Charity Therapy

There are several different topics in the nonprofit sector that can reliably kick up some drama, and today we're talking about a big one – executive compensation. How much money should a nonprofit leader be paid? How much is too much, or too little? And what the heck is a "rebuttable presumption of reasonableness"??? Tune into this episode for some mild rants and lots of good info about paying you...

Shutting down a nonprofit organization is a whole messy process – from the legal requirements to the emotional impact, there's a lot to consider. Meghan and I teamed up for this episode to answer your questions about nonprofit dissolution. When do you know it's time to dissolve? What happens if you actually accomplish your mission? What do you do with leftover money? Tune in, and let's get existen...

Social media for nonprofits – is it a huge opportunity, or just another task to add to your growing to-do list? I invited nonprofit social media consultant Julia Campbell to join me on this episode to talk all things social. Do you NEED an account on every single platform? What's the difference between a social platform being active versus actually effective ? How can you leverage a big audience o...

If your nonprofit has voting members, that means your members have REAL LEGAL standing and rights. So, what happens when things go sideways with a voting member? Membership association expert and CEO of Management HQ Dara Rudick joined me to answer all your thorny member questions! Can you remove a member from the nonprofit? What happens when the entire membership is divided into two warring facti...

Fundraising – every nonprofit needs to do it, but not everyone knows how to do it. That's why Simon Scriver from Fundraising Everywhere and Everywhere+ joined me for this episode! We answer nonprofit questions about virtual events, whether "everyone is a fundraiser," and how to change the perception of fundraisers in the sector. And I cannot make any promises about bears! Join me on Facebook Subsc...

Lots of people assume that because nonprofits do good work, they must be a GREAT place to work. But here's the thing – the nonprofit sector is far from perfect, and there are unique issues that can tank a nonprofit's culture. Rickesh Lakhani, ED of Future Possibilities for Kids , helps me tackle listener questions about how to cope with a bad culture at your nonprofit workplace. Join me on Faceboo...

We're all focused on the goals and dollars when it comes to fundraising, but what about the paperwork? That's why I invited Warren Harmon from URS Compliance to join me on this episode. Warren helps nonprofits get compliant when fundraising, no matter what state they're in. What do you need to know when you add that "Donate Now" button to your website? What do you do when you forget to file your r...

Let's be real - the IRS basically has its own language. I mean, even attorneys and CPAs find it confusing! Eve Borenstein , my hero and Queen of the 990, joins me on this episode to help us normal folks understand what we really need to know about the IRS. You may be thinking the IRS is boring….TRUST ME! Eve is the only person who can make it fun! Tune in to find out why the 990 is your best PR to...

It's April and we're in the thick of another 990 season – meaning the IRS wants to know how you're spending your funds! We're reviving this episode to answer your burning questions about 990s. What do you do if you find out you've been doing your 990s wrong? Or even worse, not doing them at all? Tune in to find out! Join me on Facebook Subscribe to my Newsletter

I think most of us can agree (hopefully) that communication solves most problems. Right? Whether you're a new or a seasoned Executive Director, communication with your board is KEY. Kris Kewitsch from Charities Review Council joins me on this episode to drop some nuggets of wisdom about having a great relationship with your board. Tune in to find out what do you do when the board isn't engaged (or...

Employee fundraising can be great, but boy oh boy, it can also go VERY wrong. My Twitter buddy Clay Buck from TCB Fundraising joins me on this episode to unpack the beef we have with some employee giving programs. Are you doing this ethically? Do your employees actually want to participate in these programs, or does it feel coerced? Are your programs aligning with your values? This one's a doozy –...

  Anyone who has been a part of fundraising for Nonprofits knows it's all about building relationships – not just the all-mighty dollar. That's why I invited Ephraim Gopin from 1832 Communications  back on the pod to share his thoughts on #GivingTuesday and what kind of nonprofit fundraising is actually right for you! How do you start fundraising before you get your 501c3 status? What happens when...

Anyone who deals with nonprofit fundraising has probably been to WAY too many galas and golf tournaments. That's why I invited Alicia Baraga from Ripple Event Marketing to chat with me all about nonprofit fundraising and events! How do you create fun nonprofit fundraising events that people will want to attend year after year? How do you get sponsors for your nonprofit fundraising event? Plus, she...

  We loved our last episode with Amy Arcand from Willow Consulting so much, we asked her to come back! Problems with nonprofits happen . When nonprofits grow and change, it's inevitable that you're going to hit some roadblocks. In this episode, Amy and I answer questions about problems with nonprofits. And some of them are downright messy! How to clean up the mess an old staff member made, what to...

  Everyone has that one person in their life who just keeps talking about cryptocurrency, right? But it's not just for the tech and finance people anymore. In this episode, my BFF Paul and I talk all about bitcoin for nonprofits . What it is, how to buy it, and how to leverage Bitcoin for your mission! Don't worry about your eyes glazing over – I promise we don't get too technical. Get Paul's reco...

What's the secret to successful nonprofit fundraising? According to my guest Clay Buck of TCB Fundraising , it's ALL about data and systems. You can't know where you're going with your nonprofit fundraising if you don't know where you've been, right? Clay and I talk about everything from the nonprofit scarcity mindset to the real difference between nonprofit fundraising and sales . Tune in to step...

We're entering 2022 and closing in on two full years of our pandemic reality – meaning that nonprofits are still making big decisions about how to keep afloat and serve their communities while handling nonprofit crisis after nonprofit crisis . That's why we're pulling this episode out of the backlist, where Meghan and I talk all about making the hard changes in times of crisis. What happens when y...

  Nonprofit organizations are not static, stagnant organizations. They grow and change over time (and that's usually a good thing!). What happens when you grow a little past the original vision for the nonp rofit organization? How do make sure you stay compliant and do things right, even when you're doing something radically different or new? And when can change become a bad thing? Tune in to hear...

We're pulling this episode out of our backlist for your holiday weekend listening! Jason Viana, Executive Director of the Open Door , joins us to answer another batch of nonprofit questions! What rules do you need to follow if you're starting a food shelf? How can executive directors manage their mental health while running a nonprofit? What do you get by being a registered agent of an organizatio...

  All right, folks, we got a little bit snarky on this one… Today Meghan and I are tackling the toxic mentality in the nonprofit sector that we must take a vow of poverty to do this work. We're talking about executive compensation, pro bono services , and when it makes sense to invest real money in the mission. Join me on Facebook Subscribe to my newsletter Related: Can a Founder of a Nonprofit Ma...

There are lots of differences between nonprofits and for-profits, and today we're talking about a BIG one – accountability. If you own a small business, most people don't care how much money your CEO makes or how many customers you had last year. But in the nonprofit sector, there's a lot more information we need to share publicly. Tune in to this episode to hear me and Meghan tackling your questi...

  To a lot of nonprofits folks, being accused of having a conflict of interest seems like the worst thing ever. But is it really? Introducing, the Conflicts Investigation Unit!! Meghan and I sit down to answer your nonprofit conflict of interest questions: What is a conflict? How do you manage the conflicts that do come up? And what happens when you don't even try to manage a huge and obvious conf...

If you call a nonprofit staff member a 1099 contractor, does that make them a contractor? (Spoiler alert – not necessarily!) In this episode, I'm joined by insurance broker Tom Wertish of Options Insurance to talk about employees, contractors, Worker's Comp, and other nonprofit insurance questions. Tune in to learn more! Check out the MN Attorney General guidance on 1099 vs W2 and the IRS test for...

In the nonprofit world, you see "501(c)(3)" all over the place. But what does that really mean (or not mean)? In this episode, Meghan and I talk through some questions all about IRS tax exemption. Can one organization have multiple tax exempt statuses? What happens if you lose your status? Tune in to find out! Join me on Facebook Subscribe to my newsletter  

Your nonprofit's mission is only as strong as your ability to share it. So how do you tell your story in a way that inspires people to engage, give, and share your mission? I'm joined by Emmy-winning video creator and creative strategist Erica Hanna to answer that very question! Tune in to the learn the secret to strong storytelling and how make videos that just don't stink. Check out Erica's Smar...