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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
  • 157: Old Woman Shakes Fist at Sky | How Classy May Be Hurting Your Donor Relationships

    157: Old Woman Shakes Fist at Sky | How Classy May Be Hurting Your Donor Relationships
    Feb 5 2026
    Nonprofit newsflash - your donation platform might be quietly annoying your biggest donors 😬 In this episode, Meghan and I dig into some nonprofit LinkedIn drama sparked by a post from the one and only Eve Borenstein. Here's the situation: You gave a big donation, and you received an auto-generated donation receipt from the org's donation platform. The problem? The gift acknowledgement letter and receipt are WRONG. We break down why donor acknowledgement letters matter so much, what the IRS actually requires in those receipts for gifts over $250, and how automated systems can unintentionally damage donor trust. We also talk about the growing trend of for profit software companies promising to "handle everything" for nonprofits while missing critical compliance details. If you rely on online donation platforms, this conversation will likely make you rethink what you are outsourcing and what still needs human attention. What You'll Learn: What SHOULD be in your donor acknowledgement lettersHow bad receipts can create donor frustrationWhere donation platforms and tech solutions for nonprofits can fall shortHow automation can quietly hurt your donor retention Bottom line: Donor relationships are built on trust and gratitude. When your systems create friction instead of appreciation, even unintentionally, it can cost you future support and credibility. Resources from this Episode Listen to our past episode with Eve Borenstein here: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct104/Read Eve Borenstein's LinkedIn post about Classy here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/taxexemptlaw_so-annual-gripe-continues-last-week-activity-7412874086961541120-7bsN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEjProBQJRvgNexcp-oDkRTlIoUrU5fW7QListen to our last episode with Ephraim about GoFundMe here: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct150/Generate a good Gift Acknowledgement Letter here: https://birkenlaw.com/mg-document-app/gift-acknowledgment-letter/Previous Episode: Can Nonprofits Give Tax-Free Money to People?: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/156-nonprofit-give-money/Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CT157_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 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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    21 min
  • 156: Captain Depressio Reporting for Duty | Can Nonprofits Give Tax-Free Money to People?

    156: Captain Depressio Reporting for Duty | Can Nonprofits Give Tax-Free Money to People?
    Jan 22 2026

    Nonprofits are tax-exempt, so lots of people assume that nonprofits don't have to worry about taxes ever. Right???? Well, not quite 😐

    In this episode, Meghan and I dig into a question I hear all the time from people who want to help their communities but are confused about how nonprofit tax rules actually work.

    Real Listener Question:

    "I own a couple of restaurants and we have several events to raise money for certain causes. Usually the money goes toward a charity or a local group, but sometimes we'll do it for a community member who needs financial support. The problem we're seeing is that when we give money to an individual, it messes up their taxes for the year. My bookkeeper suggested starting a nonprofit since nonprofit money isn't taxed. What kind of nonprofit would do that for us?"

    Quick answer – nonprofit tax exemption does NOT mean that everyone can ignore taxes for any money coming from a nonprofit. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

    In this episode, we unpack what tax exempt status really means (and what it absolutely does not mean). We talk about why starting a nonprofit does not magically make money tax free, how the IRS views giving cash to individuals, and where well-intentioned advice can lead to trouble for nonprofits AND their constituents.

    What You'll Learn:

    • What tax deductible actually means for donors
    • Why nonprofits cannot fundraise for specific individuals
    • How giving money to people is treated for tax purposes
    • Why starting a nonprofit doesn't prevent you from all taxes
    • What private benefit and step transactions are
    • Why sometimes the best answer is simply to pay the tax

    Bottom line: Nonprofits aren't a magic bullet to absolve you of all tax complications. Usually, starting a nonprofit doesn't make your charitable activities easier – in fact, sometimes it's best just to continue on with the good deeds you already do.

    Resources from this Episode

    • Previous Episode: What to do when a donor gifts harms more than helps: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/155-donor-gifts/
    • Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CT156_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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    16 min
  • 155: Baby Don't Hurt Me | What To Do When a Donor Gift Harms More Than Helps

    155: Baby Don't Hurt Me | What To Do When a Donor Gift Harms More Than Helps
    Jan 8 2026
    You're getting donations for a nonprofit – and that's great! But sometimes generosity comes with strings you never expected. In this episode, Meghan and I dig into the wild world of donor gifts and why nonprofits need clear guardrails to protect themselves from gifts that actually hurt the nonprofit. Real Listener Question: "We have a donation button on our website where people can give online and set up recurring donations for monthly contributions. A few weeks ago, someone set up a daily 50 cent donation. Our accountant looked into it and is saying that it's not fraud or anything like that, but it just seems really silly. Our payment processor takes $0.30 out per transaction plus a merchant fee, so we're getting next to nothing on these donations. What do I do?" This tiny daily gift opens the door to a much bigger conversation about gift acceptance policies and the hidden costs of donations. Meghan and I talk through the drawbacks, the admin time, the donor relationship dynamics, and the surprising ways well-intentioned gifts can actually drain your resources. We also break down how to set minimums, how to talk to donors with compassion, and how to avoid getting stuck with gifts that cost more than they give back. What You'll Learn: Why every nonprofit needs a gift acceptance policyHow to know when a gift creates more harm than helpsThe hidden administrative costs behind every single donationWays to set smart donation minimumsHow to redirect donors without damaging the relationshipWhy saying no is actually part of stewardshipHow to prepare for unusual gifts before they show up Bottom line: Not every gift is a positive thing for a nonprofit. Sometimes you need to say no and guiding donors toward giving that truly supports your mission. Resources from this Episode Generate a Gift Acceptance Policy here: https://birkenlaw.com/mg-document-app/gift-acceptance-policy/For the others who aren't Gen-Xers, Night at the Roxbury: https://youtu.be/HwVh8pmOot4?si=2v3D5MAKXDFGteT_Previous Episode: What is a Nonprofit Audit with Hannah Hugen: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct154-nonprofit-audit-hannah-hugen/Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CT155_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 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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    17 min
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