Charity Therapy

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.

Charity Therapy is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 83. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Charity Therapy, a business show with 0 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #171

  171: You Don't Need Some Guy on a Yacht | Ditching the Fundraising Myths with Patrick Kirby

  Aug 20, 202625 min

  Fundraising doesn't have to be intimidating, jargon-filled, or a total drag. I'm joined by Patrick Kirby , the nonprofit and fundraising consultant behind Do Good Better Consulting and a self-described human exclamation mark. Patrick brings so much energy and joy to fundraising that it's genuinely contagious. We tackle three listener questions, bust some persistent fundraising myths, and Patrick goes on a rant that you will not want to miss. Real Listener Questions: What do you do when your software is getting in the way of your marketing? How do you keep the faith when what you're trying just isn't working? Patrick and I dig into what actually drives donations, why software is never the silver bullet, and why losing a program that made you almost no money might be the best thing that ever happened to your fundraising. What You'll Learn: Why "this is the way we've always done it" kills good ideas before they start How to be purposeful with your calls to action instead of always asking for money Why a CRM helps but won't magically fix your fundraising for you How to keep your motivation up when donor outreach feels like a grind Why a thank-you voicemail counts as a real, meaningful touchpoint How to make your fundraising about the donor and the community you serve Bottom line: You're doing more impact than you think. Let the old ways go, focus on great stories and real relationships, and remember that you're part of the solution to problems the government can't fix on its own. Resources from this Episode Check out Do Good Better Consulting: https://www.dogoodbetterconsulting.com Previous Episode: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct170-fire-your-board/ Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CT_Ep171_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ Patrick Kirby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fundraisingdad/ 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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  Episode #169

  169: Different Flavors, Same Ice Cream | How Can a Nonprofit Organization Offer Retirement Benefits? with Christopher Tipper

  Jul 23, 202625 min

  Your nonprofit is doing well, but you're worried you'll lose good employees if you don't offer retirement benefits. You've heard of a 401(k), but is that the right move? I'm joined by Christopher Tipper of Hunter Benefits Consulting Group to break down retirement benefit options for small nonprofits. Christopher helps us wade through the alphabet soup of 403(b)s, 401(k)s, and simple IRAs. Real Listener Question: "I'm an Executive Director of a small org, and I've been advocating to my board that it's time to offer more benefits, including a 401(k). I realize it's a selfish ask since I'd benefit too, but I think it would help us recruit and retain good people. I started researching and I'm already in over my head. How do I even begin?" Christopher and I walk through the retirement plan options that actually make sense for small nonprofits, why the 401(k) isn't always the best fit, and what the ED needs to know before pitching this to their board. What You'll Learn: What retirement plan options nonprofits can consider and which ones actually make sense Why a simple IRA might be the easiest and cheapest option for small orgs What a 403(b) is and why only 501(c)(3) organizations can offer one Why the "highly compensated employee" definition is not what you think it is What compliance really costs and what to budget per eligible employee Why AI is genuinely dangerous for retirement plan advice Bottom line: If you're the ED asking whether it's a conflict of interest to advocate for retirement benefits, stop worrying. The board decides. Your job is to make the case, not to feel guilty about being included. Resources from this Episode Learn about Christopher Tipper's firm at https://hunterbenefits.com/ Watch Christopher's videos: https://www.youtube.com/@Hunter_Benefits Previous Episode: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/ct168-flat-org-structre-pablo-otaola Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CT169_Transcript.pdf Connect with Us Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ Christopher Tipper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophertipper/ 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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  Episode #169

  Different Flavors, Same Ice Cream | How Can a Nonprofit Organization Offer Retirement Benefits? with Christopher Tipper

  Jul 23, 202625 minS0

  <p >Your nonprofit is doing well, but you're worried you'll lose good employees if you don't offer retirement benefits. You've heard of a 401(k), but is that the right move?</p> <p >I'm joined by Christopher Tipper of Hunter Benefits Consulting Group to break down retirement benefit options for small nonprofits. Christopher helps us wade through the alphabet soup of 403(b)s, 401(k)s, and simple IRAs.</p> <p >Real Listener Question:</p> <p >"I'm an Executive Director of a small org, and I've been advocating to my board that it's time to offer more benefits, including a 401(k). I...

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  Episode #168

  Oh, You Dreamers | Can a Flat Organizational Structure Work for a Nonprofit? with Dr. Pablo Otaola

  Jul 9, 202629 minS0

  <p >A nonprofit was built to run like a co-op. Everyone's equal. There's no HR. Is that your dream, or a nightmare that feel suspiciously like high school?</p> <p >I'm joined by Dr. Pablo Otaola, CEO of Thriving Culture LLC, to tackle a listener question about this exact scenario. An executive director walked into an organization built on flat structure ideals, but instead of a utopia they found bullying, cliques, and power plays..</p> <p >Real Listener Question:</p> <p >"I'm an ED for a nonprofit with a flat structure. We supposed to run like a co-op, where everyone...

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  Episode #167

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

  Jun 25, 202615 min

  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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