169: Different Flavors, Same Ice Cream | How Can a Nonprofit Organization Offer Retirement Benefits? with Christopher Tipper

169: Different Flavors, Same Ice Cream | How Can a Nonprofit Organization Offer Retirement Benefits? with Christopher Tipper

Author: Jess Birken, MNM, JD July 23, 2026 Duration: 25:07

Your nonprofit is doing well, but you're worried you'll lose good employees if you don't offer retirement benefits. You've heard of a 401(k), but is that the right move?

I'm joined by Christopher Tipper of Hunter Benefits Consulting Group to break down retirement benefit options for small nonprofits. Christopher helps us wade through the alphabet soup of 403(b)s, 401(k)s, and simple IRAs.

Real Listener Question:

"I'm an Executive Director of a small org, and I've been advocating to my board that it's time to offer more benefits, including a 401(k). I realize it's a selfish ask since I'd benefit too, but I think it would help us recruit and retain good people. I started researching and I'm already in over my head. How do I even begin?"

Christopher and I walk through the retirement plan options that actually make sense for small nonprofits, why the 401(k) isn't always the best fit, and what the ED needs to know before pitching this to their board.

What You'll Learn:

  • What retirement plan options nonprofits can consider and which ones actually make sense
  • Why a simple IRA might be the easiest and cheapest option for small orgs
  • What a 403(b) is and why only 501(c)(3) organizations can offer one
  • Why the "highly compensated employee" definition is not what you think it is
  • What compliance really costs and what to budget per eligible employee
  • Why AI is genuinely dangerous for retirement plan advice

Bottom line: If you're the ED asking whether it's a conflict of interest to advocate for retirement benefits, stop worrying. The board decides. Your job is to make the case, not to feel guilty about being included.

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Ever find yourself wishing for a direct line to seasoned nonprofit leaders, a chance to unpack the real challenges that don’t make it into the glossy annual reports? Charity Therapy is that conversation. With host Jess Birken, who brings her background as a lawyer and a Master of Nonprofit Management to the table, each session feels like pulling up a chair with a trusted advisor. The discussions move beyond theory, tackling the granular details of operations that leaders actually face-whether it’s navigating a tricky IRS compliance question, rebuilding a fundraising strategy from the ground up, or managing the complex interpersonal dynamics that define any mission-driven team. This podcast digs into the operational heart of the sector, offering pragmatic insights you can apply directly to your own work. It’s a resource built on the understanding that running a nonprofit is a continuous practice of problem-solving, and Jess guides these explorations with clarity and a deep respect for the work. Tune in for honest dialogue that treats the daily grind of management as the serious and nuanced craft that it is.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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