Charity Therapy

If one word encapsulates 2020, I'd have to say it's uncertainty. Between a global pandemic, the reignited fight against police brutality and racism, a looming recession, and an upcoming presidential election, no one knows what 2021 will look like. That kind of uncertainty infects every aspect of your decision-making, in your life and in your work. I sat down with economist and statistician Shefali Mehta to talk about what that uncertainty does to your brain and how you (and your nonprofit) can grow through it.

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It's spring 2020, and everyone is feeling a little vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Whether you're a donor or a nonprofit, how can you trust those around you? Are your donation dollars actually going to charity? Are your organizational partners really in this to pursue your mission? I sat down with my friend and ethics attorney Eric Cooperstein to talk about two lawyer-nonprofit scandals you can learn from.

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Nonprofits tend to be pretty risk-averse. I mean, failing could mean losing donor confidence, right? But on the other hand, how can we expect to pursue our missions without trying new things? I sat down with Antonio Cardona from Pillsbury United Communities to talk about how nonprofits can take certain risks today to make a lasting difference in their communities.

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Missed out on the SBA disaster loans because they ran out of money? They're baaack! Congress funded more disaster relief again. In this episode small business accounting guru Dana DeZiel answers questions like Who can apply? Is your nonprofit eligible? Why would you NOT want to get one? Where can you apply? Find Dana https://www.supportingstrategies.com/bio-dana-deziel. Check out DivvyPay mentioned www.getdivvy.com Find me @JessBirken or head over to my website at www.birkenlaw.com

With the coronavirus pandemic, things are changing every single day. It's easy to miss out on some of the updates. So, I called my friend and colleague Chad Staul to come and talk about the new paid leave laws that go into effect today. Every small business, nonprofit or for-profit, with less than 500 employees should tune in - this affects you!

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As schools are called off for the rest of the year, toilet paper flies off the shelves, and shelter-in-place orders are announced, anxieties are high. Everyone is worried about money, jobs, health, and how to stay sane in the coming weeks. So, as a leader at a small nonprofit, how are you supposed to make decisions for the organization? Meghan and Jess meet up (virtually) to chat about how to get your mind right and steer the nonprofit forward.

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Is common sense enough to run a successful nonprofit? Spoiler alert: NO! That being said, a good dose of common sense certainly helps. In this episode, your hosts Jess and Meghan are joined by Jim Hall to talk through some thorny nonprofit questions, ranging from what happens when an org goes under to how to deal with tricky funders. Listen in and see whether your nonprofit common sense is up to snuff!

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It's easy for nonprofits to fall into the habit of doing things just because that's "how they've always been done." But sometimes you have to disrupt the status quo to make new progress toward your mission. I sat down with Maria Huntley, ED of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, to talk about how one big change can make all the difference.

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Running a nonprofit is no easy task. Thankfully, there are TONS of resources out there if you just know where to look. I sat down with Kris Kewitsch of the Charities Review Council to talk about what holds nonprofits back and how the Council's Accountability Standards can help YOU level up your nonprofit.

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What do you do with a starry eyed young person who thinks they can go to law school and change the world? You let them interview you and tell them the long and winding road to working with nonprofits and government. It ain't easy! I had the random chance to interview Katlyn, who is hell bent on making a difference - who am I to stop her? But hopefully if you've ever thought "I'll go to law school and work with nonprofits! Yay!" then you'll give this episode a listen.