Posts by Jess Birken

In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are answering the big question – can the Trump administration target nonprofits?. We’re getting real about the fears of funding cuts and increased scrutiny, and dive in on the looming threat of the HR 9495 bill, which could label some nonprofits as terrorist organizations.  Keeping your…

Hey there, it’s Jess, and I’m so glad you’re tuning in to this episode of Charity Therapy. We’re diving into the choppy waters of nonprofit funding, especially with all the political changes shaking things up. Meghan and I are here to help you navigate these uncertain times. We’ll talk about the crucial role federal funding…

Hey there, it’s Jess Birken, your go-to nonprofit law buddy, here to save you from those endless board meetings that make you want to pull your hair out! In this episode of Charity Therapy, I’m chatting with my friend Maria Huntley, the executive director of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians. She’s got the inside…

On today’s episode of Charity Therapy, we’re diving right in with a big question – what REALLY makes a nonprofit a nonprofit? (Spoiler alert – it’s more than just the IRS status!) If you ever wondered if a nonprofit should really just be a regular for-profit business, we’ve got some juicy ideas (and a reality…

In this episode of Charity Therapy, we’re answering the big question – what even the nonprofit industrial complex? We’re pulling back the curtain on those nonprofits that seem more focused on keeping the lights on than actually solving the problems they set out to tackle. We’re also answering a burning question from a listener thinking…

Today, we’re diving deep into the world of nonprofit financial audits with my amazing guest, Peter Farstad. Peter is a pro when it comes to nonprofit finance, and he’s here to help us unravel the sometimes scary world of audits and financial transparency. We know how daunting those big, scary financial statements can seem, especially…

Hey there, nonprofit enthusiasts! In this episode of Charity Therapy, Jess is joined by her good friend and nonprofit fundraising guru, Ephraim Gopin, to chat about the highs and lows of Giving Tuesday and year-end fundraising. Spoiler alert: Ephraim isn’t the biggest fan of Giving Tuesday. We dive into listener questions, including one from someone…

In this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are diving into the wild world where nonprofits and for-profit businesses collide. Ever wondered what happens when one person owns both a nonprofit and a business? Spoiler alert: it can get messy. We’ll answer your burning questions about these murky waters, help you spot the red…

On this episode of Charity Therapy, Meghan and I are diving headfirst into the tricky world of nonprofit boards. You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered why your board seems more like a roadblock than a support system. We’ve got a juicy listener question from someone stuck with a board that feels more like a…

In this episode of Charity Therapy, my co-host Meghan and I are answering one of the top questions we get – what happens while an org’s nonprofit tax exempt status is pending? We know that the IRS application process for 501(c)(3) status can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops, so we’re here to break…