ST. PAUL, MINN. (Oct. 9, 2006) – For charities to effectively pursue their public missions, they must be well managed and accountable. To help Minnesota charities demonstrate these traits, Marquette Financial Companies awarded a $30,000 grant to the Charities Review Council. The grant will encourage use of the Council’s recently launched Accountability Wizard -- a voluntary online self-assessment tool for an organization’s performance in four critical areas: Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity and Fundraising.

“Trust is the lifeblood of charities. The single greatest threat to charities from effectively serving their communities is the loss of public confidence,” said Rich Cowles, executive director of the Charities Review Council. “We are thrilled to have Marquette Financial Companies support to help Minnesota charities demonstrate to the giving public that they are worthy of their trust. Minnesota donors have the right to expect that the charities they support will operate responsibly,” Cowles said.

“We urge all Minnesota charities to take advantage of this opportunity. The Accountability Wizard is an excellent tool to help charities continue their important work of serving the community,” said Paula Phillippe, Marquette Financial Companies spokesperson. “In the business community, excellence leads to profitability. In the nonprofit world, it leads to accomplishing missions essential to our communities.”

The grant will reduce the Accountability Wizard review fee by 50% (up to a maximum of $200) for organizations that begin their review process and submit the required documents and payment between October 5 and November 17. Documents and payment must be postmarked by November 17. Funds will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Results of the Accountability Wizard reviews are posted online and the Charities Review Council’s The Smart Giver newsletter distributed twice a year to more than 18,000 subscribers. Charities that meet the Charities Review Council’s standards are granted the “Meets Standards” seal. The seal provides a public, concise and accessible indicator of a nonprofit organization’s commitment to accountable and ethical practices. To date, more than 200 Minnesota charities have taken the first step toward accountability by enrolling in the reviews.