Charities Review Council - 2006 Accomplishments

The Council commemorated its 60 years of connecting informed donors and accountable charities at the Annual Forum held in June 2006.The event theme was “Celebrating 60 Years: Honoring the Past, Serving the Future”. The forum featured Vance Opperman, president and chief executive office of Key Investment, Inc., speaking on “Accountability in the FEMA/Enron Era.”

• Advanced relationships with community partners

The Council collaborated with many funding organizations such as Marquette Financial Companies, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Community Health Charities, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Central Minnesota United Way, Duluth-Superior Community Foundation and Greater Duluth United Way to encourage widespread use of the Accountability Wizard to demonstrate strengthened nonprofit accountability and trustworthiness to the public.

• Expanded Board and staff composition

In 2006, the Council expanded the Council’s staff and board to reflect that of our community. The Board and staff of the Council represent a diversity of backgrounds. The 15 board members and six staff members range in ages, with many religions and most ethnic, racial, and socio-economic groups represented.

PROGRAMS

1) Research and review charities: Reviewed more charities than ever through the Accountability Wizard

The Council celebrated the Accountability Wizard’s first birthday in December. The Wizard has allowed the Council to increase its capacity to review more charities. By year-end, almost 300 charities have completed the Accountability Wizard or are in process. Charities continue to believe it’s important to meet the Council’s standards.

2) Nonprofit services: Served as educator by providing tools and resources to charities to meet and maintain Accountability Standards

The Accountability Wizard allows the Council to shift the focus of our charity review efforts from judge to educator and helper. Provided technical assistance to Wizard participants to help them make improvements, where needed, to meet standards.

3) Donor information and education: Developed tailored products and enhanced services to better serve donors

• The Council introduced a searchable auto and goods donation page on its Web site, just in time for year-end giving of household goods. Users can search a database of charities that accept donations of non-cash items such as clothing, appliances and automobiles. Users can also narrow searches by pick-up or drop-off availability and geographic locations. Charities listed have voluntarily participated in a review.

• The Council unveiled a new look for its semi-annual newsletter The Smart Giver. The newsletter includes the Giving Guide, which reports results of Council charity reviews, and articles on topics such as philanthropic efforts of local celebrities and holiday smart giving tips. All Giving Guide information was also available on the Council's Web site. The newsletters reached 18,000 households, businesses, charities, and funders.

• The Council débuted Smart Giving, its free e-newsletter in December. This e-newsletter highlights the latest charity Review updates, news and ideas, and provides timely helpful giving tips

The Council kicked off the giving season by conducting its first-ever multi-media smart giving campaign to help the public make informed giving choices during the holiday season.

• Increased Web site usage by donors: More users than ever found current information on charity reviews, giving resources and auto and goods donation information. Web site traffic increased 41%in 2006.

• Encouraged youth philanthropy to be Great Givers: The Council integrated the Great Givers Web site with www.SmartGivers.org, to become a section of the Smart Givers Network. Here youth and young adults can find giving tips tailored for young people, read profiles of youth who are giving back to their communities and submit requests for free electronic or hard copies of full curriculum. Fulfilled 163 requests for curriculum.

• Served as a media resource: The Council responded to 45 media requests for information, providing interviews and commentary on a variety of charitable giving topics.