News & Stories
Loppet Foundation Receives Certification from the Charities Review Council
The Loppet Foundation is proud to announce that the Charities Review Council, a Minnesota-based independent resource for donors and nonprofits, has certified the organization as one that meets its high standards.
The Charities Review Council”s Accountability Standards® are co-created benchmarks of nonprofit governance, finance, fundraising and public communication that were developed in collaboration with academics, funders, donors, nonprofit leaders and subject matter experts. Representatives from these fields meet every two years to ensure that the standards are current and forward-thinking.
The Loppet Foundation started the review process in 2012, and over the next two plus years addressed all of the requirements outlined by the Accountability Standards. Requirements include things like filing taxes on time, holding regular board meetings and conducting board self-assessments, publishing minutes, and posting tax returns, adopting a timely budget, establishing adequate financial controls, employing an accounting firm to conduct an audit and putting record retention, equal opportunity, whistleblower, donor-privacy and conflict of interest policies in place.
“As an organization we worked hard to make this happen – the board provided strong oversight while the staff made certification and everything related to it a priority,” said Loppet Foundation Board President Bill Blazar. “This is a true milestone for a young organization, and we are very proud to have the seal of approval of the Charities Review Council.”
What this means for the public is that the Loppet Foundation is an organization that can be trusted to do things right. Donors can feel like their funds are being used properly and that the organization takes adequate steps to protect against fraud or mismanagement.
According to Kate Khaled, engagement & development manager at Charities Review Council, “The standards are a tool created to build relationships between donors and nonprofits to strengthen their collective impact and to recognize strong and trustworthy nonprofits.”
The Charities Review Council’s website is visited by 30,000 donors worldwide, and increasingly national and even international organizations are going through our Accountability Standards process, demonstrating the respect garnered by Minnesota’s nonprofit community.
About Charities Review Council
Charities Review Council is an independent resource for both donors and nonprofits who desire to improve the community through strong and accountable nonprofits supported by engaged donors. With over 65 years of history in the nonprofit sector, the Council is the premier place for information about the most trusted nonprofits. The Council’s mission is to mobilize informed donors and accountable nonprofits for the greater good.