156: Captain Depressio Reporting for Duty | Can Nonprofits Give Tax-Free Money to People?

Nonprofits are tax-exempt, so lots of people assume that nonprofits don't have to worry about taxes ever. Right???? Well, not quite 😐

In this episode, Meghan and I dig into a question I hear all the time from people who want to help their communities but are confused about how nonprofit tax rules actually work.

Real Listener Question:

"I own a couple of restaurants and we have several events to raise money for certain causes. Usually the money goes toward a charity or a local group, but sometimes we'll do it for a community member who needs financial support. The problem we're seeing is that when we give money to an individual, it messes up their taxes for the year. My bookkeeper suggested starting a nonprofit since nonprofit money isn't taxed. What kind of nonprofit would do that for us?"

Quick answer – nonprofit tax exemption does NOT mean that everyone can ignore taxes for any money coming from a nonprofit. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

In this episode, we unpack what tax exempt status really means (and what it absolutely does not mean). We talk about why starting a nonprofit does not magically make money tax free, how the IRS views giving cash to individuals, and where well-intentioned advice can lead to trouble for nonprofits AND their constituents.

What You'll Learn:

What tax deductible actually means for donors Why nonprofits cannot fundraise for specific individuals How giving money to people is treated for tax purposes Why starting a nonprofit doesn't prevent you from all taxes What private benefit and step transactions are Why sometimes the best answer is simply to pay the tax

Bottom line: Nonprofits aren't a magic bullet to absolve you of all tax complications. Usually, starting a nonprofit doesn't make your charitable activities easier – in fact, sometimes it's best just to continue on with the good deeds you already do.

Resources from this Episode

Previous Episode: What to do when a donor gifts harms more than helps: https://birkenlaw.com/charity-therapy-podcast/155-donor-gifts/ Episode Transcript: https://birkenlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/CT156_Transcript.pdf

Connect with Us

Jess Birken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbirken/ Meghan Heitkamp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-heitkamp-829254115/

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