『Charity Therapy』のカバーアート

Charity Therapy

Charity Therapy

著者： 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 マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ 経済学
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  • 167: A Lawsuit Magnet | Do Nonprofits Really Need Directors and Officers Insurance? With Cody Wiswasser

    167: A Lawsuit Magnet | Do Nonprofits Really Need Directors and Officers Insurance? With Cody Wiswasser
    2026/06/25

    You're sitting on a nonprofit board. You haven't done anything wrong. Could someone really sue you personally over it? The unfortunate answer is YES, and the costs can pile up fast.

    I'm joined by Cody Wiswasser, an insurance professional at Community Partners Insurance Group, to tackle a question from a small animal rescue trying to decide whether directors and officers insurance is actually worth the cost. The short answer is yes, but Cody walks me through why that is, and what most nonprofit boards don't realize about their exposure.

    Real Listener Question:

    "We recently learned about directors and officers insurance but I'm not sure if it's really necessary. I'm worried the cost will be prohibitive for her. I don't want some litigious person to come after me for something stupid, but we work in a small community where everyone knows everyone. Is this really worth it?"

    Cody and I break down what D&O insurance actually covers, why most claims aren't what you'd expect, and why every nonprofit needs this coverage no matter how small.

    What You'll Learn:

    • The two insurance policies every nonprofit needs at a minimum
    • Why most D&O claims come from interpersonal disputes
    • What a "prominent person lawsuit" is and why it matters for wealthier board members
    • Why even frivolous lawsuits can cost $10,000+ to make them go away
    • The difference between A-side, B-side, and C-side D&O coverage
    • Why talking to an insurance broker should happen when you start, not years later

    Bottom line: No one is going to wave their fairy dust over your nonprofit just because you're doing good work. Plan for risk like you mean it and protect your board before something goes wrong.

    Resources from this Episode

    • Learn more Community Partners Insurance Group at https://communitypartnersins.com
    • Previous Episode: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct166-strategic-planning-perry-monastero/
    • Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CT167_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 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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    15 分
  • 166: This Could Have Been An Email | What Is Nonprofit Strategic Planning? with R. Perry Monastero

    166: This Could Have Been An Email | What Is Nonprofit Strategic Planning? with R. Perry Monastero
    2026/06/11
    Your nonprofit hosted its first ever strategic planning retreat… and it was a complete disaster. So, what do you do now?? I'm joined by R. Perry Monastero, owner of RPM Consulting Group, to dig into a listener question that had us both saying "oof" out loud. A brand new board member sat through a nightmare retreat full of college-style exercises and definition debates. They want to help the board get back on track, but they don't want to step on toes as the newest person in the room. Real Listener Question: "We had our first ever strategic planning retreat, and it was a NIGHTMARE. We came up with words like 'diversity' and 'integrity' and sat around debating definitions for the entire retreat. Afterwards, the ED and president drafted a new mission statement and emailed it to the board with a litany of questions. I want to help us get back on track. What do I do?" Perry and I break down what strategic planning actually is, why this retreat probably wasn't really strategic planning at all, and how a new board member can navigate the situation gracefully. What You'll Learn: What real nonprofit strategic planning looks like versus what a lot of orgs end up doingWhy a retreat without a facilitator is often a setup for disengagementWhy "this could have been an email" is the millennial response to bad governanceHow to ask great questions as a new board member without ruffling feathersWhy you don't have to do a deep-dive strategic plan every single timeWhen to bring in outside expertise and where to find reliable nonprofit resources Bottom line: You wouldn't have your best friend clean your teeth instead of a dentist. So why would you skip professional support for one of the most important conversations your nonprofit will have? Resources from this Episode R. Perry Monastero / RPM Consulting Group: https://rpmcg.comBoardSource: https://boardsource.orgNational Council of Nonprofits: https://www.councilofnonprofits.orgStandards for Excellence Institute: https://standardsforexcellence.orgEpisode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CT166_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/R. Perry Monastero: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrymonastero/ 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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    23 分
  • 165: The Past Tense of Sync | How to Get a New IRS Determination Letter

    165: The Past Tense of Sync | How to Get a New IRS Determination Letter
    2026/05/28

    So you've submitted your IRS application and you're anxiously awaiting the letter in the mail with their response. But what if it just… never comes??

    Meghan and I tackle a listener question from a new nonprofit that did everything right – they got their tax-exempt status (yay!) but still can't find the actual letter. What do you do?

    Real Listener Question:

    "My org got approved as a 501(c)(3) according to the IRS bulk list for my state. But I never actually received the determination letter and it's not on the website. Is this common? I know that many grants ask for the actual letter, so I'm not sure what to do."

    Meghan and I break down what a determination letter is, why it might not have arrived yet, and what to do if you need a replacement (for any reason).

    What You'll Learn:

    • What a determination letter is and why it matters for your nonprofit
    • Why your letter might not have arrived even though your status is real
    • How to use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and what it actually shows
    • When to wait it out vs when to request a replacement letter
    • How to request a replacement determination letter from the IRS for free

    Bottom line: The IRS moves SLOWLY sometimes. You can request a new determination letter anytime, but remember that every new request is another filing that will take time to complete. Take a deep breath and be ready to wait.

    Resources from this Episode

    • IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
    • Request a replacement determination letter from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506b.pdf
    • Learn about the leadership fiasco at the IRS: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct139
    • Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/CT165_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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    17 分
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