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:
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 / ...
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 / ...
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 ...
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 ...
#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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
The Wisdom of a 14-Year-Old, by Birken Law
The Wisdom of a 14-Year-Old is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE It’s me again–ready to ...
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 ...
#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 ...
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 ...
Warning: Rant Ahead!, by Birken Law
Warning: Rant Ahead! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE All right, folks, we ...
Onto the Next Chapter!, by Birken Law
Onto the Next Chapter! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 19 Minutes / FREE We’ve got a vocab lesson ...
Show Your Work!, by Birken Law
Show Your Work! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 15 Minutes / FREE There are lots of ...
#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 ...
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 ...
Can I have my family on the nonprofit board?, by Birken Law
Can I have my family on the nonprofit board? is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 6 Minutes / FREE ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 / ...
Bitcoin for Nonprofits!, by Birken Law
Bitcoin for Nonprofits! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 27 Minutes / FREE Everyone has that one ...
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 ...
It’s Like an Onion, by Birken Law
It’s Like an Onion is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE Executive committees – what should ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 / ...
Periods of Baldness, by Birken Law
Periods of Baldness is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE There’s this phrase “no man is ...
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 ...
Where does nonprofit money come from?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 9 minutes / FREE See: “Where does nonprofit ...
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 ...
Top 5 Trademark Mistakes Startups Make
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 9 minutes / FREE See: “Top 5 Trademark ...
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 ...
Ghouls and Goblins Unite!, by Birken Law
Ghouls and Goblins Unite! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE Hang tight – we’re going ...
Haunted Nonprofit Halloween
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 minutes / FREE See: “Haunted Nonprofit Halloween” ...
Size Matters, by Birken Law
Size Matters is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE Nonprofits need to have a board – ...
Hitting the Hail on the Ned, by Birken Law
Hitting the Hail on the Ned is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 16 Minutes / FREE When you think ...
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 ...
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 / ...
Magic Wands & Shiny New Toys, by Birken Law
Magic Wands & Shiny New Toys is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE Talking about fundraising ...
Are State-wide Giving Days good?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “Are Give to ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Nonprofit Fundraising Fake News
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofit Fundraising Fake ...
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 ...
Money, Money, Money, by Birken Law
Money, Money, Money is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE In this episode of Charity Therapy, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Midwestern Shame Spirals, by Birken Law
Midwestern Shame Spirals is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 18 Minutes / FREE In this episode of Charity Therapy, ...
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 ...
Nonprofit Time Machine, by Birken Law
Nonprofit Time Machine is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE We loved our last ...
Join Me on my Soapbox, by Birken Law
Join Me on my Soapbox is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE We’re reviving a fan ...
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 ...
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 ...
Haunted Nonprofit Halloween, by Birken Law
Haunted Nonprofit Halloween is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 22 Minutes / FREE Jordan Couch joins for ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 / ...
Trademarks – How does it work?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 8 minutes / FREE See: “Trademarks – How ...
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 ...
Cash v Accrual – whats the difference?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 4 minutes / FREE See: “Cash v Accrual ...
Follow the Money, by Birken Law
Follow the Money is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE Just because your organization is striving ...
Insurance for buildings and equipment
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 5 minutes / FREE See: “Insurance for buildings ...
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 ...
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 ...
Making Ch-ch-ch-changes!, by Birken Law
Making Ch-ch-ch-changes! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 13 Minutes / FREE No one gets into nonprofit work because ...
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 ...
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 ...
Red Flags & Lemonade Stands, by Birken Law
Red Flags & Lemonade Stands is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 18 Minutes / FREE Hey there! Welcome back ...
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 ...
TLDR: Y’all Need Protection!, by Birken Law
TLDR: Y’all Need Protection! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE You can’t (and shouldn’t!) envision ...
Buses and Boats and RVs, Oh My!, by Birken Law
Buses and Boats and RVs, Oh My! is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 24 Minutes / FREE Hi there, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
One Giant Blooper, by Birken Law
One Giant Blooper is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 18 Minutes / FREE Join us in the restricted section ...
Nonprofit Top Tip: Successful Fundraising
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 2 minutes / FREE See: “Nonprofit Top Tip: ...
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 ...
Two Thumbs Down, by Birken Law
Two Thumbs Down is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE Tis the season for… Giving Tuesday! ...
Who owns a nonprofit?
This FREE Course is presented Courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 7 minutes / FREE See: “Who owns a ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Let’s Keep This Private, by Birken Law
Let’s Keep This Private is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 20 Minutes / FREE The nonprofit world throws out ...
My Life the Musical, by Birken Law
My Life the Musical is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 23 Minutes / FREE Hey there! We are back ...
Fighting to the Death for Some PTO, by Birken Law
Fighting to the Death for Some PTO is FREE courtesy of Birken Law 1 Lesson / 21 Minutes / FREE Organizational culture ...
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 ...
