ST. PAUL, MINN. (January 16, 2007)  The Charities Review Council is pleased to announce additions and changes to its 2007 board. James Toscano has been elected to serve for a one-year term as the Councils new board chairperson.

Jim Toscano is an extraordinary leader with a rich history who brings enormous nonprofit leadership to our organization, said Rich Cowles, executive director at the Charities Review Council. We are very pleased to announce his election as chair of the Charities Review Council board.    

Toscano, president of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, was elected to the board in 2004 and currently serves as Board treasurer. Toscano earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College and his graduate degree from Yale University. Toscano lectures on nonprofit management at the graduate school of Hamline University, served as a mentor to nonprofit executives, and was a consultant to nonprofit boards of directors.

The Charities Review Council has also elected the following officers for 2007:

• Vice Chair: Claire Topp, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney
• Secretary: Steve Joul, president, Central Minnesota Community Foundation
• Treasurer: Audrey Kintzi, chief advancement officer, Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley

Other changes to the Council Board include:

New members:

• Cindy Kleven is the Community Affairs Manager at 3M in Saint Paul.  Her volunteer work includes Meals on Wheels, board vice-chair of the Kinnickinnic Valley Health Foundation, and advisory committee member for the Community Sharing Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation.  Cindy earned a bachelors degree in Organizational Management and Communication at Concordia University in Saint Paul.   
• Gloria Lewis is currently the President and CEO at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.  She comes to the Council with a diverse portfolio of experience including violence, drug and alcohol prevention.  She holds a masters degree in communications research from Boston University and a bachelors degree in psychology from Hampton University in Virginia.
• Joy Persall is the Executive Director at Native Americans in Philanthropy.  Persall, who has a B.A. in Multicultural Nonprofit Administration, completed an Emerging Philanthropic Leaders Fellowship of the National Council of Foundations and has committed her work and life to raising such issues as diversity and inclusion, and working for justice and equity.

The Charities Review Councils purpose is to encourage independent thoughtful decision making about charitable giving. The Council helps foster greater confidence in giving and fosters public trust in charitable organizations by promoting nonprofit accountability through its Accountability Wizard public reviews.   

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.