Charity Therapy Podcast Por Jess Birken MNM JD arte de portada

Charity Therapy

Charity Therapy

De: Jess Birken MNM JD
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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 Economía Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • 161: A Rinky-Dink Outfit | Why Recording In-Kind Donations Matters For Your Nonprofit

    161: A Rinky-Dink Outfit | Why Recording In-Kind Donations Matters For Your Nonprofit
    Apr 1 2026
    Your nonprofit is doing real work, but do your financials show it? In this episode, Meghan and I tackle a listener question from a small nonprofit that's running into a big problem: their numbers don't match their story. The for-profit company supporting them pays for nearly everything, but none of that shows up on the books, and funders are raising eyebrows. Real Listener Question: "Our employees, office space, and equipment are all paid for by a for-profit company and donated to our nonprofit. Our financials make it look like we're barely doing anything. I've been tasked with finding major funders and the narrative just doesn't match the numbers. What do I do?" If your nonprofit receives donated goods, services, space, or time, this episode is for you. Meghan and I break down what in-kind donations are, why recording them matters, and how getting this right can completely change how funders see you. What You'll Learn: What counts as an in-kind donation and how to assign it a valueHow to record donated office space, employee time, and services on your booksWhy your financials need to tell the same story as your narrativeHow in-kind contributions can strengthen your grant proposalsWhy nonprofit bookkeeping is specialized and when to bring in the expertsThe one thing you should never do when valuing a donor's gift Bottom line: Your numbers tell a story whether you want them to or not. Make sure yours reflects the real work your nonprofit is doing. Resources from this Episode Learn about the value of volunteer time at Independent Sector: https://independentsector.org/research/value-of-volunteer-time/Quickbooks for Nonprofits Facebook Group from Megan Genest Tarnow: https://www.facebook.com/groups/QB4NPsPrevious Episode: Can Business Interruption Insurance Help Nonprofits Who Closed During ICE Raids? With Cody Wiswasser: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct160-nonprofit-business-insuranceEpisode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CT161_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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    16 m
  • 160: Indiana vs Minnesota Throwdown | Can Business Interruption Insurance Help Nonprofits Who Closed During ICE Raids? With Cody Wiswasser

    160: Indiana vs Minnesota Throwdown | Can Business Interruption Insurance Help Nonprofits Who Closed During ICE Raids? With Cody Wiswasser
    Mar 19 2026
    Your nonprofit closed its doors because of ICE enforcement or federal funding cuts. Is there an insurance policy that could actually help? Maybe, but the answer is a lot more complicated than you'd hope. In this episode, I'm joined by Cody Wiswasser, an insurance professional at Community Partners Insurance Group, to dig into my questions. With so much uncertainty hitting nonprofits right now, I needed to know whether business interruption insurance is something my clients should actually be thinking about. Here's the situation: Can nonprofits get business interruption insurance? Are closures for ICE raids or funding cuts covered? Cody breaks down how business interruption coverage works, what it actually takes to file a claim, and why the fine print in your policy matters. What You'll Learn: What business interruption insurance is and whether your nonprofit qualifiesThe difference between standard and standalone coverageWhen a closure actually triggers a claim and when it doesn'tHow your nonprofit's specific mission affects your coverage optionsWhy you need to understand your coverage BEFORE filing a claim Bottom line: Insurance isn't a magic bullet, but it DOES matter for nonprofits. For nonprofits that qualify, business interruption coverage could be important for them. Resources from this Episode Learn more Community Partners Insurance Group at https://communitypartnersins.comContact Cody for your insurance needs at cody.wiswasser@cpiginsurance.comWhich States Are In The Midwest? Get mad here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-states-are-in-the-midwest/Previous Episode: Can You Use Your Retirement Funds to "Invest" In A Nonprofit? With Jeff Beck: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/159-invest-retirement-fundsEpisode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CT160_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/Cody Wiswasser – reach out at: cody.wiswasser@cpiginsurance.com 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 m
  • 159: Reporter on the Street | Can You Use Retirement Funds to "Invest" In A Nonprofit? With Jeff Beck

    159: Reporter on the Street | Can You Use Retirement Funds to "Invest" In A Nonprofit? With Jeff Beck
    Mar 5 2026

    Do you know someone eyeing their retirement accounts to fund their nonprofit dreams? We need to talk!

    In this episode, I'm joined by Jeff Beck, a wealth advisor at COE Financial Group, to tackle a listener question that had me equal parts fascinated and horrified.

    Real Listener Question:

    "My partner has a traditional IRA with about $100,000 in it. Can she invest that money in my 501(c)(3) without penalties? Do we need to set up a for-profit company for her IRA to invest in first? Are there IRS rules against her investing in something I founded and run?"

    Jeff and I dig into the mechanics of IRAs, self-directed accounts, and what the IRS actually allows when it comes to retirement funds and charitable giving.

    Spoiler alert: nonprofits DO NOT have shareholders so you can't "invest" in them and get a return! There are some serious red flags here, both on the legal side AND in this interpersonal relationship.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Why you can't really "invest" in a nonprofit
    • How giving to a nonprofit can benefit an individual's tax position
    • What a self-directed IRA is and what you get to do with it
    • One legitimate way to donate your IRA funds to a nonprofit tax-free
    • Why getting "returns" on your contribution can put a nonprofit's tax-exemption at risk
    • How you can financially hurt yourself when you're starting a new organization

    Bottom line: Using your (or your significant other's) retirement fund to set up your new business is probably NOT a good idea. Protect yourself, protect your partner, and please, let that IRA grow.

    Resources from this Episode

    • Learn more about Jeff Beck at Coe Financial Group: https://www.coefinancial.com/
    • Previous Episode: How Nonprofits Can Find and Hire a Good Lawyer https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/158-hiring-lawyer/
    • Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CT159_Transcript.pdf

    Connect with Us

    • Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/
    • Jeff Beck – reach out at Jeff@coefinancial.com

    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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    23 m
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