Claire Topp, a leading health and nonprofit attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, served on Charities Review Council's Board of Directors for six years.  In leadership roles on the Program Committee, Claire oversaw pivotal board discussion on the development of the new accountability standards.  Her very capable guidance durings meetings ensured that diverse perspectives were heard and included in the reworking.  Because of her leadership skills, the standards adopted reflect the best thinking of sector leaders and a broad base of practitioners.  Claire was also a dynamic speaker at various conferences, as she has the welcome ability to make a dry subject interesting.  Her work leading the board strengthened the Council and all of our constituent nonprofits.  Claire was presented with the Council's Leadership Award for 2010. 

Sarah served actively on the Council's Program Committee and Marketing Committee in 2010.  She offered her expertise as an online marketing expert to the Council, in addition to bringing the valued perspective of a donor and community leader.  Sarah provided vital input to the redesign of the Council's website in 2010, and gave a boost of moral support to staff at the same time.  She rarely missed Program Committee meetings in 2010, although they were held every three or four weeks throughout the year.  In addition to her active volunteer roles at the Council, Sarah Bjelland is a Vice President and Communications Consultant with Wells Fargo Treasury Management.  Sarah has distinguished herself as the past chair of the Community Capital Alliance, an engaged-philanthropy leadership development organization, as well as being a member of the Wells Fargo Community Funding Council.  The Council was pleased to award Sarah their Volunteer Award for 2010.