.comPrevious Episode: When an Entrepreneur has a "Really Good" Nonprofit Idea https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct152/ Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CT153_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/Rachel Platt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelplatt/ Listen & Engage Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon MusicRate & Review on Apple Podcasts: Click "Ratings and Reviews" then "Write a Review"Send us your nonprofit questions: https://birkenlaw.com/podcast/#podcast-story Stay Connected Sign up for the Birken Law Email list: https://birkenlaw.com/signup/ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
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    24 min
  • 152: That's Called Tax Fraud! | When an Entrepreneur has a "Really Good" Nonprofit Idea

    152: That's Called Tax Fraud! | When an Entrepreneur has a "Really Good" Nonprofit Idea
    Nov 27 2025

    You've got a great business idea, people want to donate to help, and you're thinking… "What if I just start a nonprofit?" Hold up — let's talk about it.

    In this episode, Meghan and I tackle one of the most common (and most frustrating) misconceptions out there — when entrepreneurs try to mix business ventures with nonprofit structures.

    Real Listener Question: "I'm coaching a small business owner who wants to restore a historic hotel, turn it into an Airbnb, and start a nonprofit to collect donations for the renovation. He says it's a win-win — is that legal?"

    This one had me fired up. We get into why turning your business dream into a "nonprofit project" is usually a fast track to tax fraud, how to tell when an idea crosses the line, and what to do instead. From historic preservation loopholes to optics in small towns, we unpack all the ways good intentions can turn into bad legal problems. If you've ever thought about forming a nonprofit to fund your own idea — listen to this first.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Why the IRS cares about your "exempt purpose" more than your passion project
    • How "good ideas" can become tax fraud with one wrong move
    • What happens when your nonprofit owns your business asset
    • Why perception matters just as much as legality
    • Smarter, legal alternatives like crowdfunding and business partnerships
    • How to know when a project is charitable — and when it's just creative entrepreneurship

    Bottom line: Not every good idea is a nonprofit idea. If your goal is to make money, serve customers, or grow your business, that's awesome — it just means you need a for-profit model, not a charitable one.

    • Learn more about IRS exempt purposes: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exempt-purposes-internal-revenue-code-section-501c3
    • Previous Episode: Can You Convert a Failing Business Into a Nonprofit? https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct149/
    • Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CT152_Transcript.pdf

    Connect with Us

    • Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/
    • Meghan Heitkamp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-heitkamp-829254115/

    Listen & Engage

    • Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music
    • Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts: Click "Ratings and Reviews" then "Write a Review"
    • Send us your nonprofit questions: https://birkenlaw.com/podcast/#podcast-story

    Stay Connected

    • Sign up for the Birken Law Email list: https://birkenlaw.com/signup/
    • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
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    20 min
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