The newsletter from Charities Review Council
SPRING 2017
www.SmartGivers.org
THE SMART GIVER
SM
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE WHY OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS® "As a donor and nonprofit supporter, I want to make informed giving decisions. I use the Accountability Standards®, both personally and professionally, when reaching out to a nonprofit partner for the first time. The Standards give me a great foundation for knowing what questions to ask, and what information to look for." – Abby Wright, Nonprofit Services & Communications Specialist, Charities Review Council
At Charities Review Council, we understand that donors have many choices when it comes to investing their dollars. We hear from many potential and active donors that the emphasis we place on educating nonprofits and helping them understand the importance of transparency is one of many reasons they feel confident giving to organizations that have been reviewed against our Accountability Standards®, a 360-degree tool to the transparency and health of an organization. Understanding WHY: Organizations and Individuals Trust our Accountability Wizard® The Accountability Wizard® is a riskfree learning tool and assessment where organizations partner with the Council to measure and build their internal policies and practices. Those that have earned our exclusive seal are listed on our website at smartgivers.org, in our semi-annual Giving Guide (see page 3), celebrated on social media, and recommended to donors via phone and email inquiries. With our Accountability Wizard®, nonprofits can…
• Create a shared culture of transparency and trust by engaging their board and staff in accountability issues; • Access technical assistance to better align their organizational practices and procedures with the widely-accepted Accountability Standards®; • Earn the Meets Standards® Seal, which they can then use in print and web materials to set their organization apart and demonstrate their organizational strength.
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IN THIS ISSUE Spring 2017 • A Deeper Dive Into the Why of the Accountability Standards® • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch • Giving Guide 2017 • Words of Why A Q&A with Gregg Larson
Three Easy Ways to Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving
2017 Check out the Giving Guide on page 3 for a list of reviewed nonprofits.
Spread the Word with Us… We’re honored to have partners like you that help advocate for healthy nonprofits. Because of our vocal and passionate partners, we’ve been able to reach more organizations than ever before. To better support your efforts in spreading the word about the Council’s Accountability Standards® and Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review process, we’ve developed a phone and email script (see page 8) for you to use when engaging with your family, friends, and of course, your favorite nonprofit partners. Spread the word with us! Flip to page 8 to get started. >>
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
2016 was a year of resilience for the Council. We received word in late 2015 that expected funding would not materialize in the new year. As a small (but mighty!) nonprofit, news like this required us to re-work out goals, strategies and plan. Although our core work remained the same, our approach changed. In hopes of “walking the walk and talking the talk,” we shared our journey in a 3-part blog series.* Included in the blog series was the announcement of our updated staffing model, which now includes a mix of permanent staff, contractors and consultants. We continue to utilize this staffing model, ramping up as funding for projects is secured. In 2016, we served more than 565 nonprofits, provided more than 1,200 hours of personalized one-on-one technical assistance, and provided nearly 7,000 individuals with our Smart Giver Newsletter. It truly was a great year! We were also awarded an Ecosystem Grant from The Bush Foundation, for significant operating support over the next two years. Looking ahead to 2017, we are excited for investments in technology, business modeling and enhanced evaluation. We’re also looking forward to FORUM 2017 this spring, an event honoring and celebrating the philanthropic sector. With support from our event planning partner, Pollen, and our event co-host, The Bush Foundation, we’re well on our way to creating a dynamic event and experience that pushes the conversation around trust, diversity, equity and inclusion, forward.
As a part of the FORUM experience, we’ll also be launching our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Toolkit, which will better support our nonprofit partners with reviewing, discussing and addressing equity gaps. In 2015, 86% of our nonprofit partners needed to take action in this area before meeting our Accountability Standards®. To better support our nonprofit partners, we developed a toolkit, which will include assessment tools and action-based learning modules, for nonprofit growth. We have exciting and important work ahead, and your partnership makes it all possible. Please consider a taxdeductible gift to Charities Review Council this spring. In partnership,
Kris Kewitsch *To read the blog series, go to: http://bit.ly/BlogCRC
BOARD MEMBERS Patty Wilder, Chair Leadership Tactics Gregg Larson, Vice-Chair Retired Robert Pickering, Treasurer Community Involvement Programs Tony Helmer, Secretary Crowley, White, Helmer & Sevig
STAFF Brenda Starr, Past Chair Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Anu Jain Target Chamath Perera Community Member Courtney Poja Cornerstone
Emily Robertson Robertson Law Office, LLC
Kris Kewitsch Executive Director
Mary Jo Schifsky Why Stop Working
Abby Wright Nonprofit Services & Communications Specialist Ian Cook Nonprofit Services & Development Specialist
Spring 2017
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MOST TRUSTWORTHY NONPROFITS Accountability Standards®
How to Use This Guide How does a nonprofit get listed as “Most Trustworthy”? 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 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
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 71 years, with broad participation from Minnesota’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, to reflect reasonable public expectations for nonprofits. Learn more at SmartGivers.org.
Giving Guide Spring 2017 ✔✔ 360 Communities
✔✔ Birthline, Inc.
✔✔ Christian Appalachian Project
✔✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation
✔✔ Bolder Options
✔✔ Churches United in Ministry (CHUM)
✔✔ Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)
✔✔ Breanna's Gift
✔✔ Circle of Hope
✔✔ AchieveMpls
✔✔ Bridges to Learning
✔✔ Aeon
✔✔ C.A.R.E. Clinic
✔✔ Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
✔✔ African American Registry
✔✔ Camp Fire Minnesota
✔✔ African Development Center of Minnesota
✔✔ CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio)
✔✔ Camp Odayin
✔✔ Common Hope
✔✔ Can Do Canines
✔✔ CommonBond Communities
✔✔ Cancer Legal Line
✔✔ Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties
✔✔ Alexandra House, Inc. ✔✔ Alliance for Metropolitan Stability ✔✔ Alliance Housing Inc. ✔✔ Alzheimer's Association, MinnesotaNorth Dakota Chapter
✔✔ CAPI USA ✔✔ CaringBridge ✔✔ Carmen Pampa Fund
✔✔ American Indian Family Center
✔✔ Cars for Neighbors
✔✔ Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
✔✔ Casa de Esperanza
✔✔ Ampersand Families
✔✔ Cass County Economic Development Corporation
✔✔ Angel Foundation ✔✔ Animal Folks ✔✔ Animal Humane Society
✔✔ Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
✔✔ Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin ✔✔ Community Dental Care ✔✔ Community Involvement Programs ✔✔ Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc ✔✔ Community Thread ✔✔ Como Friends
✔✔ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
✔✔ COMPAS
✔✔ Annex Teen Clinic ✔✔ ArtReach St. Croix
✔✔ Center for Value Inquiry
✔✔ Cookie Cart
✔✔ Association for NonsmokersMinnesota
✔✔ Center School, Inc.
✔✔ CornerHouse
✔✔ Centro Tyrone Guzman
✔✔ Cornerstone Advocacy Service
✔✔ ChildFund International
✔✔ Courage Kenny Foundation
✔✔ Children's Cancer Research Fund
✔✔ Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Inc.
✔✔ Children's Day Montessori Inc.
✔✔ Dakota Woodlands
✔✔ Children's Dental Services
✔✔ DARTS
✔✔ BestPrep
✔✔ Children's HeartLink
✔✔ DinoMights
✔✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
✔✔ Children's Home Society of Minnesota
✔✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation
✔✔ Avenues for Homeless Youth ✔✔ Banyan Community ✔✔ Be The Match Foundation ✔✔ Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
✔✔ Compatible Technology International
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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council
Giving Guide Spring 2017 – continued ✔✔ Diversity Council
✔✔ Greater Twin Cities United Way
✔✔ Lakeshore Players, Inc.
✔✔ Dodge Nature Center
✔✔ Guild Incorporated
✔✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
✔✔ Domestic Abuse Project
✔✔ Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County
✔✔ Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota)
✔✔ Haiti Outreach, Inc.
✔✔ LifeSource
✔✔ Haiti Teen Challenge
✔✔ Lifetrack
✔✔ Hamm Memorial Psychiatric Clinic, Inc.
✔✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc.
✔✔ Douglas County Car Care Program ✔✔ Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota Inc., dba The Reading Center ✔✔ East Side Learning Center ✔✔ East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc. ✔✔ Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc. ✔✔ EMERGE Community Development ✔✔ Emma Norton Services ✔✔ Environmental Initiative ✔✔ Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota ✔✔ Erik's Ranch Inc. ✔✔ EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services ✔✔ Fairview Foundation ✔✔ Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities ✔✔ Faith's Lodge ✔✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc.
✔✔ Hands of Hope Resource Center ✔✔ Hastings Family Service ✔✔ Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation ✔✔ Helping Hands Outreach ✔✔ Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota/Dakotas ✔✔ Hennepin Health Foundation ✔✔ Hmong Cultural Center ✔✔ HOPE Coalition ✔✔ Hope Community ✔✔ HopeKids, Inc. ✔✔ House of Charity, Inc ✔✔ Hunger Solutions Minnesota
✔✔ FamilyWise Services
✔✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
✔✔ Feed My Starving Children
✔✔ Initiative Foundation
✔✔ Feline Rescue, Inc.
✔✔ Intercongregation Communities Association
✔✔ Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools ✔✔ Franconia Sculpture Park ✔✔ Fraser ✔✔ Free Arts Minnesota ✔✔ Fresh Energy ✔✔ Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness ✔✔ Friends of the Mississippi River ✔✔ Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries ✔✔ Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual Transgender Pride Twin Cities ✔✔ Girl Scouts Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys ✔✔ Global Minnesota ✔✔ Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota ✔✔ Great River Educational Arts Theatre ✔✔ Great River Homes, Inc. ✔✔ Greater Mankato Area United Way ✔✔ Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation ✔✔ Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches ✔✔ Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
✔✔ Listening House of St. Paul, Inc. ✔✔ Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly ✔✔ Loaves and Fishes ✔✔ Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry ✔✔ Lutheran Social Service of MN ✔✔ Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota ✔✔ Mano a Mano International Partners ✔✔ MAP for Nonprofits ✔✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf ✔✔ MDI ✔✔ Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota ✔✔ Merrick Community Services ✔✔ Merrick, Inc. ✔✔ Metropolitan Regional Arts Council ✔✔ Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance ✔✔ Midwest Special Services, Inc.
✔✔ Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul
✔✔ MIGIZI Communications, Inc.
✔✔ Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners
✔✔ Milestones
✔✔ International Institute of Minnesota
✔✔ Minneapolis Pathways
✔✔ Iringa Hope
✔✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
✔✔ Jeremiah Program
✔✔ Minnesota Alliance With Youth
✔✔ Jewish Community Action
✔✔ Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans
✔✔ Jewish Community Center of the Greater St. Paul Area ✔✔ Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis
✔✔ Minneapolis Jewish Federation
✔✔ Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
✔✔ Joseph's Coat, Inc.
✔✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)
✔✔ Joyce Preschool
✔✔ Minnesota Children's Museum
✔✔ Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest
✔✔ Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
✔✔ Karen Organization of Minnesota
✔✔ Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
✔✔ Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Foundation
✔✔ Minnesota Council on Economic Education
✔✔ Keystone Community Services
✔✔ Minnesota Humanities Center
✔✔ La Oportunidad, Inc. ✔✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP
✔✔ Minnesota International NGO Network
✔✔ Lakes Area Music Festival
✔✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation
✔✔ Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
✔✔ Minnesota Land Trust
✔✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools
Spring 2017
Can’t find a charity?
Giving Guide Spring 2017 – continued
See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
✔✔ Minnesota Life College
✔✔ Pinky Swear Foundation
✔✔ St. Stephen's Human Services
✔✔ Minnesota Literacy Council
✔✔ Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
✔✔ Stepping Stone Emergency Housing
✔✔ Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
✔✔ Portico Healthnet
✔✔ Store to Door ✔✔ Summit Academy OIC
✔✔ Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance
✔✔ Prepare + Prosper
✔✔ Minnesota Sinfonia
✔✔ PRG, Inc.
✔✔ Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center
✔✔ PRISM
✔✔ Mississippi Park Connection
✔✔ Progress Valley, Inc.
✔✔ MN ADOPT
✔✔ Project FINE
✔✔ The ALS Association MN/ND/SD Chapter
✔✔ Morton Cure Paralysis Fund
✔✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc.
✔✔ The Arc Greater Twin Cities
✔✔ MoveFwd (formerly Teens Alone)
✔✔ Project SUCCESS
✔✔ The BrandLab
✔✔ myHealth for Teens & Young Adults
✔✔ Range Respite Project, Inc.
✔✔ The Center for Victims of Torture
✔✔ NAMI Minnesota
✔✔ Relate Counseling Center
✔✔ The Family Partnership
✔✔ Neighborhood House
✔✔ RESOURCE, Inc
✔✔ Neighbors, Inc. ✔✔ New Pathways, Inc.
✔✔ Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM), Inc.
✔✔ The Food Group, formerly Emergency Foodshelf Network
✔✔ Nexus
✔✔ Reve Academy
✔✔ The Link
✔✔ North Anoka County Emergency Foodshelf
✔✔ Rice Health Foundation
✔✔ The Loppet Foundation
✔✔ Ruff Start Rescue
✔✔ The Open Door
✔✔ Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America
✔✔ Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
✔✔ The Phoenix Residence Inc.
✔✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.
✔✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors
✔✔ Northside Achievement Zone ✔✔ Northside Economic Opportunity Network ✔✔ Northwoods Partners ✔✔ Oasis Central Minnesota
✔✔ ProAct, Inc.
✔✔ Salvation Army - Twin Cities ✔✔ SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) ✔✔ Scholarship America, Inc. ✔✔ Second Harvest Heartland
✔✔ Susan G. Komen Minnesota ✔✔ Tanzania Life Project ✔✔ Tasks Unlimited, Inc. ✔✔ Ten Thousand Things Theater
✔✔ The Foundation For Essential Needs
✔✔ The Reporters, Inc. ✔✔ The Sanneh Foundation ✔✔ The Sheridan Story ✔✔ The Works ✔✔ Think Small ✔✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation ✔✔ Touchstone Mental Health
✔✔ Oasis for Youth
✔✔ Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
✔✔ Open Access Connections
✔✔ Semcac
✔✔ Tri County Action Program, Inc.
✔✔ Open Door Health Center
✔✔ Senior Community Services
✔✔ Tri-County Humane Society
✔✔ Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless
✔✔ Sherburne County Area United Way
✔✔ True Friends
✔✔ Simpson Housing Services, Inc.
✔✔ Tubman
✔✔ Opportunity Neighborhood
✔✔ Sing Out Loud/Bella Voce Young Women's Choir
✔✔ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
✔✔ Opportunity Partners
✔✔ Sojourner Project, Inc.
✔✔ Union Gospel Mission Association of Saint Paul
✔✔ PACER Center, Inc.
✔✔ Solid Ground
✔✔ United Way of Central Minnesota
✔✔ Park Nicollet Foundation
✔✔ Somali American Parent Association
✔✔ Patchwork Quilt
✔✔ Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women
✔✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties
✔✔ Opportunity Matters Inc
✔✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)
✔✔ Tree Trust
✔✔ United Way of Hastings
✔✔ Southside Services I. Inc.
✔✔ United Way of Olmsted County, Inc.
✔✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs
✔✔ St. Cloud Municipal Band
✔✔ United Way of Southwest Minnesota
✔✔ People For Parks
✔✔ St. Croix Valley Foundation
✔✔ People Reaching Out To People (PROP)
✔✔ St. David's Center for Child & Family Development
✔✔ United Way of the Brown County Area, Inc.
✔✔ People Serving People
✔✔ St. Louis Park Emergency Program
✔✔ University of Minnesota Foundation
✔✔ Pillager Family Council
✔✔ St. Mary's Health Clinics
✔✔ Upstream Arts, Inc.
✔✔ United Way of West Central MN
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The Smart Giver www.SmartGivers.org Charities Review Council
Can’t find a charity?
Giving Guide Spring 2017 – continued
See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
✔✔ Urban Arts Academy
✔✔ Wayside House
✔✔ WomenVenture
✔✔ Urban Boatbuilders
✔✔ West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust
✔✔ World Savvy
✔✔ Urban Homeworks, Inc. ✔✔ Urban Roots ✔✔ Vail Place
✔✔ Western Communities Action Network, Inc. (WeCAN)
✔✔ World Without Genocide ✔✔ YMCA Camp Olson ✔✔ Youth Frontiers, Inc.
✔✔ Valley Outreach
✔✔ White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf
✔✔ VEAP
✔✔ White Bear Center for the Arts
✔✔ Youthprise
✔✔ Vision Loss Resources
✔✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
✔✔ YWCA Mankato
✔✔ VocalEssence ✔✔ Volunteer Lawyers Network ✔✔ WACOSA ✔✔ Walk-In Counseling Center ✔✔ Washburn Center for Children
✔✔ Wilderness Inquiry ✔✔ Women's Advocates, Inc. ✔✔ Women's Foundation of Minnesota
✔✔ YouthLink
✔✔ YWCA of Minneapolis ✔✔ YWCA St. Paul ✔✔ Zumbro Valley Health Center
✔✔ Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), Inc.
Reviews in Progress: On March 15, 2017, 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/organizations. AccessAbility, Inc.
Hmong American Partnership
Rebuilding Together Twin Cities
ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students)
Inver Hills Community College Foundation
Redeemer Center for Life, Inc.
James J. Hill Reference Library
Rise
Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
Rivers of Hope
Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul
Ka Joog
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Autism Society of Minnesota - AuSM
Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being
Stages Theatre Company
Light the Legacy
Tee It Up for the Troops, Inc.
Living Well Disability Services
The Aliveness Project
Matter
The Family Place
Mentoring Young Adults
The Firefly Sisterhood
Merrick, Inc.
The Rock 'n' Read Project
Minnesota Division Izaak Walton League of America
The Village Family Service Center
American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa
BATC Foundation BFW Institute of Education & Research Breakthrough Twin Cities CAIR-California CAIR-Massachusetts Channel One Regional Food Bank Children's Theatre Company Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester City of Lakes Community Land Trust ComMUSICation Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
Minnesota Museum of American Art Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media
Street Soccer Twin Cities USA
Twelve Disciples Ministries Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus Twin Cities Public Television United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties
Daily Work
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation
DIFFERbilities Experience
MinnPost
United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties
Dream of Wild Health
Nice Ride Minnesota
WellShare International
East Side Elders
Northeast Youth & Family Services
Wingspan Life Resources
Faith In Action In Red Wing
Northern Clay Center
Wishes & More
FamilyMeans
One Heartland
Woodbury Life Resource Center
Freshwater Society
Paul's Pals
Youth Farm
Friends of the Hennepin County Library
People Incorporated
Youth Performance Company (YPC)
HandsOn Twin Cities
Pet Haven Inc of MN
Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
HealthEast Foundation
PFund Foundation
YouthCARE
Helping Paws of Minnesota
Plymouth Christian Youth Center
Spring 2017
WORDS OF WHY A Q & A with Gregg Larson
Q: What's one thing organizations and individuals should know about the Council? A: Simply put, organizations that have gone through the Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review process, know that it helped build their boards, and communications to a much stronger entity to reflect greater purpose and more transparency. The process also gives foundations who are perhaps interested in funding charities, much greater confidence.
Q: Tell me about your experience with Charities Review Council. A: When I first became aware of Charities Review Council, my team wanted to be confident that we were using donations in a way that better focused on charity. I wanted to make sure each organization we gave to was responsible and well-rounded. The Accountability Standards® have helped us hone our own guidelines over time. Since we started a relationship with the Council, over the past ten to fifteen years, we’ve been able to make much stronger decisions.
Q: How have the Accountability Standards® changed your view of the Council? A: I now look at charities to see if they are operating in a financially responsible manner. I also look for governance, responsible boards and a few other key factors that help me make better decisions. More than anything, the Standards have a double-benefit — telling me what organizations I can give to without second-guessing my decision as well as providing me with a seal that I know I can trust. I know the Council is not only trying to give donors confidence that the organization is worthy of contributions, but it gives charities confidence that they are operating in the correct way — consistently, and with financial responsibility.
"I know the Council is not only trying to give donors confidence that the organization is worthy of contributions, but it gives charities confidence that they are operating in the correct way — consistently, and with financial responsibility." – Gregg Larson Charities Review Council Board Vice Chair
"Being an informed donor, means that I can ensure my dollars are going to an organization committed to transparency, inclusion and diversity. Charities Review Council is my first stop to check on organizations and to find new nonprofits to support." – Kate-Madonna Hindes
Stay Tuned for More Exciting Announcements… During our year-end report, we shared that we exceeded our goal for engagement of new nonprofits in the Council’s nonprofit review process, the Accountability Wizard®. Keep checking in on us as we’ll have other great news to share including a brand-new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Toolkit and updates to our Accountability Standards®. For important Council updates, go to SmartGivers.org to sign up for our E-Newsletter.
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We've Moved! You can find us at: 700 Raymond Ave, Suite 160 St. Paul, MN 55114-1971 651-224-7030 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.
[continued from page 1] Spread the word! Use our sample script to get started.
>> Friends & Family
>> Nonprofits
(Name), I know it can be difficult to know which organizations are deserving of our dollars in today’s highly competitive environment. Did you know that The Council’s Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review process can help you pair your dollars, with nonprofits that have been thoroughly vetted, who take pride in meeting the Standards of Charities Review Council? I’m happy to share a list of nonprofits that have earned their exclusive seal and put you in touch with the Charities Review Council team to learn more!
(Name), did you know The Council’s Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review process leads organizations to greater strength, efficacy, and gives nonprofits the coveted Meets Standards® Seal? Most importantly, the process helps gain the respect of donors, offering nonprofits another important differentiating factor in today’s competitive fundraising climate. Do you want to learn more? I’d be happy to put you in touch with the Charities Review Council team!
Have you found another way to share the value of our Accountability Standards®? Send us a message at info@smartgivers.org and we’ll feature your story in our next E-newsletter.
We've launched a new website!
Check it out at SmartGivers.org.