The newsletter from Charities Review Council
SPRING 2020
www.SmartGivers.org
THE SMART GIVER
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NEW! A Q&A Column for Smart Giving To better equip you to be the best smart giver you can be, we’re shaking things up with the launch of our new Q&A column for smart givers. Take a look!
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When disaster strikes, donors are always quick to act. In the era of COVID-19, what can I as a donor do to support nonprofits’ crucial work now and later? Here are three thoughts we have for being a strong community partner during this time.
1) Work together! Donor-nonprofit relationships will make all the difference. In the words of the Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, “…we are hopeful we can reduce the impacts of this outbreak by working together. All Minnesotans share the risks and the responsibilities now.” At Charities Review Council, we believe in the power of strong donor-nonprofit relationships and we know that these relationships will make all the difference. So, as you’re considering what you can do to support your community and local nonprofit partners, consider reaching out to the nonprofits you are already invested in to identify their needs during this time. TIP: You can easily find contact information for Meets Standards® Nonprofits online at SmartGivers.org/ organizations.
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IN THIS ISSUE Spring 2020 • A Q&A Column for Smart Giving • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch
2) Make online donations to Meets Standards® Nonprofits.
• Giving Guide 2020
Financial resources will be important for nonprofits during this pandemic. So, we are challenging ourselves and our donor partners to not only continue with your usual charitable giving but to also consider giving additionally, what you can, to Meets Standards® Nonprofits included in today’s publication (pg. 3) who are serving our most vulnerable populations. Think about the local nonprofits serving in areas of housing, homelessness, healthcare, food support, mental health, domestic violence, and care for seniors. Already, we’re seeing an increase in the need for these services and that will continue even after this is contained. Nonprofits will need quick, flexible and unrestricted, online gifts to address these community needs. TIP: You can make online donations to Meets Standards® Nonprofits at SmartGivers.org/organizations. Click on the organization you want to support and you’ll see a “Donate to Organization” button for easy online giving.
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Three Easy Ways to Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving
2020 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 Hello, Council Friends! It’s great to be connecting with you via our biannual Smart Giver Newsletter. I hope you enjoyed our new Q&A column for smart givers. As a donor, your financial support of Charities Review Council’s mission is incredibly important during these times. Use the envelope in today’s newsletter or make a gift online to renew your commitment to this important work.
2019 Recap Guided by our 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, the Council team has been hard at work delivering on our vision and mission statement to transform philanthropy by building donor and nonprofit relationships for strong, vibrant and just communities. Here’s a look back at what we accomplished in 2019: • We launched new Accountability Standards®, revising the language and design for even greater impact. • We served 700+ nonprofits via our online capacity-building tools, the Accountability Wizard® and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Toolkit. 95% of nonprofits indicated the Accountability Wizard® made their organization “more accountable and transparent”, up from 94% in 2018!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Malissa Adams, CEO/President of The Diversity Institute Sandra Agustin, Program Committee Chair, Creative Consultant/Choreographer Jessica Birken, Birken Law Office Melvin Clark, Allianz Life
• We hosted FORUM 2019: Breaking Patterns, our biennial event for engaged and passionate civic-minded leaders, with 89% of survey respondents indicating the event and topic sparked meaningful discussion and thoughts.
Carolyn Deters, Treasurer, Indelible Aging, Gifts for Seniors
• We saw a 15% increase in the number of donors using our Meets Standards® list to inform their giving decisions. You can view our full 2019 annual report at bit.ly/CRCreports.
Gregg Larson, Past Chair, University of Minnesota School of Public Health (Semi-retired)
2020 Plans
Stacey Nelson-Kumar, Vice Chair, Comcast
This year, we’re focused on increasing brand value, expanding our thought leadership, and making certain on the Council’s ability to deliver on our brand promise. All that to say, we’re committed to serving our donor and nonprofit partners well, looking for new ways to support the relationship between the two. Will you join us? Your support makes our work possible. Use the envelope in today’s newsletter or make a gift online to renew your commitment and join us in this important work. In partnership,
Garnetta Lowman, Russel Herder
Courtney Poja, Governance Committee Chair, Cornerstone Megan Genest Tarnow, Chair, The Mobius Group Stephen Thompson, Secretary, Audit Committee Chair, Securian Asset Management, Inc. (Retired) Lisa Zellmer, Women Venture
Kris Kewitsch Executive Director P.S. Supporting our work has never been easier! Go to bit.ly/DonateCRC to give.
STAFF Ian Cook, Nonprofit Services & Technology Manager Kris Kewitsch, Executive Director Abby Wellan, Operations Manager
GIVING GUIDE | Spring 2020
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 (.02% of an organization’s operating expenses). The green checkmark indicates that the nonprofit Meets Standards®. For an up-to-date listing, go to SmartGivers.org/organizations.
Accountability Standards® Our 25 Accountability Standards® are co-created 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 74 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 2020 ✔ 180 Degrees
✔ Association for Nonsmokers Minnesota
✔ Camp Fire Minnesota
✔ Avenues for Youth
✔ Can Do Canines
✔ A Child's Hope International
✔ Banyan Community
✔ Cancer Legal Care
✔ Accord
✔ Basic Needs, Inc of South Washington County dba Stone Soup Thrift Shop
✔ CAPI USA
✔ BATC Foundation
✔ Cars for Neighbors
✔ Be The Match Foundation
✔ Casa de Esperanza
✔ Alexandra House, Inc.
✔ Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative
✔ Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis
✔ Alliance for Metropolitan Stability
✔ BestPrep
✔ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation
✔ AchieveMpls ✔ African Families Development Network ✔ Age Well Arrowhead Inc.
✔ Alliance Housing Inc.
✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
✔ The ALS Association MN/ND/ SD Chapter
✔ Bloom Early Learning
✔ American Indian Family Center
✔ Bolder Options
✔ Camp Odayin
✔ Carmen Pampa Fund
✔ The Center for Victims of Torture ✔ Center School, Inc. ✔ Centro Tyrone Guzman
✔ Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
✔ Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
✔ Ampersand Families
✔ Breanna's Gift
✔ Angel Foundation
✔ Bridge for Youth
✔ Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation
✔ Bridges to Learning, Inc.
✔ Children's Cancer Research Fund
✔ Bridging
✔ Children's HeartLink
✔ ArtReach St. Croix
✔ CAIR-California (LA, Sacramento, San Diego, SFBA)
✔ Children's Home Society of Minnesota
✔ Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul
✔ CAIR-Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
✔ Children's Law Center of Minnesota
✔ Anu Family Services, Inc.
✔ Charities Review Council (Self-Review) ✔ ChildFund International
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The Smart Giver | www.SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
Giving Guide Spring 2020 – continued ✔ Children's Performing Arts
✔ The Family Partnership
✔ Hammer Residences, Inc.
✔ Circle of Hope
✔ Family Pathways
✔ City of Lakes Community Land Trust
✔ The Family Place
✔ Hands of Hope Resource Center
✔ Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc.
✔ HandsOn Twin Cities
✔ Family Tree Clinic
✔ Haven Housing of Ascension Place, Inc.
✔ CommonBond Communities
✔ FamilyMeans
✔ Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County
✔ FamilyWise Services
✔ Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties
✔ Feeding Our Communities Partners ✔ Feline Rescue, Inc.
✔ Hastings Family Service
✔ Hennepin Health Foundation/ Hennepin Healthcare Foundation ✔ Hmong Cultural Center
✔ The Firefly Sisterhood
✔ Hope Centers for Children of Africa
✔ Community Dental Care
✔ The Food Group
✔ HOPE Coalition
✔ Community Thread
✔ Foundation for Essential Needs
✔ Hope Community
✔ Como Friends ✔ Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
✔ Franconia Sculpture Park ✔ Fresh Energy
✔ HopeKids, Inc. ✔ House of Charity, Inc ✔ HousingLink
✔ Cookie Cart
✔ Freshwater Society
✔ Cornerstone Advocacy Service
✔ Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
✔ Cystic Fibrosis Relief Fund
✔ Friends of the Hennepin County Library
✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
✔ Friends of the Minnesota Sinfonia
✔ Initiative Foundation
✔ DARTS ✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation ✔ Diversity Council ✔ Dodge Nature Center
✔ Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries
✔ ICA – Intercongregation Communities Association
✔ Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners ✔ International Institute of Minnesota
✔ East Side Learning Center
✔ Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
✔ Edina Community Foundation
✔ Give Us Wings
✔ Emma Norton Services
✔ Global Minnesota
✔ Jewish Community Center of the Greater St. Paul Area
✔ Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota
✔ Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota
✔ Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
✔ EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services
✔ Great River Greening
✔ Joyce Preschool
✔ Great River Homes, Inc.
✔ Ka Joog
✔ Exodus Lending
✔ Great River Rescue
✔ Fairview Foundation
✔ Greater Minneapolis Community Connections
✔ Karen Organization of Minnesota
✔ Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities ✔ Faith's Lodge
✔ Guild Incorporated ✔ Hamm Memorial Psychiatric Clinic, Inc.
✔ Iringa Hope
✔ Keystone Community Services ✔ La Oportunidad, Inc. ✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP
GIVING GUIDE | Spring 2020
Giving Guide Spring 2020 – continued ✔ Lakes Area Music Festival
Can’t find a charity? See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
✔ Minnesota Alliance With Youth
✔ Nokomis East Neighborhood Association
✔ Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
✔ Northern Dental Access Center
✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)
✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.
✔ Minnesota Children's Museum
✔ Novation Education Opportunities
✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools
✔ One Heartland
✔ The Link
✔ Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
✔ The Open Door
✔ Listening House of St. Paul, Inc.
✔ Minnesota Council on Economic Education
✔ Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless
✔ Literacy Minnesota (previously Minnesota Literacy Council)
✔ Minnesota Humanities Center
✔ Opportunity Neighborhood
✔ Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN)
✔ PACER Center, Inc.
✔ Lakes Center for Youth and Families ✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers ✔ Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota) ✔ LifeSource ✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc. ✔ The Lift Garage
✔ 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
✔ Park Nicollet Foundation
✔ Minnesota Museum of American Art
✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)
✔ Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance
✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs
✔ Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation
✔ People Serving People
✔ Missions Inc. Programs ✔ MORE ✔ Move Minnesota
✔ Merrick, Inc.
✔ MoveFwd (formerly Teens Alone)
✔ Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
✔ MSS
✔ Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation ✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
✔ Opportunity Partners
✔ Minnesota Land Trust
✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf
✔ Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance
✔ Open Access Connections
✔ Paralyzed Veterans of America North Central Chapter
✔ Mississippi Park Connection
✔ MDI
✔ Northwoods Partners
✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation
✔ Matter
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✔ My Very Own Bed
✔ PeaceMaker Minnesota ✔ Perspectives, Inc. ✔ The Phoenix Residence Inc. ✔ Pillager Family Council ✔ Pinky Swear Foundation ✔ Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota ✔ Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
✔ myHealth for Teens & Young Adults
✔ PRG, Inc.
✔ NAMI Minnesota
✔ Progress Valley, Inc.
✔ Neighborhood House
✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc.
✔ New Pathways
✔ Project Zawadi
✔ ProAct, Inc.
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The Smart Giver | www.SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
Giving Guide Spring 2020 – continued ✔ PROP (People Reaching Out to People)
✔ St. Louis Park Emergency Program
✔ The Village Family Service Center
✔ Reach for Resources
✔ St. Paul Youth Services
✔ Vision Loss Resources
✔ The Reading Center / Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota
✔ St. Stephen's Human Services
✔ VocalEssence
✔ Stepping Stone Emergency Housing
✔ Volunteer Lawyers Network
✔ Rein in Sarcoma ✔ The Reporters, Inc.
✔ Susan G. Komen Minnesota ✔ Tanzania Life Project
✔ WACOSA ✔ Walk-In Counseling Center
✔ Tasks Unlimited, Inc.
✔ Washburn Center for Children
✔ Think Small
✔ Wayside House
✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation
✔ West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust
✔ Rice Health Foundation
✔ Touchstone Mental Health
✔ Rise
✔ Tree Trust
✔ Western Communities Action Network, Inc. (WeCAN)
✔ Ruff Start Rescue
✔ Tubman
✔ Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
✔ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors
✔ Twin Cities Public Television
✔ Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM) ✔ Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE)
✔ SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
✔ United Way of Central Minnesota
✔ Westfields Hospital & Clinic Foundation ✔ White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf ✔ White Bear Center for the Arts ✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
✔ Second Harvest Heartland
✔ United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties
✔ Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties
✔ Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
✔ United Way of Hastings
✔ WomenVenture ✔ World Without Genocide
✔ Semcac
✔ United Way of Olmsted County, Inc.
✔ Sherburne County Area United Way
✔ United Way of Southwest Minnesota
✔ Youthprise
✔ The Sheridan Story
✔ United Way of the Brown County Area, Inc.
✔ YWCA of Minneapolis
✔ Simpson Housing Services, Inc. ✔ Sing Out Loud ✔ Sojourner Project, Inc. ✔ Solid Ground ✔ St. Cloud Municipal Band ✔ St. Croix Valley Foundation ✔ St. David's Center for Child & Family Development
✔ United Way of West Central Minnesota ✔ Upstream Arts, Inc. ✔ Urban Arts Academy ✔ Urban Boatbuilders ✔ Urban Homeworks, Inc. ✔ Urban Roots ✔ Valley Outreach
✔ Wilderness Inquiry ✔ Women's Advocates, Inc.
✔ YouthLink ✔ YWCA Mankato ✔ Zumbro Valley Health Center
GIVING GUIDE | Spring 2020
Giving Guide Spring 2020 – continued
Can’t find a charity? See page 3 for information or call us at (651) 224-7030.
Reviews in Progress: On April 1, 2020, 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.
360 Communities
Hutchinson Health Foundation
Prepare + Prosper
Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis
PRISM
Amery Hospital & Clinic Foundation Animal Folks Avivo (formerly RESOURCE) Beltrami Neighborhood Council BFW Institute of Education & Research (Pain Free Patriots)
Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Juxtaposition Arts, Inc. Koochiching Aging Options Lakeview Health Foundation
Project FINE Rebuilding Together Twin Cities Regions Hospital Foundation Relate Counseling Center Reve Academy
Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being
Roots for the Home Team
Light the Legacy
ServeMinnesota
Camp Sweet Life Adventures Inc.
Lighthouse Ministries International of Africa
Southside Services I, Inc.
The Cedar Cultural Center
Lionsgate Academy
Center for Value Inquiry
Listening Point Foundation Inc.
Channel One Regional Food Bank
Living Well Disability Services
Children's Dental Services
The Loppet Foundation
Collaborative Community Law Initiative
Mental Health Minnesota
Breakthrough Twin Cities CAIR-Massachusetts
Common Hope Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Inc. Dream of Wild Health
Senior Community Services
Standpoint Twin Cities Pride United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties University of Minnesota Foundation
Minnesota Independence College and Community
Urban Ventures
Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media
VEAP
East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc.
Minnesota State Fair Foundation
Eden Prairie Community Foundation
Neighbors, Inc.
National Loon Center
Vail Place WellShare International Wings for Widows Wishes & More Women's Foundation of Minnesota
Environmental Initiative
North Anoka County Emergency Foodshelf (NACE), Inc.
Face to Face Health and Counseling Service, Inc.
Northeast Youth & Family Services
Youth Farm
Northern Clay Center
Youth Frontiers, Inc.
Northside Achievement Zone
Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
Fraser Greater Twin Cities United Way H2O For Life Haiti Teen Challenge Helping Hands Outreach
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OneVillage Partners Operation HELP The Partnership Plan
History Theatre
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
Hudson Hospital Foundation
Plymouth Christian Youth Center
Woodbury Life Resource Center
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
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THE SMART GIVER
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[continued from page 1] 3) Act now! All of us benefit more from nonprofits’ work than we’ll ever know. The challenge is that nonprofit work is often like air: people take it for granted because we do not see it and we don’t take much time to think about it until it is no longer there. —Vu Le, Nonprofit AF These are unprecedented times that call for unprecedented community support and generosity. As donors, we need to act now to ensure that nonprofits can help us through this crisis and are well-positioned to serve us into the future. With donors and nonprofits working together, we can lessen the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, households, and our community as a whole.
Join your fellow Minnesotans for #GiveAtHomeMN, a virtual fundraising event taking place May 1 - 8 for nonprofits and schools across Minnesota. Use the list of Meets Standards® Nonprofits found in today’s Smart Giver Newsletter to inform your giving decisions.
