THE SMART GIVER

Giving Guide IN

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The newsletter from Charities Review Council w ww.SmartGivers.org

IN THIS ISSUE Spring 2015 • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch

STATUS UPDATE WITH KRIS KEWITSCH

• Giving Guide 2015 • Defining the Meets Standards® Seal • Save the Date, Annual Forum 2015: Philanthropy 2.0

Dear Friends, Springtime – the time we wait with anticipation for buds and blooms to burst forth in Technicolor. Charities Review Council has planted seeds for a new direction and the fruits of this labor are coming to life. We are thrilled to bring you our list of nonprofit partners committed to building their strength with the Accountability Wizard®. The list of organizations working to Meet Standards continues to grow, especially when donors ask nonprofits they support to be included on this list. Nonprofits continue their commitment to building their strength by achieving the Meets Standards® seal. You may have noticed this is an abbreviated version of our Giving Guide, deliberately focused on our partners in Minnesota and beyond. This spring we’re focused on advancing our commitment to creating spaces, places and tools that support an engaged, authentic relationship between donors and nonprofits. In March we hosted #DisruptMN Town Hall, bringing community members together to learn about the ideas created during Annual Forum 2014: Disruptive Philanthropy and begin a conversation on how to move some of those ideas forward. Our goal is to create the space CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 >>

Three Easy Ways to Check Out Charity Reviews Before Giving

Giving Guide 2015

Check out the Giving Guide on page 3 of this newsletter for a list of reviewed charities.

Call (651) 224-7030

Click SmartGivers.org

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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

#DisruptMN Town Hall

unities

Photo credit: Bruce Silcox Photography

to explore how we can partner differently to create different outcomes. You can be part of the exploration by attending future events, conversations and signing up for our E-Newsletter. For the first time in Charities Review Council’s history, we’re hosting a fundraiser to ‘Grow the Good,’ a short and lively breakfast featuring speakers sharing how they grow greater good in partnership with the Council. Join us at Aria in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 12. To register go to growthegood.eventbrite.com or call us at 651.224.7030. Save the date for Annual Forum 2015: Philanthropy 2.0 on September 22, 2015. This year builds upon the themes of our past events, taking little bets - live giving - and imagining new ways to partner, supporting our mission of building strong, productive relationships between donors and nonprofits. Watch for the Fall Giving Guide when we’ll learn together about some of the successful fundraising practices happening in our backyard, great examples of mobilizing donors and nonprofits for the greater good. We’ll be talking with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, CAIR Minnesota and St. Paul Jewish Community Center. Our work is possible because of generous donors. I ask you to support our vision by making a gift to the Council using the enclosed envelope. In partnership,

Kris Kewitsch Executive Director

The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

Givindge Gui 5 2 01

MOST TRUSTWORTHY NONPROFITS

How to Use This Guide How does a nonprofit get listed as “Most Trustworthy”?

Accountability Standards

This go-to list features nonprofits that have voluntarily participated in our review and met all of our Accountability Standards®, thus earning our Meets Standards seal. The review is valid for three years and requires a small administrative payment.

Our Accountability Standards consist of 25 standards, which address a nonprofit’s performance in four critical areas: public disclosure, governance, financial activity, and fundraising. The standards have evolved over the Council’s 69 years, with broad participation from Minnesota’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, to reflect reasonable public expectations of nonprofits. Find out more about the Standards at SmartGivers.org.

Are you looking for a nonprofit that isn’t listed?

This list reflects the latest review results as of April 21, 2015. If a nonprofit is not listed, it is either unreviewed or has not completed its review. If a nonprofit has not been reviewed, encourage the organization to sign up for a review.

Charities Review Council determined that the organization meets all Accountability Standards®. Real-time up-to-date nonprofit listings available online at SmartGivers.org

Giving Guide Spring 2015 This list reflects the latest review results as of April 21, 2015 360 Communities

Arc Greater Twin Cities, The

Cars for Neighbors

A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation

Ascension Place, Inc.

Casa de Esperanza

AccessAbility, Inc.

Asian Media Access

Accessible Space, Inc.

Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul

Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis

 CES (Athletes Committed to A Educating Students) AchieveMpls

Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud Center for Victims of Torture

Avenues for Homeless Youth

Central Minnesota Arts Board

Bancroft Neighborhood Association

Centro, Inc.

Banyan Community

Channel One, Inc.

African Families Development Network

Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County / Stone Soup Thrift Shop

Child Care Aware of Minnesota

Aitkin County CARE, Inc.

Bolder Options

Alexandra House, Inc.

Books For Africa, Inc.

Alliance for Metropolitan Stability

 oy Scouts of America, Northern B Star Council

Aeon African Development Center of Minnesota

Alliance Housing Inc.  LS Association, MN/ND/SD A Chapter, The Alzheimer’s Association, Minnesota– North Dakota Chapter American Refugee Committee Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Ampersand Families Ananya Dance Theatre Angel Foundation Animal Humane Society Anna Marie’s Alliance Annex Teen Clinic ARAHA (American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa)

Breanna’s Gift Bridge for Youth, The Bridges of Hope Bridges to Learning Bridging Camp Fire Minnesota Camp Odayin Can Do Canines Cancer Legal Line Canvas Health CAPI USA CaringBridge Carmen Pampa Fund

Child Care Choices ChildFund International Children’s Cancer Research Fund Children’s Dental Services Children’s HeartLink Children’s Home Society of Minnesota Children’s Theatre Company Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester College Possible Common Hope CommonBond Communities Community Action Duluth, Inc. Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties Community Health Charities Minnesota Community Involvement Programs

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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

Giving Guide – continued

Can’t find a charity?

See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.

Spring 2015 Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc. Community Thread Como Friends COMPAS (Community Programs in the Arts) Conflict Resolution Center Conservation Corps

Franconia Sculpture Park

Jeremiah Program

Fraser

Jewish Community Action

Free Arts Minnesota

Jewish Community Center of the Greater St. Paul Area

Fresh Energy Freshwater Society Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis Jewish Family Service of St. Paul Joseph’s Coat, Inc.

Cookie Cart

Friends of the Hennepin County Library

CornerHouse

Friends of the Mississippi River

Jungle Theater

Cornerstone Advocacy Service

 riends of the Ramsey F County Libraries

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Inc.

Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Transgender Pride Twin Cities

Kaleidoscope Place

Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota (CAIR-MN) Courage Center Crisis Line and Referral Service CROSS CrossingBarriers Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Inc.

 irl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin G River Valleys Goodwill / Easter Seals Minnesota Greater Mankato Area United Way

Dakota Woodlands

 reater Metropolitan Housing G Corporation

DARTS

Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

DinoMights

Greater Twin Cities United Way

Diversity Council

Guild Incorporated

Dodge Nature Center

Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County

Douglas County Car Care Program Eagan Resource Center East Side Learning Center East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc. Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc. ECHO Minnesota Ecolibrium3 (new organization) Educate Tanzania (new organization) ElderCircle EMERGE Community Development

Hamm Clinic Hands of Hope Resource Center HandsOn Twin Cities Hastings Family Service HealthEast Foundation Helping Hands Outreach Helping Paws, Inc.  FH of Douglas County, H Minnesota, Inc.

Environmental Initiative

 onors Choirs of Southeast H Minnesota

Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

Hope Centers for Children of Africa

EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services

HOPE Coalition

 ye-Link Foundation E (new organization)

Hope Community, Inc.

Face to Face Health & Counseling Service, Inc. Fairview Foundation Faith In Action In Red Wing Faith’s Lodge Family Pathways FamilyMeans FamilyWise Feed My Starving Children  ergus Falls Senior Citizens F Program, Inc. Food for Hungry Minds

Joyce Preschool

Karen Organization of Minnesota Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Foundation Keystone Community Services Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc. Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project Lakeshore Players Theatre Latino Economic Development Center Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Learning Disabilities Association (LDA Minnesota) Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well-Being LifeSource Lifetrack Life-Work Planning Center Board, Inc. Lifeworks Services, Inc. Listening House of St. Paul, Inc. Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly Living Well Disability Services Loaves and Fishes Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

HopeKids, Inc.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota

House of Charity, Inc.

MAP for Nonprofits

HousingLink

MCEA

Hunger Solutions Minnesota

Mediation Services for Anoka County

In Progress

Memorial Blood Centers, a division of Innovative Blood Resources

Initiative Foundation Intercongregation Communities Association (ICA Food Shelf) I nterfaith Outreach & Community Partners

Mental Health Association of Minnesota Merrick, Inc. Metro Meals on Wheels, Inc.

International Institute of Minnesota

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Iringa Hope (new organization)

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Jabbok Family Services

Midwest Special Services, Inc.

The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

Giving Guide – continued

Can’t find a charity?

See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.

Spring 2015 MIGIZI Communications

Northwoods Partners

Scholarship America, Inc.

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation

One Heartland

Second Harvest Heartland

Minneapolis Jewish Federation  innesota Adoption Resource M Network Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge Minnesota AIDS Project  innesota Assistance Council M for Veterans Minnesota Children’s Museum  innesota Communities Caring M for Children, MN Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America

Open Access Connections Open Arms of Minnesota Open Door Health Center  pen Your Heart to the Hungry O and Homeless Opportunity Neighborhood Opportunity Partners Ordway Center for the Performing Arts Parents United for Public Schools Park Nicollet Foundation

Minnesota Computers for Schools

Pathways Minneapolis

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (new organization)

 innesota Council on Economic M Education Minnesota Diversified Industries Minnesota Fathers & Families Network Minnesota International Center Minnesota Land Trust Minnesota Life College Minnesota Literacy Council Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Pawsitivity Service Dogs People Incorporated Mental Health Services  eople Reaching Out To People P (PROP)

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Semcac Senior Community Services ServeMinnesota Simpson Housing Services, Inc. Sing Out Loud/Bella Voce Young Women’s Choir Sojourner Project, Inc. Solid Ground Somali Community Resettlement Services Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women Southside Family Nurturing Center Southside Services I. Inc.

People Serving People, Inc.

Springboard for the Arts

Perspectives, Inc.

St. Anthony Park Area Seniors

Pet Haven, Inc. of Minnesota

St. Croix Valley Foundation

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development

Pillager Family Council

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance

Pine River-Backus Family Center

Minnesota Project, The

Planned Parenthood, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

 innesota Public Radio / American M Public Media

Second Harvest North Central Food Bank

St. Paul Neighborhood Network St. Stephen’s Human Services Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

Plymouth Christian Youth Center

Store To Door

Minnesota Sinfonia

Portico Healthnet

Students Today Leaders Forever

 innesota State Academy for the M Blind Foundation

 owderhorn Park Neighborhood P Association

Susan G. Komen Minnesota

Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency

Prepare + Prosper

 innesota Youth Intervention M Programs Association

 roject FINE (Focus on Integrating P Newcomers through Education)

Miracles of Mitch Foundation

Project for Pride in Living (PPL)

MyHealth for Teens & Young Adults

Range Respite Project, Inc.

NAMI Minnesota

Reading Center, The

NAMI Southeast Minnesota

Redeemer Center for Life

National Youth Leadership Council

RELATE Counseling Center

Neighborhood Development Center

RESOURCE, Inc.

Neighborhood House

 etrieve a Golden of Minnesota R (RAGOM), Inc.

Neighbors, Inc. New Pathways, Inc. North Metro Pediatrics Northeast Youth & Family Services Northern Clay Center Northern Dental Access Center Northside Achievement Zone Northwest Resources for Families

Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest

Sustainable Resources Center, Inc. Tanzania Life Project Tasks Unlimited, Inc. Teens Alone The Family Partnership The Food Group, formerly Emergency Foodshelf Network The Loppet Foundation The Phoenix Residence Inc. The Sanneh Foundation Think Small Three Rivers Park District Foundation Touchstone Mental Health Tree Trust

RS EDEN

TreeHouse

Rural Renewable Energy Alliance

Tri-County Humane Society

Salvation Army- Twin Cities

True Friends

SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)

Tubman

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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

Giving Guide – continued

Can’t find a charity?

See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.

Spring 2015 Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

VEAP Inc.

Will Steger Foundation

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Vision Loss Resources

Wingspan Life Resources

 nion Gospel Mission Association U of St. Paul

VocalEssence

Wishes & More

Volunteer Lawyers Network, Ltd.

Women’s Advocates, Inc.

Volunteers of America of Minnesota

Women’s Foundation of Minnesota

WACOSA

WomenVenture

 nited Cerebral Palsy of Central U Minnesota  nited Way of Crow Wing & U Southern Cass Counties

Washburn Center for Children

Woodbury Life Resource Center

United Way of Olmsted County, Inc.

WaterLegacy

World Without Genocide

United Way of the Brown County Area, Inc.

Way to Grow, Inc.

YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

Wayside House, Inc., The

Youth Farm

WellShare International

Youth Frontiers

 est Hennepin Affordable W Housing Land Trust

Youth Service Bureau, Inc.

 nited Way of West Central U Minnesota University of Minnesota Foundation Upstream Arts, Inc. Urban Arts Academy Urban Homeworks, Inc. Urban Roots MN Vail Place

 est Side Community W Health Services  hite Bear Area Emergency W Food Shelf

YouthCARE YouthLink Youthprise Y WCA Mankato

White Bear Center for the Arts

Y WCA of Minneapolis

Wilderness Inquiry

Y WCA St. Paul

Reviews in Progress On April 21, 2015 the nonprofits listed as “Review in Progress” were working with Charities Review Council to Meet Standards®. View an up-to-date list at SmartGivers.org/Charity. African American Registry

Donations for Education

Mississippi River Fund

African Women’s Alliance

Erik’s Ranch Inc.

Morton Cure Paralysis Fund

Arc United

Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities

Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI)

Feline Rescue, Inc.

Native Americans in Philanthropy

Genesys Works-Twin Cities

North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting

Be The Match Foundation Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Great River Homes, Inc.

NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.

Bright Water Montessori

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches

C.A.R.E. Clinic

Haiti Outreach, Inc.

Carver-Scott Humane Society

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Northside Economic Opportunity Network

Cass County Economic Development Corporation

Headwaters Relief Organization

Oasis Central Minnesota

Hennepin Health Foundation

PACER Center, Inc.

Hmong Cultural Center

Patchwork Quilt

La Oportunidad, Inc.

People For Parks

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Inc.

Planned Parenthood, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

Center for Value Inquiry Center School, Inc. Children’s Day Montessori Inc. Christian Appalachian Project Churches United in Ministry (CHUM) CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin

Light the Legacy Love INC – Heartland McLeod Emergency Food Shelf Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Mentoring Young Adults

Community Dental Care

Minneapolis American Indian Center

Community Shares of Minnesota

Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless

Como Park Living at Home Block Nurse Program

Minnesota Homeownership Center

DIFFERbilities Experience

Minnesota Humanities Center Minnesota Justice Foundation

ProAct, Inc. Progress Valley, Inc. Pueblo a Pueblo Ruff Start Rescue Saint Paul Area Council of Churches Sherburne County Area United Way Somali American Parent Association South East Asian Refugee Community Home

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 >>

The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council

DEFINING THE MEETS STANDARDS® SEAL What is the Meets Standards® Seal? Charities Review Council’s Meets Standards® Seal is a visual marker of nonprofit strength, and a great way for nonprofits to differentiate themselves, communicating their internal strength and impact to supporters.

How can my nonprofit organization earn the Meets Standards® seal? Partner with the Charities Review Council to begin the Accountability Wizard® (The Wizard) online review process. The Wizard is a risk-free learning tool and assessment for organizations to measure and build their internal policies and practices. Organizations earn the Meets Standards® Seal upon successfully completing the Wizard and meeting the 25 Accountability Standards®. To learn more about the Accountability Standards® go to http://www.smartgivers.org/standards.

Where can we use the Meets Standards Seal? Once you have earned the Meets Standards® Seal, your organization can use it on organizational print, web, and social media platforms. You can place it on your annual report, spring appeal letter, as a footer on your website, or even on your Facebook page!

What if we are a Review in Progress? Can we use the Meets Standards® seal? Only organizations who currently Meet Standards® should be using the Seal. If you do not currently Meet Standards,® contact Charities Review Council’s Nonprofit Services Team at 651-224-7030 to learn how to Meet Standards® and gain access to the Meets Standards® Seal.

Photo credits: Bruce Silcox Photography

Reviews in Progress Continued Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. Spare Key St. Cloud Municipal Band St. Croix River Association St. Louis Park Emergency Program Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association Summit Academy OIC

Ten Thousand Things Theater

United Way of Southwest Minnesota

The Link

Urban Boatbuilders

The Rock ‘n’ Read Project

Walk-In Counseling Center

Tree Top Kids

Wellstone Action Fund

Tri County Action Program, Inc..

Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), Inc.

Twin Cities RISE! United Way of Central Minnesota United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties

World Savvy

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

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Permit #1743 St. Paul, MN

SmartGivers.org United Way Funded Agency

Board of Directors Sarah Bjelland Wells Fargo Armando Camacho Opportunity Partners Daniel Cheng Yang Stephen Devereux Devereux Development Consulting Tony Helmer Crowley, White & Helmer, Inc. Anita Patel, Past Chair Bush Foundation Robert Pickering, Treasurer Lifetrack Resources Courtney Poja University of Minnesota Law School Emily Robertson, Secretary Robertson Law Office, LLC Mary Jo Schifsky Store to Door Brenda Starr, Chair Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Keith Tanski Deluxe Corporation Patty Wilder Leadership Tactics Michael Wirth-Davis, Vice Chair Goodwill/ Easter Seals Minnesota

Staff Kris Kewitsch Executive Director Amy Sinykin Associate Director Kate Khaled Director of Engagement & Donor Services Abby Wright Nonprofit Services & Communications Specialist Ian Cook Nonprofit Services Specialist Brita Midness Program & Administrative Assistant

The Smart GiverSM is published twice a year. It is available free of charge and distributed to households, businesses, and nonprofits. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive this helpful guide – or if a family member, friend or co-worker might like to receive it – please contact the Council. Editor: Kate Khaled, kate@smartgivers.org www.SmartGivers.org