The Charities Review Council is pleased to announce additions and changes to its 2009 board of directors.

The four new members of the Charities Review Council Board bring a variety of life experiences to the organization. The four new members named to the Board are:

• Heidi Neff Christianson, Partner, Moore, Costello & Hart PLLP
• Zainab Hassan, Community Philanthropy Officer, The Minneapolis Foundation
• Barbara Koch, Development Director, Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Travis Zimmerman, Indian Advisory Committee Program Coordinator, Minnesota
  Historical Society

Christianson, Hassan and Koch are each serving three-year terms ending in December 2011.   Zimmerman is completing a partial term of a retiring board member and will serve from January to December 2009.

Christianson, an attorney, provides corporate representation for nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, charitable trusts, foundations, associations and health care providers.   She represents them on regulatory matters involving the IRS, the Minnesota Attorney General Office and other state and federal agencies. “I hope my perspective as a former charities regulator and a current advocate of good governance can help the Council provide practical, accessible tools to nonprofit organizations, and do so in a more efficient and effective way,” Christianson said. 

Hassan has more than 10 years of public and nonprofit leadership experience.  Currently, she serves as community philanthropy officer for the Minneapolis Foundation.  She is the co-founder and chair of Women of Africa Resource and Development Association.  She has moderated a Somali Community meeting and an election forum with former senate candidates.  “I admire the good work of the Council,” Hassan said.  “I’d like to help them continue the work and my experience with the foundation should help me contribute to the Council’s efforts”

Koch is responsible for all strategic donations, events, marketing and communications, as well as financial goals for the Minnesota chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation  Her chapter recently received the “Power of One” award for being the top-performing chapter in the nation. “My experience in fundraising, as well as strategic planning, should be valuable to the Council,” Koch said.  “I am personally passionate about the amount of money charitable organizations use for administration, versus that which goes toward their programs.   I am delighted to work for the Council, since one of their standards helps people determine which charitable organizations will be good stewards for their dollars.”

Zimmerman’s work at the Historical Society helps the organization better interpret the history of Minnesota American Indians.  Previously, he served as executive director for the Boys and Girls Club of Mille Lacs and is also on the board of three other charitable organizations.  He has been the cultural advisor to Diversity Foundations for 12 years and is president of the board of the Minneapolis American

Indian Center.  “My experiences working for 15 years in nonprofits as a program provider, executive director and on various boards should help the Council,” Zimmerman said.  “I hope to help the Council reach out to more Native American organizations and help the Council meet its diversity goals and objectives.” 

Steve Joul, Central Minnesota Community Foundation president, in his fifth year on the Council Board, begins his first year as chairperson of the Council’s 19-member volunteer board of directors. In addition to new board members, the Council has elected the following officers for 2009:

• Vice Chair: Claire Topp, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
• Secretary: Gloria Lewis, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Twin Cities
• Treasurer: Michael Vinyon, Charitable Management Group, Wells Fargo

Joul explained, “The Council has a rich tradition of being on the vanguard of promoting and ensuring accountability in the nonprofit sector.  The work of the Council stimulates philanthropy by providing donors and funders with the knowledge that their charitable dollars will be invested wisely.  The Council’s standards serve as a guide to support and encourage best practices in the field.”  

The Charities Review Council’s mission is to mobilize informed donors and accountable nonprofits for  the greater good.  The Council is an independent resource for people who support charities with financial donations. It is dedicated to empowering donors in making informed and thoughtful giving decisions, so that they can be more effective in helping charities advance their important community work. No other state has a similar independent resource for donors. For more information, visit the Charities Review Council online at www.SmartGivers.org, or call (651) 224-7030 or toll-free 1-800-733-GIVE.