In this episode of Give Smart, we sit down with Kathleen Neuheardt, Chief Financial Officer at Bonfire, to explore what it takes to support a large community of nonprofits through an online fundraising platform while staying legally compliant. As Bonfire continues to grow, with thousands of nonprofits using its platform to raise funds through custom apparel, Kathleen offers a behind-the-scenes look at how they’ve scaled operationally, built infrastructure, and made compliance a core part of their strategy.
A key theme of the conversation is California AB 488, a law that redefined how charitable fundraising platforms operate in the state. Kathleen shares how Bonfire worked to ensure compliance with the law, from auditing internal processes to strengthening documentation and nonprofit vetting. She also discusses the gray areas that still exist, especially when it comes to understanding how the law applies to different kinds of platforms and partnerships.
Beyond the legal side, Kathleen talks about trust, transparency, and the operational realities of working with thousands of nonprofits. From donation disbursement to reporting and platform improvements, her insights shed light on what it means to be a responsible intermediary in the charitable giving ecosystem. If your company is thinking about embedding donations into your platform – or scaling nonprofit partnerships – this episode is packed with valuable lessons from the front lines.
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