Charities Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

American Refugee Committee
Books For Africa, Inc. 
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud 
Central Minnesota Community Foundation 
Community Mediation Services, Inc
CornerHouse
Diversity Council
Family Hope Services, Inc. / TreeHouse
HFH of Douglas County, Minnesota, Inc. 
Great Neighborhoods! Development Corporation
Hope Community Inc.
Jeremiah Program  
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis  
Kinship of Greater Minneapolis  
Latino Economic Development Center
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota
Mediation Services for Anoka County 
Mental Health Association of Minnesota 
Metro Meals on Wheels, Inc 
Plan USA / Plan International USA Inc
People Serving People, Inc. 
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center 
Restorative Justice Community Action, Inc.
Reuben Lindh Family Services 
Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity
Second Harvest Heartland
St. Stephen's Human Services
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Minnesota Affiliate)
The Playwrights' Center
Tix for Tots 
Union Gospel Mission Association of St. Paul
YMCA of Greater Saint Paul

Charities Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Achieve! Mpls
Arc Midstate
Children’s HeartLink
eQuality – Pathways to Potential
Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau
Minnesota Children's Museum
Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Minnetonka Center for the Arts
Perspectives, Inc
Rum River Health Services
Simpson Housing Services Inc.

Announcing The New Preliminary Accountability Standards

For the last 12 years, the current Accountability Standards of the Charities Review Council have helped strengthen the nonprofit sector and to mobilize informed donors. But a lot has changed economically, demographically, legally, and socially during this period of time and the time had come to update and revise the standards to reflect this.

Over the past year, the Council’s Program Committee has led a process that brought together donors, institutional funders, academics, nonprofit leaders and community representatives to craft a fair set of standards that are sensitive to a wide variety of constituents and will further strengthen an already vital and indispensable nonprofit sector. A preliminary set of the new Accountability Standards were just unveiled last month at the Council’s Annual Forum and we are now embarking on a four-month public input phase to get more feedback before finalizing the new standards this fall.

These Standards are meant to help informed donors and accountable nonprofits, so your feedback is vital. Tell us what you think. We appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from you!

Charities Review Council to update giving guidelines

Check out today's Star Tribune article "Charities Review Council to Update Giving Guidelines" featuring the Council's proposed new Accountability Standards to be unveiled next week at the Annual Forum.

Charities Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:
Alliance Housing Inc

Bridging Inc

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities

Charities Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

African American AIDS Task Force

CommonBond Communities

Dodge Nature Center

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Restart Inc

May Is Senior Citizen Month – Tips For Seniors On Charitable Giving And To Avoid Being Scammed

According to the FBI, seniors who own their home, have excellent credit and have a “nest egg” of savings make excellent marks for thieves. Learn more about tips for seniors on charitable giving and how to avoid being scammed ... more

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Asian Media Access

Christians Children's Fund

Faith's Lodge

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Confidence Learning Center

Cookie Cart

Minnesota Council for Quality

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Minn. Home Ownership Center

United Way of Washington County - East
WATCH

Annual Forum: June 17, 2009

Don't miss this year's Annual Forum "Accountability: Now More Than Ever" featuring the unveiling of the Council’s new draft Accountability Standards, our Report to the Community and guest speaker, Phil Buchanan, president of Center for Effective Philanthropy.

Mr. Buchanan will address the need for foundation and nonprofit leaders to increase their effectiveness and become more accountable. Mr. Buchanan will also debunk some of the myths that still hold sway: that the key to nonprofit effectiveness lies in adopting “business” practices, that nonprofit performance cannot be defined or assessed, and that the sector lacks management talent.

Tickets are $50 each. Seats are limited. Register early.

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau, Inc
The Link
YWCA of Minneapolis

Taxes and Charitable Giving I.Q. Quiz

Tomorrow is tax day. Test yourself in this fun quiz about taxes and charitable giving.

Charity Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to Miracles of Mitch Foundation for completing its Accountability Wizard review and meeting the Council's Standards of Accountability.

Charity Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to Carmen Pampa Fund for completing its Accountability Wizard review and meeting the Council's Standards of Accountability.

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Lifetrack Resources, Inc

Minnesota Council on Economic Education

Mississippi River Fund

Minnesota Literacy Council, Inc

Giving and Taxes

It’s that time of year once again – time to file our taxes. If you made charitable donations last year, don’t forget the tax advantages provided under law to encourage charitable giving. Learn more about taxes and giving ... more

Charity Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to Feed My Starving Children for completing its Accountability Wizard review and meeting the Council's Standards of Accountability.

GIVING IN TIMES OF DISASTERS: Red River Flooding

As rising water levels, flooding and evacuation plans consume Fargo and other cities located along the Red River Valley, plans already are underway to help provide much-needed relief and support in the days and months ahead. When disaster strikes and needs are of a critical, urgent nature - what are the best and safest ways to help make the greatest difference to those in need ... more

Charity Meets Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to Helping Hands Outreach to Elders, Inc for completing its Accountability Wizard review and meeting the Council's Standards of Accountability.

Twittering

The Charities Review Council has joined twitterverse. Hope you'll follow along: http://twitter.com/smartgivers

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability:

Twin Cities RISE!

Caring Rivers United Way

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability.

• The Children's Theatre Company


• Community Involvement Programs


• National Kidney Foundation


• Rochester Neighborhood Resource Center


• SteppingStone Theatre
  
  

What's your giving I.Q.?

What's your giving I.Q.? Test your knowledge about youth philanthrophy, tax-exempt organizations and more in this interactive giving I.Q. quiz.

The Habit of Giving

We learn the basics of life at a young age: walking, talking, reading and manners. When learned at an early age, we are able to perfect these skills and teach others. As you teach life skills to children, don't forget to add philanthropy to your list. Learn how you can help kids can develop the habit of giving.

Charities Meet Accountability Standards: Congratulations

Congratulations to the following charities that recently completed their Accountability Wizard reviews and have met the Council's Standards of Accountability.

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter

Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Evergreen House, Inc., The

Free to Be, Inc.

Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation

Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches

Hazelden Foundation

La Oportunidad

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Inc.,

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter

Neighborhood Development Center

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity