The newsletter from Charities Review Council
SPRING 2019
www.SmartGivers.org
THE SMART GIVER
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THE KONMARI METHOD™ FOR SMART GIVERS Spring is here (finally!) and you know what that means—it's time for a little spring cleaning. Not sure where to start when it comes to tidying up your space? Well, you’re in luck! Inspired by the Netflix hit show, "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo", we’re sharing two smart giving tips to help you experience the life-changing magic of tidying up.
Marie Kondo & The KonMari Method™
Smart Giving & Tidying Tips
In case you missed the Tidying Up craze this spring, here’s what you need to know before diving in.
So how can you use the KonMari Method™ to make smart giving decisions this spring? Read on for our smart giving tips perfect for tidying up this season.
Marie Kondo is a tidying expert, bestselling author, star of Netflix's hit show, "Tidying Up With Marie Kondo," and founder of KonMari Media, Inc.
1) Does this item spark joy?
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category—not by location— beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Individuals should keep only things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. People around the world have been drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking.
As the KonMari Method™ recommends, take it category by category, and item by item, asking this simple question: Does this item still spark joy for me? If the answer is ‘no’, thank the item for its service and then move it into one of two discard piles: 1) Donations and 2) Trash. Who knows, your discarded item just might spark joy for someone else! Once you’ve moved through each category, you’re ready to move on to step number two. 2) Donating Gently Used Items to Nonprofits If you’re passionate about sustainability and reuse, donating your used items rather than sending them to a landfill is a great idea, says Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota, a Charities Review Council Meets Standards® nonprofit. And, if you want your donation to go even further, donating to a nonprofit is your best bet! Nonprofits like GoodwillEaster Seals Minnesota and Bridging use donated goods to fuel their missions. • Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota diverts more than 60 million pounds from landfills every year, and proceeds from their stores support workforce development programs that connect four people to jobs every day. • Bridging is improving lives by providing quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. 70% of Bridging’s donated goods come from residential homes, just like yours. [continued on page 8]
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IN THIS ISSUE Spring 2019 • The KonMari Method™ for Smart Givers • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch • Giving Guide 2019
Three Easy Ways to Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving
2019 Check out the
Giving Guide on page 3 for a list of reviewed nonprofits.
Call (651) 224-7030
Click SmartGivers.org
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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council
STATUS UPDATE WITH KRIS KEWITSCH Happy Spring, Council friends!
What’s to come in 2019
It’s great to be connecting with you via our biannual Smart Giver Newsletter. I hope you enjoyed the front-page article inspired by Marie Kondo’s book and Netflix series, The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up. It's got me thinking about what sparks joy for us here at Charities Review Council, but before we look ahead to what's coming in 2019, let's take a look back at a few of our 2018 highlights.
• Earlier this year, we launched brand-new Accountability Standards® for donors and nonprofits, with updates to the language and design. Check out the new Standards on our website at SmartGivers.org.
2018 Highlights
• Mark your calendars—FORUM 2019: Breaking Patterns is taking place on Tuesday, May 14th. Join us at our biennial event as we take a closer look at new approaches to donornonprofit relationships.
Guided by our new strategic plan, the Council team has been hard at work delivering on our new vision and mission statement, to transform philanthropy by building donor and nonprofit relationships for strong, vibrant and just communities. Here’s a look at what we accomplished in 2018:
As you flip through this edition of the Smart Giver newsletter, we hope you can see how much your partnership has enabled us to create even greater impact in Minnesota and beyond.
• We hired an Engagement & Outreach Manager, DeeDee LeMier, to provide local and regional support to our donor and nonprofit partners. With DeeDee’s support, we were able to serve more than 563 nonprofits in 2018.
Help us connect more donors and nonprofits by making a gift to Charities Review Council this season. Use the envelope in today’s Smart Giver newsletter or make a gift online to renew your commitment to this important work.
• We continued to support our nonprofit partners with our online capacity-building review process- The Accountability Wizard®. In 2018, 81% of our nonprofit partners indicated the review process helped position their organization to “better/more effectively work toward its mission”. 94% indicated it made their organization “more accountable and transparent”. (Mission accomplished!) • We partnered with Leadership Balance to license a separate version of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Toolkit that can be used by for-profit companies. Royalties from this for-profit version will fund the ongoing development of the Council's nonprofit version and operations in a more sustainable way. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
In partnership,
Kris Kewitsch P.S. You can support our work by giving online. Go to SmartGivers.org/ Donate to get started.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gregg Larson, Chair Semi-retired – University of MN School of Public Health Megan Genest Tarnow, Vice Chair The Mobius Group Mary Jo Schifsky, Secretary GenSync LLC Carolyn Deters, Treasurer Indelible Aging, Gifts for Seniors
Malissa Adams Stanton Adams Consulting LLC Sandra Agustin Creative Consultant/ Choreographer Stacey Nelson-Kumar Comcast Courtney Poja Cornerstone
STAFF Ryan Stopera Communications & Media Consultant Stephen Thompson Securian Asset Management, Inc. Lisa Zellmer Women Venture
Kris Kewitsch Executive Director Abby Wellan Nonprofit Services & Communications Manager Ian Cook Nonprofit Services & Development Manager DeeDee LeMier Engagement & Outreach Manager
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MEETS STANDARDS® NONPROFITS
How to Use This Guide
Accountability Standards®
How does a nonprofit get listed as “Meets Standards®”?
Our 25 Accountability Standards® are cocreated 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 73 years, with broad participation from Minnesota’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, to reflect reasonable public expectations for nonprofits. Learn more at SmartGivers.org.
This go-to list features nonprofits that have voluntarily participated in our online, nonprofit review process, otherwise known as the Accountability Wizard®. The nonprofits included in this Giving Guide have committed to transparency and currently meet Charities Review Council’s 25 Accountability Standards®. Our review process is good for three years and requires a small (.02% of their annual expenses) administrative payment.
The organizations you see below currently Meet Standards®! Real-time up-to-date nonprofit listings are available online at SmartGivers.org.
Giving Guide Spring 2019 ✔✔ 360 Communities
✔✔ Animal Humane Society
✔✔ Bolder Options
✔✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation
✔✔ Annex Teen Clinic
✔✔ Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
✔✔ A Child's Hope International
✔✔ Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation
✔✔ AccessAbility, Inc. (AAI)
✔✔ Anu Family Services, Inc.
✔✔ Bridge for Youth
✔✔ Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)
✔✔ The Arc Minnesota
✔✔ Bridging
✔✔ AchieveMpls
✔✔ ArtReach St. Croix
✔✔ Aeon
✔✔ Ascension Place, Inc. dba Haven Housing
✔✔ CAIR-California (LA, Sacramento, San Diego, SFBA)
✔✔ African Families Development Network ✔✔ Age Well Arrowhead Inc.
✔✔ Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul
✔✔ Breanna's Gift
✔✔ CAIR-Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) ✔✔ Can Do Canines ✔✔ Cancer Legal Care
✔✔ The Aliveness Project
✔✔ Association for NonsmokersMinnesota
✔✔ Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
✔✔ Avenues for Homeless Youth
✔✔ Carmen Pampa Fund
✔✔ Alliance Housing Inc.
✔✔ Banyan Community
✔✔ Cars for Neighbors
✔✔ ALLY People Solutions
✔✔ BATC Foundation
✔✔ Casa de Esperanza
✔✔ The ALS Association MN/ND/SD Chapter
✔✔ Be The Match Foundation
✔✔ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
✔✔ Alexandra House, Inc.
✔✔ CAPI USA
✔✔ American Indian Family Center
✔✔ Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
✔✔ American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA)
✔✔ BFW Institute of Education & Research (Pain Free Patriots)
✔✔ Center School, Inc.
✔✔ Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
✔✔ Channel One Regional Food Bank
✔✔ Ampersand Families
✔✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
✔✔ Animal Folks
✔✔ Bloom Early Learning
✔✔ The Center for Victims of Torture
✔✔ Centro Tyrone Guzman
✔✔ Charities Review Council (SelfReview)
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Giving Guide Spring 2019 – continued ✔✔ ChildFund International
✔✔ Dream of Wild Health
✔✔ Children's Dental Services
✔✔ East Side Elders
✔✔ Children's HeartLink
✔✔ East Side Learning Center
✔✔ Children's Home Society of Minnesota
✔✔ Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc.
✔✔ Children's Performing Arts ✔✔ City of Lakes Community Land Trust ✔✔ Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
✔✔ Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
✔✔ EMERGE Community Development
✔✔ Give Us Wings
✔✔ Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
✔✔ Great River Greening
✔✔ Common Hope ✔✔ CommonBond Communities
✔✔ Fairview Foundation
✔✔ Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County
✔✔ Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities
✔✔ Community Involvement Programs
✔✔ Faith's Lodge ✔✔ The Family Partnership
✔✔ Community Thread
✔✔ Family Pathways
✔✔ Como Friends
✔✔ The Family Place
✔✔ COMPAS
✔✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc.
✔✔ Compatible Technology International ✔✔ Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa ✔✔ Cookie Cart ✔✔ Cornerstone Advocacy Service ✔✔ Courage Kenny Foundation ✔✔ Cystic Fibrosis Relief Fund ✔✔ Daily Work ✔✔ DARTS ✔✔ DinoMights ✔✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation ✔✔ Diversity Council ✔✔ Dodge Nature Center ✔✔ Domestic Abuse Project ✔✔ Douglas County Car Care Program
✔✔ Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Transgender Pride Twin Cities
✔✔ Edina Community Foundation
✔✔ EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services
✔✔ Community Dental Care
✔✔ Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries
✔✔ Global Minnesota
✔✔ Great River Homes, Inc. ✔✔ Greater Minneapolis Community Connections ✔✔ Greater Twin Cities United Way ✔✔ Guild Incorporated ✔✔ Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County ✔✔ Hamm Memorial Psychiatric Clinic, Inc. ✔✔ Hammer Residences, Inc. ✔✔ Hands of Hope Resource Center ✔✔ HandsOn Twin Cities
✔✔ Family Tree Clinic
✔✔ Hastings Family Service
✔✔ FamilyMeans
✔✔ HealthEast Foundation
✔✔ FamilyWise Services
✔✔ Help At Your Door
✔✔ Feline Rescue, Inc.
✔✔ Helping Paws of Minnesota
✔✔ The Food Group
✔✔ Hennepin Health Foundation
✔✔ Foundation for Essential Needs
✔✔ Hmong Cultural Center
✔✔ Franconia Sculpture Park
✔✔ Hope Centers for Children of Africa
✔✔ Fraser ✔✔ Fresh Energy ✔✔ Freshwater Society ✔✔ Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
✔✔ HOPE Coalition ✔✔ Hope Community ✔✔ HopeKids, Inc. ✔✔ House of Charity, Inc
✔✔ Friends of the Hennepin County Library
✔✔ HousingLink
✔✔ Friends of the Minnesota Sinfonia
✔✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
✔✔ Friends of the Mississippi River
✔✔ Initiative Foundation
✔✔ Hunger Solutions Minnesota
Spring 2019
Giving Guide Spring 2019 – continued
Can’t find a charity? See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
✔✔ Intercongregation Communities Association
✔✔ Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry
✔✔ Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation
✔✔ Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
✔✔ Lutheran Social Service of MN
✔✔ Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center
✔✔ International Institute of Minnesota ✔✔ Inver Hills Community College Foundation ✔✔ Iringa Hope ✔✔ Jewish Community Action ✔✔ Jewish Community Center of the Greater St. Paul Area ✔✔ Jewish Family Service of St. Paul ✔✔ Joyce Preschool ✔✔ Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest ✔✔ Ka Joog ✔✔ Karen Organization of Minnesota ✔✔ Keystone Community Services ✔✔ La Oportunidad, Inc. ✔✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP ✔✔ Lakes Area Music Festival ✔✔ Lakes Center for Youth and Families
✔✔ Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota
✔✔ Mississippi Park Connection
✔✔ Mano a Mano International
✔✔ MORE
✔✔ Matter
✔✔ MSS
✔✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf ✔✔ MDI
✔✔ myHealth for Teens & Young Adults
✔✔ Merrick, Inc.
✔✔ NAMI Minnesota
✔✔ Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
✔✔ Neighborhood House
✔✔ Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance
✔✔ New Pathways
✔✔ Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation
✔✔ Nexus
✔✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
✔✔ Neighbors, Inc.
✔✔ Nokomis East Neighborhood Association
✔✔ Minnesota Alliance With Youth
✔✔ Northeast Youth & Family Services
✔✔ Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
✔✔ Northern Clay Center
✔✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) ✔✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools
✔✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc. ✔✔ Northside Achievement Zone ✔✔ Northwoods Partners
✔✔ Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
✔✔ Novation Education Opportunities
✔✔ Lakeshore Players, Inc.
✔✔ Minnesota Humanities Center
✔✔ Oasis for Youth
✔✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
✔✔ Minnesota Independence College and Community
✔✔ One Heartland
✔✔ Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being ✔✔ LifeSource
✔✔ Minnesota International NGO Network
✔✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc.
✔✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation
✔✔ The Lift Garage ✔✔ The Link ✔✔ Listening House of St. Paul, Inc ✔✔ Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly ✔✔ Loaves and Fishes ✔✔ The Loppet Foundation
✔✔ Minnesota Land Trust ✔✔ Minnesota Literacy Council ✔✔ Minnesota Museum of American Art ✔✔ Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance ✔✔ Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media
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✔✔ Open Access Connections ✔✔ Opportunity Partners ✔✔ PACER Center, Inc. ✔✔ Paralyzed Veterans of America North Central Chapter ✔✔ Park Nicollet Foundation ✔✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs) ✔✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs ✔✔ PeaceMaker Minnesota ✔✔ People Incorporated
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Giving Guide Spring 2019 – continued ✔✔ Perspectives, Inc. ✔✔ The Phoenix Residence Inc. ✔✔ Pillager Family Council ✔✔ Pinky Swear Foundation ✔✔ Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota ✔✔ Plymouth Christian Youth Center
✔✔ Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
✔✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties
✔✔ Semcac
✔✔ United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties
✔✔ Senior Community Services ✔✔ Sherburne County Area United Way ✔✔ The Sheridan Story ✔✔ Sing Out Loud
✔✔ United Way of Hastings ✔✔ United Way of Olmsted County, Inc. ✔✔ United Way of Southwest Minnesota
✔✔ Prepare + Prosper
✔✔ Sojourner Project, Inc.
✔✔ Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
✔✔ Solid Ground
✔✔ United Way of the Brown County Area, Inc.
✔✔ PRISM
✔✔ Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women
✔✔ United Way of West Central Minnesota
✔✔ St. Cloud Municipal Band
✔✔ Upstream Arts, Inc.
✔✔ St. Croix Valley Foundation
✔✔ Urban Arts Academy
✔✔ St. David's Center for Child & Family Development
✔✔ Urban Boatbuilders
✔✔ St. Louis Park Emergency Program
✔✔ Urban Roots
✔✔ Stepping Stone Emergency Housing
✔✔ Valley Outreach
✔✔ ProAct, Inc. ✔✔ Progress Valley, Inc. ✔✔ Project FINE ✔✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc. ✔✔ Project Success ✔✔ PROP (People Reaching Out to People) ✔✔ The Reading Center / Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota
✔✔ Susan G. Komen Minnesota
✔✔ Urban Homeworks, Inc.
✔✔ Vail Place
✔✔ VEAP ✔✔ The Village Family Service Center
✔✔ Rebuilding Together Twin Cities
✔✔ Tanzania Life Project
✔✔ Rein in Sarcoma
✔✔ Tasks Unlimited, Inc.
✔✔ Relate Counseling Center
✔✔ Think Small
✔✔ VocalEssence
✔✔ The Reporters, Inc.
✔✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation
✔✔ Volunteer Lawyers Network
✔✔ Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM)
✔✔ Touchstone Mental Health
✔✔ Vision Loss Resources
✔✔ WACOSA ✔✔ Walk-In Counseling Center
✔✔ Rêve Academy
✔✔ Tree Trust
✔✔ Rice Health Foundation
✔✔ Tri-County Humane Society
✔✔ Ruff Start Rescue
✔✔ True Friends
✔✔ Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
✔✔ Tubman
✔✔ West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust
✔✔ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
✔✔ Western Communities Action Network, Inc. (WeCAN)
✔✔ Twin Cities Public Television
✔✔ White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf
✔✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors ✔✔ SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) ✔✔ The Sanneh Foundation
✔✔ United Way of Central Minnesota
✔✔ Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
✔✔ United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties
✔✔ Wayside House ✔✔ WellShare International
✔✔ White Bear Center for the Arts ✔✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
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Giving Guide Spring 2019 – continued
Can’t find a charity? See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
✔✔ Wilderness Inquiry
✔✔ WomenVenture
✔✔ YWCA Mankato
✔✔ Wingspan Life Resources
✔✔ Youth Farm
✔✔ Zumbro Valley Health Center
✔✔ Wishes & More
✔✔ Youth Frontiers, Inc.
✔✔ Women's Advocates, Inc.
✔✔ Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
✔✔ Women's Foundation of Minnesota
✔✔ Youthprise
Reviews in Progress: On April 1, 2019, 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. 180 Degrees
Emma Norton Services
My Very Own Bed
African American Registry
Environmental Initiative
Angel Foundation
Exodus Lending
North Anoka County Emergency Foodshelf (NACE), Inc.
Basic Needs, Inc of South Washington County dba Stone Soup Thrift Shop
Feed My Starving Children
BestPrep Breakthrough Twin Cities Bridges to Learning, Inc. CAIR-Massachusetts Camp Fire Minnesota
The Firefly Sisterhood Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota Great River Rescue Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
Opportunity Neighborhood Pathways Minneapolis Paul's Pals People For Parks People Serving People PRG, Inc. Project Zawadi
Camp Odayin
Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County
Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Helping Hands Outreach
Second Harvest Heartland
Jeremiah Program
Simpson Housing Services, Inc.
Juxtaposition Arts, Inc.
Standpoint
Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota)
Street Soccer Twin Cities USA
The Cedar Cultural Center Center for Value Inquiry Center for Veterans Research and Education Children's Cancer Research Fund
Light the Legacy
Children's Law Center of Minnesota
Merrick Community Services
Circle of Hope
Merrill Community Arts Center
Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties
Minnesota Children's Museum
ComMUSICation
Minnesota Council on Economic Education
CornerHouse
Missions Inc. Programs
Cultural Wellness Center
Move Minnesota
ElderCircle
MoveFwd (formerly Teens Alone)
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Roots for the Home Team
Summit Academy OIC Washburn Center for Children YouthLink YWCA of Minneapolis
700 Raymond Ave, Suite 160 St. Paul, MN 55114-1971 651-224-7030 SmartGivers.org info@smartgivers.org
Interested in receiving The Smart Giver electronically? Contact our office at 651-224-7030, or visit our website at www.SmartGivers.org to join our E-Newsletter list.
THE SMART GIVER
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The newsletter from Charities Review Council | SPRING 2019
[continued from page 1] In some cases, nonprofits sell donated items to for-profit thrift stores. For example, Meets Standards® nonprofits like the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota both sell goods to a for-profit company called Savers that operates several thrift stores throughout the country. So in a roundabout way, your donated goods are supporting these nonprofits and their important work. When considering what to do with items that are no longer sparking joy, consider a donation to your local Meets Standards® nonprofit. Happy tidying, smart givers! Photo: Bridging, a Meets Standards® nonprofit
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