Stephen Garten

Founder and CEO, Charity Charge

Stephen Garten is the founder and CEO of Charity Charge, the company he started in 2015 after realizing nonprofits deserved credit built around how they actually operate. He hosts The Charity Charge Show, where he talks with nonprofit executives about leadership, finance, and scale, and writes about the decisions that keep organizations mission-driven and financially sound.

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What Stephen writes about

Everything here comes back to one question: what does it take to run a nonprofit like a durable business without losing the mission? Stephen covers that from five angles.

Leadership from the executive seatConversations with executive directors and CEOs about the calls they actually make: boards, succession, hiring, and the trade-offs nobody puts in the annual report.
Financial sustainabilityReserves, revenue mix, earned income, and why a profitable nonprofit is a healthy one, drawn from organizations that have done it.
Scaling impactHow organizations grow from one program to national reach through partnerships, mergers, and operating discipline.
Funders and fundraisingDonor-advised funds, non-cash gifts, corporate giving, and what grantmakers are looking for when they decide who to back.
Why nonprofits deserve real creditThe gap that started Charity Charge: organizations running on personal cards and reimbursements, and what changes when the credit belongs to the mission.

Articles by Stephen Garten

501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4): The Financial Differences That MatterThe legal distinction between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) status gets explained constantly. The financial implications almost never do. Most guides stop at “501(c)(3) donations are deductible; 501(c)(4)… May 2026.
From Acquisition to Adoption: How TechSoup and GTIA Are Empowering Nonprofits Through AIIn the social impact sector, being “scrappy” is often badge of honor. Nonprofits routinely stretch every dollar to ensure maximum funding goes directly to their programs.… May 2026.
iMentor: Empowering Next-Gen Leaders Through MentorshipIn a world where 70% of jobs are found through someone you know, “social capital” is more than just a buzzword—it’s a gateway to the future.… May 2026.
How American Humane Protects 1.7 Billion Animals a Year (And Runs Like a Business)American Humane Society protects over 1.7 billion animals annually across 91 countries. Dr. Robin Ganzert has led the organization since 2010, when she stepped in during a financial crisis… May 2026.
SAY San Diego: Why Profitable Nonprofits and Smart Reserves Matter More Than EverIn this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we sit down with Louie Nguyen, CEO of SAY San Diego, to discuss what it looks like to… February 2026.
Inside the Sierra Club Foundation: Protecting People and PlanetThe Sierra Club has been part of America’s conservation story for well over a century. It started in 1892 with a simple idea that still holds… January 2026.
Inside TGR Foundation’s(Tiger Woods Charity) Learning Lab Model: Education, Measurement, and Durable SkillsTGR Foundation, the charity started by Tiger Woods in 1996, is marking 30 years of work. In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Stephen Garten… January 2026.
Vu Le (Nonprofit AF) on Funding Truth, Risk Aversion, and Why Nonprofits Need Collective PowerMost nonprofit leaders know the moment. A funder asks, “How are things going?” And you pause. Not because you do not know. You know exactly how… January 2026.

Charity Charge is a Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas. It issues the Charity Charge Corporate Card and the Charity Charge Business Credit Card, credit cards built exclusively for 501(c) organizations. Meet the full team or browse all authors.