Hi, I’m Jess Birken.
I am the owner of Birken Law Office, I help nonprofits solve problems so they can quit worrying and get back to what matters most – The Work. I’m not like most attorneys, I actually have an outgoing personality, and – like you – I like to think outside the box. Most of my clients are passionate and have an entrepreneurial spirit. I’m like that too. My goal is to help you crush it. Getting bogged down in the minutia sucks the joy out of the important work. My clients want to do the work – not the paperwork.
My Credentials
- BA, Sociology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2001)
- JD, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Magna Cum Laude (2007)
- MA, Nonprofit Management, Hamline University (2010)
- Certified Transformative Mediator
- Want more? Check out my LinkedIn profile.
Check out my Articles page for timely information on nonprofit issues:

Cash v Accrual – whats the difference?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “Cash v Accrual ...
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Where does nonprofit money come from?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 9 minutes / FREE See: “Where does nonprofit ...
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Nonprofit Storytelling that Doesn’t Stink!, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Storytelling that Doesn’t Stink! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 27 Minutes / FREE Your nonprofit’s ...
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Brad Pitt’s Nonprofit Got Sued – And Yours Can Too
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Brad Pitt’s Nonprofit ...
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Haunted Nonprofit Halloween, by Birken Law
Haunted Nonprofit Halloween is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE Jordan Couch joins for ...
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“I Have a Nonprofit” Problems, by Birken Law
“I Have a Nonprofit” Problems is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 17 Minutes / FREE In the ...
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Nonprofit Public Finance Director on working with Jess Birken
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 3 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofit Public Finance ...
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Who owns a nonprofit?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “Who owns a ...
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The Curse of Employee Turnover for #Nonprofits, by Birken Law
The Curse of Employee Turnover for #Nonprofits is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 17 Minutes / FREE #Nonprofits ...
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#1 Tip to Start a Successful Nonprofit
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 3 minutes / FREE See: “#1 Tip You ...
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How to Be a Savvy #Nonprofit Donor, by Birken Law
How to Be a Savvy #Nonprofit Donor is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE It’s the ...
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What is Nonprofit Directors and Officers Insurance?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 8 minutes / FREE See: “What is Nonprofit ...
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#Nonprofit Q&A: The Unpaid “Employees” Edition, by Birken Law
#Nonprofit Q&A: The Unpaid “Employees” Edition is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 40 Minutes / FREE Charles McDonald, ...
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Nonprofit Q&A: Charity or Robbery?, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Q&A: Charity or Robbery? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 29 Minutes / FREE Sometimes nonprofit ...
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Founder Feature: Childhood Dream to a Nonprofit Reality, by Birken Law
Founder Feature: Childhood Dream to a Nonprofit Reality is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / ...
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Magical Consulting Dust, by Birken Law
Magical Consulting Dust is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE What’s the secret to ...
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Most insane nonprofit donor database ever, by Birken Law
Most insane nonprofit donor database ever is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 19 Minutes / FREE We ...
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Will Cut Cut Cut Tax Bill change nonprofit donor giving?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “Will Cut Cut ...
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Nonprofits – you didn’t know you needed this insurance!
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 6 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofits – you ...
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The Messiest Nonprofits: Voting Member Orgs, by Birken Law
The Messiest Nonprofits: Voting Member Orgs is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 16 Minutes / FREE Where ...
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Show Your Work!, by Birken Law
Show Your Work! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 15 Minutes / FREE There are lots of ...
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Pro-Tip: How To Start a Successful Nonprofit (HINT, it’s in the programming)
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Pro-Tip: How To ...
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Robert’s Rules: Your Personal Hell, by Birken Law
Robert’s Rules: Your Personal Hell is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE Lots of ...
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Trademarks – How does it work?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 8 minutes / FREE See: “Trademarks – How ...
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How to Tell Creditors You’re Nonprofit is Going Out of Business, by Birken Law
How to Tell Creditors You’re Nonprofit is Going Out of Business is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / ...
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When to stop using cash basis and switch to accrual?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 1 minute / FREE See: “When to stop ...
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Nonprofit Voting Members vs Non-Voting Members? by Birken Law
Nonprofit Voting Members vs Non-Voting Members? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 Minutes / FREE This ...
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How to make sure your nonprofit volunteers are covered by insurance
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “How to make ...
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What’s the Statement of Functional Expenses (And what is it good for?)
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 3 minutes / FREE See: “What’s the Statement ...
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Board Police: Conflicts Investigation Unit, by Birken Law
Board Police: Conflicts Investigation Unit is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 18 Minutes / FREE To a ...
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Founder’s Roadmap Outtakes!
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See:”Founder’s Roadmap Outtakes!” It’s ...
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Insurance for buildings and equipment
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 5 minutes / FREE See: “Insurance for buildings ...
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Nonprofit Fundraising Fake News
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofit Fundraising Fake ...
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Nonprofit Time Machine, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Time Machine is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE We loved our last ...
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What is General Liability insurance and why a nonprofit needs it?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “What is General ...
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Warning: Rant Ahead!, by Birken Law
Warning: Rant Ahead! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE All right, folks, we ...
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The Mystery of the Zombie Nonprofit, by Birken Law
The Mystery of the Zombie Nonprofit is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 33 Minutes / FREE Jess ...
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Nonprofit Marketing the Joyful Way, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Marketing the Joyful Way is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE Ephraim Gopin ...
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Start a Nonprofit to Make Yourself Money
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Start a Nonprofit ...
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Help! I got a cease & desist letter – now what?!
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “Help! I got ...
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Why cash basis is dangerous for nonprofit accounting
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Why cash basis ...
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When You Wish Upon a 1099, by Birken Law
When You Wish Upon a 1099 is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE If ...
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Setting up a chart of accounts? Avoid these mistakes!
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “Setting up a ...
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What is the nonprofit balance sheet and income statement?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “What is the ...
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Haunted Nonprofit Halloween
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 minutes / FREE See: “Haunted Nonprofit Halloween” ...
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Insurance for company cars and volunteers driving
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 6 minutes / FREE See: “Insurance for company ...
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Bitcoin for Nonprofits!, by Birken Law
Bitcoin for Nonprofits! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 27 Minutes / FREE Everyone has that one ...
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Nonprofit Q & A: Trick or Treat? by Birken Law
Nonprofit Q & A: Trick or Treat? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 Minutes / FREE ...
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Are State-wide Giving Days good?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “Are Give to ...
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What’s a Trademark (and when do you need it?)
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 6 minutes / FREE See: “What’s a Trademark ...
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Start Nonprofit To Avoid Biz Costs and Liability
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Start Nonprofit To ...
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Nonprofit Founders Syndrome: Is It Affecting Your Nonprofit?, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Founders Syndrome: Is It Affecting Your Nonprofit? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / ...
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Your Brain on Uncertainty, by Birken Law
Your Brain on Uncertainty is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 25 Minutes / FREE If one word ...
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Covid Q&A: The Nonprofit Re-Opening Guide, by Birken Law
Covid Q&A: The Nonprofit Re-Opening Guide is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE As ...
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You’ve Got (Junk) Mail, by Birken Law
You’ve Got (Junk) Mail is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE We’re pulling this ...
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Nonprofit Top Tip: Successful Fundraising
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofit Top Tip: ...
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Top 5 Trademark Mistakes Startups Make
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 9 minutes / FREE See: “Top 5 Trademark ...
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#Nonprofit Q&A: Listen to Your Treasurer!, by Birken Law
#Nonprofit Q&A: Listen to Your Treasurer! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE Not everyone ...
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Secret Real First Step to Start a Nonprofit (Hint: it’s NOT incorporating)
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Secret Real First ...
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Nonproft Board Meetings, by Birken Law
How to Get the Most Out of Your Nonproft Board Meetings is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / ...
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Charity Therapy podcast hosted by Jess Birken
This FREE podcast is presented Courtesy of Birken Law Listen to Charity Therapy, now! Through the Charity Therapy podcast Jess ...
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This Ain’t Prom!, by Birken Law
This Ain’t Prom! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE Anyone who deals with ...
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The Mission Is Your North Star, by Birken Law
The Mission Is Your North Star is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 18 Minutes / FREE Lots ...
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Charity Therapy: Most Insane Donor Database Method Ever
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 19 minutes / FREE See: “Most Insane Donor ...
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Space Cadets & Nonprofit Comas, by Birken Law
Space Cadets & Nonprofit Comas is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE We’re entering ...
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The Grayest Areas of Employment Law, by Birken Law
The Grayest Areas of Employment Law is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 25 Minutes / FREE A ...
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What is employment practices liability insurance and when do you need it?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “What is employment ...
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A Secret Cause of Your Nonprofit Diversity Problem, by Birken Law
A Secret Cause of Your Nonprofit Diversity Problem is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 28 Minutes / ...
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What is the Nonprofit Notice of Intent to Dissolve? by Birken Law
What is the Nonprofit Notice of Intent to Dissolve? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 Minutes ...
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Nonprofit Dissolution: It’s Complicated!, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Dissolution: It’s Complicated! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 15 Minutes / FREE Deciding to close ...
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Artsy Nonprofit or Nonprofit-y Art?, by Birken Law
Artsy Nonprofit or Nonprofit-y Art? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 29 Minutes / FREE There’s a ...
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When does a nonprofit need work comp insurance?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 9 minutes / FREE See: “When does a ...
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Trademark vs Copyright – what’s the difference?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 6 minutes / FREE See: “Trademark vs Copyright ...
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The Future of Donor Engagement, by Birken Law
The Future of Donor Engagement is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 29 Minutes / FREE How do ...
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Putting a Nonprofit Hyper-Sleep, by Birken Law
Putting a Nonprofit Hyper-Sleep is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE When you’re running ...
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HR: Do You Know Where the Lines Are?, by Birken Law
HR: Do You Know Where the Lines Are? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 30 Minutes / ...
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The Gates Foundation (and Divorce!), by Birken Law
The Gates Foundation (and Divorce!) is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 11 Minutes / FREE We all ...
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Founder Feature: All of Us Are Stronger Than Any One of Us, by Birken Law
Founder Feature: All of Us Are Stronger Than Any One of Us is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson ...
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What if people say my nonprofit idea sucks
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “What if people ...
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The Case of the Copied Nonprofit, by Birken Law
The Case of the Copied Nonprofit is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE Jess ...
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Network Your Brains Out!, by Birken Law
Network Your Brains Out! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE All nonprofits, no ...
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You Catch My Drift?, by Birken Law
You Catch My Drift?is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE Nonprofits are not static, ...
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