Charities Review Council's Spring 2024 Smart Giver Newsletter

THE SMART GIVER

PLANNED GIVING: Maximizing Benefits for Both Donors and Nonprofits

Planned Giving refers to the process of maximizing a charitable gift during your lifetime or as part of your will, involving financial or estate planning techniques that extend benefits for both you as the donor and your charity of choice.

Doesn’t planned giving require significant financial resources? No, planned giving is defined by the commitment to give over time, not by the gift amount. You can align planned gifts to your means, from establishing a legacy fund to leaving a simple bequest in your will for your favorite charity.

Planned giving can be a big win for donors and their families.

Legacy: Planned giving allows donors to leave a lasting impact on causes they care about. It enables them to create a legacy that reflects their values and beliefs.

Finances: Planned giving can offer donors significant financial benefits. By strategically incorporating charitable giving into their financial plans, donors often maximize tax deductions, minimize estate taxes, and optimize their overall financial situation.

Family: Defining your legacy and solidifying your financial intentions through planned giving will provide your family peace of mind and confidence in knowing your desired charitable contributions will be fulfilled.

Planned giving can also be a big win for nonprofits.

Sustainability: Planned giving provides nonprofits a reliable source of funding. By securing future gifts, organizations can better plan for their long-term needs and weather other fluctuating funding uncertainties.

Diversification: Planned giving offers nonprofits a way to diversify revenue streams, as planned giving can include gifts of stock and other assets. This can reduce an organization’s risk and dependence on traditional funding sources like foundations.

Stewardship: When your organization is prepared to foster planned giving through effective education and thoughtful communication with your donors, your nonprofit can build the trust and loyalty required to steward planned giving commitments.

As abundant as the benefits of planned giving are, there are also many considerations for which you’ll want to consult your financial advisor and resources like the Minnesota Gift Planning Association (mngpa.org).

Leave A Legacy Minnesota (leavealegacymn. org) is a great place to start if you do not have the support of a financial advisor. Be sure to check out the back of this newsletter for additional tips.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Planned Giving: Maximizing Benefits for Both Donors and Nonprofits

• Status Update with Kris Kewitsch

• Giving Guide 2024

• Planned Giving: Let's Make a Plan!

Three Easy Ways

Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving

Check out the Giving Guide (pg 3) for a list of reviewed nonprofits.

STATUS UPDATE WITH KRIS KEWITSCH

Hello, Council Friends!

Four (short or long?) years ago this spring, COVID-19 arrived and the world as we knew it departed. There was pain and much loss. There were also signs of strength and promise. Communities adapted, people young and old displayed resilience, and organizations evolved.

From where I sit with the Council’s unique vantage point, this evolution does not have an end date for the nonprofit sector. There remain many unknowns, as pandemic recovery funding expires without new funding available to fill the gap or keep pace with increased demand. Leaders in the sector are retiring or stepping over into consulting, leaving a notable deficit in leadership and experience within many organizations.

And yet, nonprofits continue to show up for their communities. How can we show up for them?

We can show up by listening. The Council will be reaching out to engaged and potential stakeholders to hear: As a nonprofit, what needs have emerged for your organization in the past few years that the Council can lead you through? As a donor, how do you expect your giving to change as you move into your next stage of life, and how can the Council support you in that?

This is an exercise we encourage grant-makers and individual donors to conduct also. Reach out to the organizations you generously support – Is there a new way to maximize your contribution this year?

We can show up by giving.

Many nonprofits have experienced a decline in contributions from individuals, likely the result of elevated pandemic giving coming to an end and the impact of the current economy. Now is the time for donors and nonprofits to adapt practices accordingly:

• Small donations are big wins too, capitalize on them.

• Recurring or monthly gifts are beneficial for nonprofits' cash flow.

• Planned giving can maximize impact for donors across giving levels.

• We encourage you to find more resources on these and other timely topics on our Giving Matters blog (smartgivers.org/blog).

We can all show up for our community – just as nonprofits do day in and day out –donors, grant-makers, and organizations working together as thoughtful, engaged partners to promote a strong philanthropic culture and thriving communities.

In partnership,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Melvin Clark, Vice Chair, Allianz Investment Management

Carolyn Deters, Treasurer, Gifts for Seniors

Garnetta Lowman, Chair and Program Committee Chair, Neka Creative, ASDIC Metamorphosis

Stacey Nelson-Kumar, Past Chair, Comcast

Jonathan Palmer, Nonprofit Hero for-Hire, LLC

Molly Raymond, City of Minneapolis

Lisa Zellmer, Secretary, Beacon Interfaith

STAFF

Olivia Felland, Donor and Nonprofit Relations Coordinator

Dimitri Kaasan-Stull, Program Manager

Kris Kewitsch, Executive Director

INTERNS

Xena Dameh

Marshall Kelly

Kris Kewitsch Executive Director, Charities Review Council

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).

Accountability Standards®

Charities Review Council's Meets Standards® seal

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 SPRING 2024

✔ 180 Degrees

✔ 360 Communities

✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation

✔ Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI)

✔ Accord

✔ Achieve Twin Cities

✔ Age Well Arrowhead Inc.

✔ Alexandra House, Inc.

✔ Alliance Housing Inc.

✔ Ampersand Families

✔ Angel Foundation

✔ Animal Folks

✔ Annex Teen Clinic

✔ Anu Family Services, Inc.

✔ ArtReach St. Croix

The checkmark indicates that the nonprofit Meets Standards® For an up-to-date list, go to: SmartGivers.org/organizations

✔ Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul

✔ Association for NonsmokersMinnesota

✔ Avenues for Youth

✔ Banyan Community

✔ BestPrep

✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

✔ Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities

✔ Breanna's Gift

✔ Bridges to Learning, Inc.

✔ Bridging

✔ C.A.R.E. Clinic

✔ CAIR California (LA, SV/CC, SD, SFBA)

✔ CAIR-Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)

✔ Camp Fire Minnesota

✔ Camp Odayin

✔ CAPI USA

✔ Carmen Pampa Fund

✔ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud

✔ Center School

✔ Charities Review Council (Self-Review)

✔ ChildFund International

✔ Children's HeartLink

✔ Children's Home Society of Minnesota

✔ Children's Law Center of Minnesota

✔ City of Lakes Community Land Trust

✔ Climate Generation

GIVING GUIDE SPRING 2024 continued...

✔ CommonBond Communities

✔ Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County

✔ Community Dental Care

✔ Community Resource Connections

✔ Community Thread

✔ Como Friends

✔ Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

✔ Cookie Cart

✔ Cornerstone Advocacy Service

✔ Cultural Wellness Center

✔ Daily Work

✔ DARTS

✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation

✔ Dodge Nature Center

✔ Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc.

✔ Ed Allies

✔ Emma Norton Services

✔ Environmental Initiative

✔ Every Meal

✔ EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services

✔ Exercisabilities, Inc

✔ Exodus Lending

✔ Faith's Lodge

✔ Family Pathways

✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc.

✔ Family Tree Clinic

✔ FamilyMeans

✔ FamilyWise Services

✔ Feed My Starving Children

✔ Feeding Our Communities Partners

✔ Foundation for Essential Needs

✔ Fraser

✔ Fresh Energy

✔ Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

✔ Friends of the Hennepin County Library

✔ Friends of the Mississippi River

✔ Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys

✔ Give Us Wings

✔ GMCC (founded as Greater Mpls Council of Churches)

✔ Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota

✔ Great River Greening

✔ Great River Rescue

✔ Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

✔ Guild

✔ Haiti Teen Challenge

✔ Hammer Residences, Inc.

✔ HandsOn Twin Cities

✔ Hastings Family Service

✔ Haven Housing of Ascension Place, Inc.

✔ Helping Paws of Minnesota

✔ Hennepin Health Foundation/ Hennepin Healthcare Foundation

✔ Honoring Choices Minnesota

✔ Hope Community

✔ HopeKids, Inc.

✔ Housing First Minnesota Foundation

✔ Hudson Hospital Foundation

✔ ICA – Intercongregation Communities Association

✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota

✔ Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners

✔ International Institute of Minnesota

✔ Joyce Preschool

✔ Keystone Community Services

✔ Koochiching Aging Options

✔ La Oportunidad, Inc.

✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP

✔ Lakes Area United Way

✔ Lakes Center for Youth and Families

✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

✔ League of Women Voters Minnesota

✔ Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota)

GIVING GUIDE SPRING 2024 continued...

✔ Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being

✔ LifeSource

✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc.

✔ Listening Point Foundation Inc.

✔ Literacy Minnesota (previously Minnesota Literacy Council)

✔ Loaves & Fishes

✔ Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry

✔ Lutheran Social Service of MN

✔ Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota

✔ MATTER

✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf

✔ Merrick Community Services

✔ Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance

✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen ChallengeMinnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement

✔ Minnesota Alliance With Youth

✔ Minnesota Boychoir

✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)

✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools

✔ Minnesota Humanities Center

✔ Minnesota Independence College and Community

✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation

✔ Minnesota Land Trust

✔ Minnesota Music Coalition

✔ Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance

✔ Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media

✔ Minnesota State Fair Foundation

✔ Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends

✔ Missions Inc. Programs

✔ Mississippi Park Connection

✔ MORE

✔ MSS

✔ My Very Own Bed

✔ NAMI Minnesota

✔ Neighbors, Inc.

✔ Neuro Hospitality House

✔ New Pathways

✔ Northcountry Cooperative Foundation

✔ Northern Dental Access Center

✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.

✔ Northwoods Partners

✔ One Heartland

✔ Open Access Connections

✔ Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless

✔ Opportunity Neighborhood

✔ Opportunity Partners

✔ PACER Center, Inc.

✔ Park Nicollet Foundation

✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)

✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans

✔ PeaceMaker Minnesota

✔ People Incorporated

✔ People Serving People Charities

✔ Pillsbury United Communities

✔ Plymouth Christian Youth Center

✔ PRG, Inc.

✔ PRISM

✔ ProAct, Inc.

✔ Progress Valley, Inc.

✔ Project FINE

✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc.

✔ PROP (People Reaching Out to People)

✔ Rainbow Health (formerly JustUs Health)

✔ Reach for Resources

✔ Rebuilding Together Minnesota

✔ Regions Hospital Foundation

✔ Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM)

✔ Rise

✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors

GIVING GUIDE SPRING 2024 continued...

✔ SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)

✔ Second Harvest Heartland

✔ Semcac

✔ Senior Community Services

✔ ServeMinnesota

✔ Simpson Housing Services, Inc.

✔ Sing Out Loud

✔ Small Sums

✔ Solid Ground

✔ Southside Family Nurturing Center

✔ St. Cloud Municipal Band

✔ St. Croix Valley Foundation

✔ St. David's Center for Child & Family Development

✔ St. Louis Park Emergency Program

✔ St. Paul Youth Services

✔ Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

✔ Steve Rummler Hope Network

✔ Tanzania Life Project

✔ Tasks Unlimited

✔ The Family Partnership

✔ The Food Group

✔ The Lift Garage

✔ The Link

✔ The Open Door

✔ The Reading Center / Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota

✔ The Village Family Service Center

✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation

✔ Touchstone Mental Health

✔ Tree Trust

✔ Trellis

✔ Tubman

✔ Twin Cities Public Television

✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties

✔ United Way of Hastings

✔ United Way of Olmsted County, Inc.

✔ United Way of Southwest Minnesota

✔ Urban Boatbuilders

✔ Urban Homeworks, Inc.

✔ Vail Place

✔ Valley Outreach

✔ VEAP

✔ VocalEssence

✔ WACOSA

✔ Wallin Education Partners

✔ Washburn Center for Children

✔ Wayside Recovery Center

✔ Westfields Hospital & Clinic Foundation

✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

✔ Wilderness Inquiry

✔ Wings for Widows

✔ Wishes & More

✔ Women's Foundation of Minnesota

✔ YWCA of Minneapolis

REVIEWS IN PROGRESS

On March 15, 2024, 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

Amery Hospital & Clinic Foundation

Bloom Early Learning

Can Do Canines

Cancer Legal Care

COMPAS

createMPLS

DinoMights

Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries

H2O For Life

Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County

Homes Within Reach (also known as West Hennepin Affordable Housing Trust)

HousingLink

Hunger Solutions Minnesota

Jewish Family Service of St. Paul

Junior Achievement North

MDI

Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance

Minnesota Military Family Foundation

Neighborhood Network for Seniors

Oasis for Youth Perspectives, Inc.

PFund Foundation

Prepare + Prosper

Print the Love Rein In Sarcoma

River Valley Riders

Second Harvest Northland

Sojourner Standpoint

The Bridge for Youth

The Cedar Cultural Center

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc.

Vision Loss Resources

WellShare International

WithAll

Women's Advocates, Inc.

WomenVenture

Youthprise

1915 Highway 36 W, Ste 133 Roseville, MN 55113 (651) 224-7030

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As the name implies, Planned Giving takes some planning. Charities Review Council recommends talking with a few trusted sources and consulting reputable resources as you begin the process:

• Ask your financial advisor and/or estate attorney for their expertise and experience with planned giving. Leave a Legacy Minnesota (leavealegacymn.org) is a useful program to consult if you are not already working with a financial advisor.

• Engage your family and close friends as a sounding board if you have trouble formulating the vision of your planned gift. They know you well and what you care about, and can help you refine the legacy you want to create.

• Check out the materials available from your favorite nonprofits on planned giving. If they do not have existing materials, reach out to the Development team to begin a conversation.

• Tap into organizations like the Minnesota Gift Planning Association that offer webinars and additional resources on planned giving (mngpa.org).