The newsletter from Charities Review Council
FALL 2023
www.SmartGivers.org
THE SMART GIVER
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IN THIS ISSUE
Harnessing the Power of Year-End: Reflection, Communication, and Collaboration We find ourselves amid the natural shift of calendars and clocks this time of year, as the days become shorter and the seasons change over. These final months of the year carry added signficance for many, an opportunity that nonprofits and donors can leverage to strengthen community connection and elevate impact. To maximize this opportunity, consider: Reflection Leads to Learning & Clarity: Take advantage of the contemplation commonly associated with year’s end. Nonprofit leaders, use this time as a checkpoint to assess organizational progress. Engaging in a reflective process is crucial to effectively apply what you have learned to refine strategies and set clear goals moving forward. Donors, take this time to pause, consider what causes are most important to you this year, research where your charitable giving will make a meaningful difference, and chart out your year-end giving. Communication is Key: Amid economic strain, it’s an important time to openly and honestly dialogue. Nonprofit leaders, how are you conveying your organization's pressure points to your constituents? When donors understand the impact their contributions are having and the direction the organization is going, they are more likely to continue their support. Donors, staff are stretched thin and may not have much capacity for individual touch points. Stay informed by subscribing to organizations’ newsletters and following along on social media. When something catches your attention, reach out with questions or praise. Initiating conversation lets organizations know you are paying attention and committed to the cause. Collaboration is the Way Forward: As the year comes to a close, it’s a time to reinforce shared goals. Nonprofit leaders and donors, identify ways to engage and collaborate. Donors are not just financial
supporters; they are partners on mission fulfillment. Charitable contributions are investments in a better community; everyone should be encouraged to be part of the change they wish to see. By working together, we can better navigate challenges and significantly impact communities. The final quarter of the year is a pivotal moment for many organizations, encompassing end-of-year fundraising, budgeting for the upcoming year, and setting ambitious goals to meet rising community needs. Let’s embrace the time we have left in 2023 as an opportunity for reflection, communication, and collaborative action!
AN INTERNSHIP BUILT FOR TWO
• Harnessing the Power of Year-End • Status Update with Kris Kewitsch • Giving Guide 2023 • 3 Ways to Celebrate the Joy of Giving this Holiday Season
Three Easy Ways to Check Out Nonprofits Before Giving
2023
The Council opted to bring on not one but two interns this past summer. From a pool of strong applicants, Marshall Kelly and Xena Dameh emerged as standouts. Uniquely suited for the role, albeit in distinct ways, Marshall and Xena have complemented each other and have accomplished more than we could have anticipated. It turns out two interns can have the impact of three!
Check out the Giving Guide on page 3 for a list of reviewed nonprofits.
Has your organization considered cohort internships - engaging multiple interns simultaneously? This can be a win-win. Interns gain networking, collaborative learning, and peer mentorship opportunities. The organization benefits from increased retention and engagement, often leading to improved quality of work overall.
Call (651) 224-7030
While resuming their studies at the University of Minnesota this fall, they have extended their internships to continue to learn from and alongside each other while making valuable contributions to the Council. Thank you, Marshall and Xena!
Click SmartGivers.org
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The Smart Giver | www.SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
STATUS UPDATE WITH KRIS KEWITSCH Hello, Council Friends! As the leaves start to turn and a crispness fills the air, I want to extend a warm greeting to each of you. The fall season is often associated with giving and reflection, and now is an excellent time to consider the impact we want to make on our communities before year’s end. Mark your calendars for Give to the Max Day, Thursday, November 16. This annual event captures the generosity of donors giving to thousands of nonprofits and schools throughout Minnesota. The Council’s mission is to help donors make informed decisions about where to allocate their charitable contributions, and our trusted Meets Standards® list of reviewed nonprofits is an excellent tool to explore and discover accountable organizations eager for your support. It's a simple yet powerful way to ensure your donations have a meaningful impact. While we are on the topic of giving, remember that a gift to Charities Review Council is a gift that keeps on giving. By supporting the Council, you are contributing to the overall wellbeing of the nonprofit sector. We Want to Hear from You In our ongoing commitment to serving donors and nonprofits, we are conducting an upcoming survey. We want to hear from you and the broader community about our programs and their perceived value. Are you aware of the extent of the work we do? Do you find it valuable in your philanthropic journey? Which capacity-building needs and resources are of most importance to nonprofits today? Please keep an eye out for this survey, arriving in your inbox this October. Thank you in advance for your feedback; it is invaluable as we strive to continuously improve our services. By donating to your favorite causes on Give to the Max Day, giving to the Council, or participating in our Needs Assessment survey, your involvement matters. Together, we can make our communities stronger, more vibrant, and more just. In partnership,
Kris Kewitsch Executive Director Charities Review Council
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Melvin Clark Allianz Investment Management Carolyn Deters, Treasurer, Indelible | Gifts for Seniors Garnetta Lowman, Vice Chair, Program Committee Chair Neka Creative, Consulting Stacey Nelson-Kumar, Chair Comcast Jonathan Palmer Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Molly Raymond Willow Within Lisa Zellmer, Secretary & Governance Committee Chair Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative Linda Nelson Olsen Thielen (retired)
STAFF Dimitri Kaasan-Stull, Program Manager Kris Kewitsch, Executive Director
SCAN HERE TO DONATE
Olivia Felland, Donor and Nonprofit Relations Coordinator Xena Dameh, Intern Marshall Kelly, Intern
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2023
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 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 75+ 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 Fall 2023 ✔ 180 Degrees ✔ 360 Communities ✔ A Breath of Hope Lung Foundation ✔ Accessible Space, Inc. (ASI) ✔ Accord ✔ Achieve Twin Cities ✔ African Development Center of Minnesota ✔ Age Well Arrowhead Inc. ✔ Alexandra House, Inc. ✔ Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee) ✔ Alliance Housing Inc. ✔ Ampersand Families ✔ Angel Foundation ✔ Animal Folks
✔ Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul ✔ Avenues for Youth ✔ Banyan Community ✔ Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative ✔ Beltrami Neighborhood Council ✔ BestPrep ✔ Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities ✔ Bolder Options ✔ Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities ✔ Breanna's Gift ✔ Bridges to Learning, Inc. ✔ Bridging ✔ C.A.R.E. Clinic
✔ Anu Family Services, Inc.
✔ CAIR-Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
✔ ArtReach St. Croix
✔ Camp Fire Minnesota
✔ Camp Odayin ✔ Cancer Legal Care ✔ CAPI USA ✔ Carmen Pampa Fund ✔ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud ✔ Center School, Inc. ✔ Charities Review Council (SelfReview) ✔ 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 ✔ CommonBond Communities
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The Smart Giver | www.SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
Giving Guide Fall 2023 – continued ✔ Hammer Residences, Inc.
✔ Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County
✔ Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, Inc.
✔ Community Dental Care
✔ Family Tree Clinic
✔ Hands of Hope Resource Center
✔ Community Resource Connections
✔ FamilyMeans
✔ HandsOn Twin Cities
✔ FamilyWise Services
✔ Hastings Family Service
✔ Feed My Starving Children
✔ Haven Housing of Ascension Place, Inc.
✔ Community Thread ✔ Como Friends ✔ Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio ✔ Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa ✔ Cookie Cart ✔ Cornerstone Advocacy Service ✔ Cultural Wellness Center ✔ Daily Work ✔ DARTS ✔ Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation ✔ Dodge Nature Center
✔ Feeding Our Communities Partners ✔ Foundation for Essential Needs ✔ Fraser ✔ Fresh Energy ✔ Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness ✔ Friends of the Hennepin County Library
✔ HopeKids, Inc. ✔ Housing First Minnesota Foundation ✔ HousingLink
✔ Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries
✔ Hunger Solutions Minnesota
✔ Ed Allies
✔ Give Us Wings
✔ EMERGE Community Development
✔ Global Minnesota
✔ Every Meal
✔ Hope Community
✔ Hudson Hospital Foundation
✔ Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
✔ Environmental Initiative
✔ Hennepin Health Foundation/ Hennepin Healthcare Foundation
✔ Friends of the Mississippi River
✔ Eastside Meals on Wheels, Inc.
✔ Emma Norton Services
✔ Helping Paws of Minnesota
✔ GMCC (founded as Greater Mpls Council of Churches) ✔ Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota
✔ Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota ✔ Initiative Foundation ✔ International Institute of Minnesota ✔ Iringa Hope ✔ Joyce Preschool ✔ Keystone Community Services
✔ EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services
✔ Great River Greening
✔ La Oportunidad, Inc.
✔ Great River Rescue
✔ Lakes & Prairies CAP
✔ Exercisabilities, Inc
✔ Lakes Area United Way
✔ Exodus Lending
✔ Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
✔ Faith's Lodge
✔ Guild
✔ Family Pathways
✔ Haiti Teen Challenge
✔ Lakes Center for Youth and Families ✔ Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2023
Giving Guide Fall 2023 – continued ✔ League of Women Voters Minnesota ✔ Learning Disabilities Association, Inc. (LDA Minnesota)
✔ Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) ✔ Minnesota Computers for Schools
Can’t find a charity? Call us at (651) 224-7030. ✔ Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless ✔ Operation HELP ✔ Opportunity Neighborhood
✔ Minnesota Humanities Center
✔ Opportunity Partners ✔ PACER Center, Inc.
✔ LifeSource
✔ Minnesota Independence College and Community
✔ Lifeworks Services, Inc.
✔ Minnesota Justice Foundation
✔ Lighthouse Ministries International of Africa
✔ Minnesota Land Trust
✔ Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs)
✔ Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Well-Being
✔ 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
✔ Minnesota Music Coalition ✔ Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media ✔ Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends
✔ Park Nicollet Foundation
✔ Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans ✔ PeaceMaker Minnesota ✔ People Incorporated
✔ Missions Inc. Programs
✔ People Serving People Charities
✔ Mississippi Park Connection
✔ Pillsbury United Communities
✔ MORE
✔ Plymouth Christian Youth Center
✔ MSS
✔ MATTER
✔ My Very Own Bed
✔ McLeod Emergency Food Shelf
✔ NAMI Minnesota
✔ MDI
✔ Neighbors, Inc.
✔ Mental Health Minnesota
✔ Neuro Hospitality House
✔ Merrick, Inc.
✔ New Pathways
✔ Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
✔ Northcountry Cooperative Foundation
✔ Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement
✔ NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.
✔ Minnesota Alliance With Youth
✔ Northwoods Partners
✔ Minnesota Boychoir
✔ One Heartland ✔ Open Access Connections
✔ PRG, Inc. ✔ ProAct, Inc. ✔ Progress Valley, Inc. ✔ Project FINE ✔ Project For Pride In Living Inc. ✔ Project Success ✔ PROP (People Reaching Out to People) ✔ Rainbow Health (formerly JustUs Health) ✔ Reach for Resources ✔ Rebuilding Together Minnesota ✔ Regions Hospital Foundation
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The Smart Giver | www.SmartGivers.org | Charities Review Council
Giving Guide Fall 2023 – continued ✔ The Family Partnership
✔ Valley Outreach
✔ The Food Group
✔ VEAP
✔ The Lift Garage
✔ VocalEssence
✔ The Link
✔ WACOSA
✔ The Open Door
✔ Wallin Education Partners
✔ The Phoenix Residence Inc.
✔ Washburn Center for Children ✔ Wayside Recovery Center
✔ Second Harvest Heartland
✔ The Reading Center / Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota
✔ Semcac
✔ The Reporters, Inc.
✔ Senior Community Services
✔ The Village Family Service Center
✔ Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM) ✔ Rise ✔ Ruff Start Rescue ✔ Saint Anthony Park Area Seniors ✔ SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
✔ ServeMinnesota ✔ Simpson Housing Services, Inc.
✔ Three Rivers Park District Foundation
✔ Sing Out Loud
✔ Touchstone Mental Health
✔ Solid Ground
✔ Tree Trust
✔ Southside Family Nurturing Center
✔ Trellis
✔ 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
✔ Tubman ✔ Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Inc. ✔ Twin Cities Public Television ✔ United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties ✔ United Way of Hastings ✔ United Way of Olmsted County, Inc.
✔ Steve Rummler Hope Network
✔ United Way of Southwest Minnesota
✔ Tanzania Life Project
✔ Upstream Arts, Inc.
✔ Tasks Unlimited
✔ Urban Boatbuilders
✔ The Alliance
✔ Urban Homeworks, Inc.
✔ The Bridge for Youth
✔ Vail Place
✔ Westfields Hospital & Clinic Foundation ✔ White Bear Center for the Arts ✔ White Bear Lake Area Historical Society ✔ Wilderness Inquiry ✔ Wings for Widows ✔ Wishes & More ✔ Women's Foundation of Minnesota ✔ World Without Genocide ✔ Youthprise
GIVING GUIDE | Fall 2023 Can’t find a charity? Call us at (651) 224-7030.
Giving Guide Fall 2023 – continued
Reviews in Progress: On September 15, 2023, 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. Agate Housing & Services (formerly St. Stephen's and House of Charity)
Karen Organization of Minnesota
Animal Humane Society
Merrick Community Services
Annex Teen Clinic
Minnesota Military Family Foundation
American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa (ARAHA) Association for Nonsmokers Minnesota
Koochiching Aging Options
Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Minnesota State Fair Foundation
Cars for Neighbors
MyHealth for Teens
Children's Cancer Research Fund
National Youth Leadership Council
Children's Dental Services
Nexus
createMPLS
Perspectives, Inc.
Every Third Saturday Inc.
Prepare + Prosper
Friends of the Minnesota Sinfonia
Print the Love
Giving Voice Initiative
PRISM
Heart of America Foundation
Quiet Oaks Hospice & Respite Care
Honoring Choices Minnesota (formerly Light the Legacy) ICA – Intercongregation Communities Association Jeremiah Program
Rebuilding the Village Red Drop Resource Rein In Sarcoma
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Sojourner Project Standpoint Summit Academy OIC The Arc Minnesota The Cedar Cultural Center The Minnesota Opera Vision Loss Resources WithAll Women's Advocates, Inc. YMCA of the North Youth Frontiers, Inc. Youth Service Bureau, Inc. YWCA of Minneapolis Zumbro Valley Health Center
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THE SMART GIVER
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FALL 2023
Givin Guideg
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Consider a Recurring Gift The holidays can be an expensive time when gift purchases and party planning are in full swing. Perhaps a recurring gift would work better for your budget – dividing your set giving amount across 12 months in 2024 instead of making 1 large gift at year's end. Recurring gifts are also beneficial for nonprofits’ budgets, as donations earlier in the year are often sparce.
The Joy of Giving
With the holiday season approaching, the Council offers these tips to help you maximize the joy of giving this year!
Ask Your Employer Some companies offer a “matching program” effectively doubling the impact of your charitable contributions. Check with your employer to see if they have such a program.
Involve Your Family Giving is sometimes done without much discussion, and children may not be aware of their parents’ commitment to generous charitable giving. Take advantage of the time you have together as a family over the holidays to engage your loved ones in a meaningful conversation. It’s a chance to gather their input and decide together what type of organization matches your family’s values or interests that you want to support. There are great resources out there to initiate these conversations with kids of any age.