Charities Review Council®
Fall 2025
THE SMART GIVER YEAR-END GIVING WHEN THE OUTLOOK IS GLOOMY It’s a matter of fact that 2025 has been a tumultuous year for nonprofits. Budget cuts are rampant, emergency funding has run out, and uncertainty about government funding is ever-present. Simultaneously, nonprofits are providing essential services at increased rates—demand is at an all-time high. Many nonprofits are in crisis mode, and donors may wonder how to address organizations facing the end of the year in need of significant financial support. Your support can help fill the gap and turn the tide toward long-term stability. You are likely trying to decide which desperate plea to respond to. Is it okay to give to an organization that's on unstable financial ground? If a nonprofit won’t make its year-end budget, is your donation all for naught? How should the news of nonprofit layoffs affect your giving? Donors can offer confident support to organizations that provide vital services while acknowledging the challenges of this moment by applying smart giving practices: Donors who have established relationships with organizations can draw on personal experience and consider making a year-end contribution to ease some current challenges. Remember the reason you first offered support: you believe in the mission and trust that your
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dollars will move that mission forward. Even in the face of financial uncertainty, nonprofits still address urgent community needs. Donors giving for the first time can review a nonprofit’s past three years of financial information for transparency, good governance, and impact. This information should be listed on a nonprofit’s website or be available as an IRS Form 990. If an organization has the Meets Standards® seal, you can find more information on the Charities Review Council’s Reviewed Nonprofits list. Donors should feel empowered to ask questions about short- and long-term goals. When a nonprofit meets their year-end goal, what’s next? Most nonprofits will express a path forward to demonstrate that their request for support has staying power. However, you are always free to ask more questions to get a deeper understanding of how they’re addressing current challenges and future planning. You can visit Charities Review Council’s Questions To Ask Before Giving resource page to continue learning about making informed gifts. If we continue showing up for our communities thoughtfully, we can make a deep impact even when a stable philanthropic environment feels far away. Every donation impacts a nonprofit’s ability to keep programs running, pay staff, and follow through on mission. Your gift is meaningful.
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IN THIS ISSUE • Year-End Giving When the Outlook is Gloomy • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch • Giving Guide 2025 • Nourish MN's Strong Philanthropic Culture
Three Easy Ways Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving GIVING GUIDE 2025
Check out the Giving Guide (pg 3) for a list of reviewed nonprofits.
Call (651) 224-7030 Click SmartGivers.org
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The Smart Giver | SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
STATUS UPDATE WITH KRIS KEWITSCH
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hello, Council Friends!
Melvin Clark, Vice Chair, Allianz Investment Management
There’s no question that this is an era of uncertainty for nonprofit professionals. When you’re not sure what’s coming next, it’s hard to make a strong plan that communicates your mission, impact, and path forward. Now in my 13th year leading Charities Review Council, I can offer some advice to nonprofits that are facing the end of the year experiencing struggles and unsteady footing. Remember that your staff, constituents, community, and donors don’t expect you to be perfect. Nobody supports a mission-driven organization thinking that the line from Point A to Point B is a straight one. Many of your goals and visions for the world we live in require flexibility and responsiveness, and your donors, especially those who have been with you for a while, know that. Even when you’re not sure what’s next, give your community something that cannot be doubted: your honesty. Be truthful about where you’re at, what challenges you are facing and why, and how people can help. In doing so, you have the chance to offer a peek into what you’re experiencing every day. We know that the challenges facing the nonprofit world are tricky, and that our broader communities are facing their own challenges, but don’t let panic or urgency flood your messaging. Show people that these issues are imminent, but solvable. During times of great need, people look for ways to help. Tell your story, offer a compelling narrative that defines your mission and impact, and let your community of donors speak for themselves. One moving story can do more for your year-end campaign than numbers or volume. When you’re honest with your donors, you can lay out your current best plan for what’s next, and assure people that their support translates to real impact, you can harness a tough time in the industry with grace and integrity despite feeling the weight of it all.
Carolyn Deters, Treasurer, Gifts for Seniors Garnetta Lowman, Chair and Program Committee Chair, Ramsey County Jonathan Palmer, Nonprofit Hero for-Hire, LLC Kate-Madonna Quast, GirlMeetsGeek; Bosch Molly Raymond, City of Minneapolis Yue Zhang, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
STAFF Dimitri Kaasan-Stull, Program Manager Kris Kewitsch, Executive Director Naa Korkoi Larmie, Program & Operations Associate
INTERNS Megan Crowell
Remember that the Council’s Accountability Standards® remain a reliable source for making well-informed decisions about how to measure and communicate governance, finances, and fundraising. Use this tool as a steadying factor in an uncertain times, and let us know how the Council can help. In solidarity, Scan here to donate!
Kris Kewitsch Executive Director, Charities Review Council
Sponsored by
Can’t find a charity? Call us at: (651) 224-7030
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2025
MEETS STANDARDS® NONPROFITS This go-to list features nonprofits that have voluntarily completed our nonprofit review process and have earned Charities Review Council’s Meets Standards® Seal, a visual marker of nonprofit strength. Our review process is good for three years and requires a small administrative payment (.04% of an organization’s annual operating expenses).
Charities Review Council's Meets Standards® seal
Accountability Standards® Our 25 Accountability Standards® are benchmarks measuring nonprofit performance in four critical areas: governance, finance, fundraising, and public disclosure. They represent a balance of nonprofit sector promising practices, public expectations, and legal/regulatory requirements. The Standards have evolved over the Council’s 75+ years, with broad participation from Minnesota’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, to reflect reasonable public expectations for nonprofits. To learn more, visit: SmartGivers.org
GIVING GUIDE FALL 2025
The checkmark indicates that the nonprofit Meets Standards®. For an up-to-date list, go to: SmartGivers.org/organizations
✔ 360 Communities
✔ Avenues for Youth
✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation
✔ Banyan Community
✔ Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)
✔ Basic Needs, Inc of South Washington County dba Stone Soup Thrift Shop
✔ Accord ✔ Achieve Twin Cities ✔ Alexandra House, Inc. ✔ Alliance Housing Inc. ✔ Amherst H. Wilder Foundation ✔ Ampersand Families ✔ Angel Foundation ✔ Animal Folks ✔ Annex Teen Clinic ✔ ArtReach St. Croix ✔ Association for Nonsmokers Minnesota
✔ Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative ✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities ✔ Black Collective Foundation MN ✔ Bloom Early Learning ✔ Breaking Free
✔ CAIR California (LA, SV/CC, SD, SFBA) ✔ CAIR-Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) ✔ Camp Odayin ✔ Can Do Canines ✔ Cancer Legal Care ✔ Carmen Pampa Fund ✔ Cars for Neighbors ✔ Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
✔ Breanna's Gift
✔ Charities Review Council (SelfReview)
✔ Bridges to Learning, Inc.
✔ ChildFund International
✔ Bridging
✔ Children's Dental Services
✔ C.A.R.E. Clinic
✔ Children's HeartLink
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The Smart Giver | SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
GIVING GUIDE FALL 2025 continued... ✔ Children's Home Society of Minnesota ✔ Children's Law Center of Minnesota ✔ Children's Shelter of Cebu ✔ City of Lakes Community Land Trust ✔ CommonBond Communities ✔ Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County ✔ Como Friends ✔ COMPAS ✔ Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
✔ Faith's Lodge
✔ Helping Paws of Minnesota
✔ Family Pathways
✔ Hennepin Health Foundation/ Hennepin Healthcare Foundation / HHF
✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc. ✔ Family Tree Clinic ✔ FamilyMeans ✔ FamilyWise Services ✔ Faribault Area Public Schools Educational Trust Association ✔ Foundation for Essential Needs ✔ Fraser ✔ Fresh Energy
✔ Hope Community ✔ HopeKids, Inc. ✔ HousingLink ✔ Hudson Hospital Foundation ✔ ICA – Intercongregation Communities Association ✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
✔ Freshwater Society
✔ Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
✔ Friends of the Hennepin County Library
✔ International Institute of Minnesota
✔ Friends of the Mississippi River
✔ Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
✔ Girls on the Run Minnesota
✔ Junior Achievement North
✔ Global Minnesota
✔ Koochiching Aging Options
✔ Great River Greening
✔ La Oportunidad, Inc.
✔ Dodge Nature Center
✔ Greater Twin Cities United Way
✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP (CAPLP)
✔ East Side Learning Center
✔ Guild
✔ Emma Norton Services
✔ Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County
✔ Lakes Center for Youth and Families
✔ CornerHouse ✔ Daily Work ✔ DARTS ✔ DinoMights ✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation
✔ Environmental Initiative ✔ Every Meal ✔ Exercisabilities, Inc ✔ Face to Face Health and Counseling Service, Inc.
✔ Haiti Teen Challenge ✔ Hammer Residences, Inc. ✔ HandsOn Twin Cities ✔ Hastings Family Service
✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers ✔ League of Women Voters Minnesota ✔ Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota) ✔ Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being
Can’t find a charity? Call us at: (651) 224-7030
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2025
GIVING GUIDE FALL 2025 continued... ✔ LifeSource ✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc. ✔ Lighthouse Ministries International of Africa ✔ Listening Point Foundation Inc. ✔ Loaves & Fishes ✔ Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry ✔ Lutheran Social Service of MN ✔ Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota ✔ Mano a Mano International Partners
✔ Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance ✔ Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media ✔ Minnesota State Fair Foundation ✔ Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation ✔ Missions Inc. Programs ✔ MORE ✔ MoveFwd (formerly Teens Alone) ✔ MSS ✔ NAMI Minnesota
✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf
✔ Neighborhood Network for Seniors
✔ MDI
✔ Neighbors, Inc.
✔ Merrick Community Services
✔ Neuro Hospitality House
✔ Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance
✔ New Pathways
✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
✔ Northcountry Cooperative Foundation
✔ Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA) ✔ Minnesota Boychoir ✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) ✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools ✔ Minnesota Independence College and Community ✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation ✔ Minnesota Land Trust
✔ PACER Center, Inc. ✔ Park Nicollet Foundation ✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs) ✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans ✔ PeaceMaker Minnesota ✔ PFund Foundation ✔ Pillsbury United Communities ✔ Plymouth Christian Youth Center ✔ PRG, Inc. ✔ Print the Love ✔ PRISM ✔ ProAct, Inc. ✔ Project FINE ✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc. ✔ Project Success ✔ Ramsey County Library Friends
✔ Northern Dental Access Center
✔ Reach for Resources
✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.
✔ Rebuilding Together Minnesota
✔ Olivia Hospital & Clinic Foundation ✔ One Heartland
✔ Regions Hospital Foundation ✔ Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM) ✔ Rise
✔ Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless
✔ River Valley Riders
✔ Operation HELP
✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors
✔ Opportunity Partners
✔ Second Harvest Heartland
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The Smart Giver | SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
GIVING GUIDE FALL 2025 continued... ✔ Senior Community Services ✔ Simpson Housing Services, Inc. ✔ Sing Out Loud ✔ Small Sums ✔ Sojourner Project, Inc. ✔ Solid Ground ✔ St. Cloud Municipal Band ✔ St. Croix Valley Foundation ✔ St. David’s Developmental & Therapeutic Services
✔ The Reading Center / Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota
✔ Westfields Hospital & Clinic Foundation
✔ The Reporters, Inc.
✔ White Bear Area Food Shelf
✔ The Village Family Service Center
✔ White Bear Center for the Arts
✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation
✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
✔ Tree Trust
✔ Wings for Widows
✔ Trellis
✔ Wishes & More
✔ Tubman
✔ WithAll
✔ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
✔ Women's Advocates, Inc.
✔ St. Louis Park Emergency Program
✔ Twin Cities Public Television
✔ St. Paul Youth Services
✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties
✔ Stepping Stone Emergency Housing
✔ United Way of Hastings
✔ Steve Rummler Hope Network
✔ United Way of Southeast Minnesota
✔ Stillwater Public Library Foundation ✔ Tanzania Life Project
✔ Uplift North (formerly known as Assistance League of Minneapolis/ St. Paul)
✔ Tasks Unlimited
✔ Urban Boatbuilders
✔ The Bridge for Youth
✔ Vail Communities
✔ The Family Partnership
✔ Valley Outreach
✔ The Food Group
✔ VEAP, Inc.
✔ The Lift Garage
✔ VocalEssence
✔ The Link
✔ Wallin Education Partners
✔ The Open Door
✔ WellShare International
✔ The Phoenix Residence Inc.
✔ Western Communities Action Network, Inc. (WeCAN)
✔ Women's Foundation of Minnesota ✔ WomenVenture ✔ Youthprise ✔ YWCA of Minneapolis
Can’t find a charity? Call us at: (651) 224-7030
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2025
REVIEWS IN PROGRESS
On September 22, 2025 the nonprofits listed as “Review in Progress” were working with Charities Review Council to attain or renew their Meet Standards® status. View an up-to-date list at SmartGivers.org/organizations
African Development Center of Minnesota
Friends & Co
Ain Dah Yung Center
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee)
Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
Community Dental Care
Great River Rescue
Community Resource Connections
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc.
Minnesota Alliance With Youth
EMERGE Community Development
Minnesota Chorale
Esperanza United (formerly Casa de Esperanza)
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Exodus Lending
Minnesota Council on Economic Education
Firefly Sisterhood
My Very Own Bed
Osceola Community Health Foundation The Aliveness Project WACOSA Woodbury Options for Women
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Charities Review Council®
Fall 2025
THE SMART GIVER NOURISH MN'S STRONG PHILANTHROPIC CULTURE Give to the Max is back for its 17th year this fall! Early Giving starts on November 1, 2025 and Give to the Max Day is Thursday, November 20, 2025. Each year, Give to the Max brings out the best in Minnesotan donors supporting their favorite causes with meaningful gifts of all sizes. At Charities Review Council... We are nonprofit partners. With a combination of technical assistance, non-judgmental support, and robust resources, we partner with nonprofits to strengthen their internal policies, practices, and procedures with our Accountability Wizard®, aligning to co-created standards of nonprofit strength and accountability.
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At Charities Review Council... We are donor partners. Charities Review Council knows that donors are investors. We collaborate with donors and grantmakers to ensure that every dollar goes to strong, ethical, and trustworthy nonprofits. When you donate to the Council... You help inform donors like yourself, empower nonprofits doing good in your community, and build a strong, accountable philanthropic culture in Minnesota and beyond. A gift to the Council strengthens communities by providing resources and powering online tools for donors and nonprofits alike.