Status Update with Kris Kewitsch
Hello, Council Friends!
I know we are all tired of living in unpredictable and unprecedented times. As the leader of a nonprofit myself, it feels like each week throws a new wrench in the systems, assumptions, and rhythms we used to be able to rely on. Lately, a lot of those wrenches revolve around fraud. The fraud conversation has changed how we lead nonprofits, how we communicate with donors, and how we address internal systems that improve trust and transparency. As election season draws nearer, the topic and its impact on voters holds additional weight.
There’s good news for nonprofits, though. While the surrounding conversation has led to policy changes that will likely increase oversight on state grant programs, nonprofits have been ready for the kind of transparency because of Charities Review Council.
Charities Review Council can’t prevent fraud, but we put all the touchpoints in place to allow organizations to identify issues before they become significant. By using a strong, tested, and dynamic framework for transparency like the Accountability Standards®, nonprofits will already meet governance requirements and best practices that the state will be looking for. Nonprofits seeking the Meets Standards® Seal from Charities Review Council must meet requirements that in fact exceed Minnesota state requirements for nonprofit governance.
In many ways, our dedication to nonprofits and donors looks like tools that ask a little more: meet higher standards, ask deeper questions, and commit more thoughtfully to a thriving nonprofit ecosystem.
Steadfastly,
Kris Kewitsch
Executive Director, Charities Review Council
