Charities Review Council - Smart Giver Profile: Kristin Rigg

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Smart Giver Profile: Kristin Rigg

1. Why do you give?

I give because it connects me to my community. Knowing that my family and I have helped an organization deepens my belief in that charity and its mission. In some cases, giving empowers me to speak more to others about that organization and its work. At a very basic level, giving also makes me feel good. Giving is one of the ways that I am involved in the world and affecting change. From being involved in my neighborhood to making informed purchasing choices to volunteering in my children's school all of these are ways in which I give of myself to better the community.

2. Why do you think giving is important?

Giving is a way to have an impact in the world. When I think of my cumulative giving, it includes giving of my time as well as my money. Upon moving to Minneapolis after college, I taught ESL. Due to college loan payments, I could not give money, but I could give the needed time and skills.

Additionally, giving is an important tool for teaching empathy and compassion to children. It is difficult for children to understand giving their money and possessions to strangers. Yet, our society has a long history of philanthropy and, as a parent of three, I believe that I must show my children how to be philanthropic. As a family, we have delivered food for Volunteers of America at Thanksgiving and Easter time. My ten-year-old twins have, for years, asked their friends for food donations instead of presents for their birthday party. This year the kids brought donations to the Raptor Center, where the birthday party was held. I can see my children's growing understanding of ways to give.

3. What do you look for in an organization that you'd like to support?

I look for organizations that relate to some part of my/our life. I like organizations that utilize technology to streamline giving and communications. I am uninterested in ongoing mailings or fancy annual reports. I like charities that email me links to information, allowing me to read it online and print it myself if I want. Additionally, I have not added new charities to our family's donor list if those organizations have not met the Council's Accountability Standards. This value has given me the opportunity to educate some charities about the Accountability Wizard and the work of the Charities Review Council.

4. What about your experience working with charitable organizations?

For the past seven years, I have been a volunteer at Chrysalis. I work in the Law Clinic, which helps women going through divorce by providing legal referrals and other needed resources. I am amazed by how unique each woman's story is and the many different paths that brought them to Chrysalis.

I am on the board of the Ramsey International Fine Arts Center (RIFAC) Foundation, an organization established to increase an endowment to fund arts programs at RIFAC, a Minneapolis public school. As part of a working board, I have learned a remarkable amount about nonprofits. To ensure the ongoing viability of the organization, we spent time developing the infrastructure, including policies, practices, and documentation. Additionally, we have made great strides in increasing the endowment and positioning it for growth through investments. Participating in the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has helped greatly from attending the annual conferences to utilizing their online resources and brown bag lunches.

5. What advice would you give to other potential donors?

My family has a giving plan. We select those charities to which we wish to donate and then allow a little extra for things that come up. We use the Council's Giving Guide, which is full of information about nonprofits and helps donors understand the organization’s mission and condition. To me, giving is not a quick decision and I do not allow others to pressure me into something.

6. What has been your best giving experience?

I have not had a bad giving experience. The best ones are where I am face-to-face with someone receiving the services of the organization. Whether it's delivering food to someone's home or teaching ESL, having that human connection is so rewarding.

7. Has the Council been useful for you?

Last year, I interned at the Charities Review Council, working on fund development. I appreciated both the opportunity to share my skills with the organization and the ability to learn more about fundraising and the daily workings of a nonprofit. The Council has one of the best-organized volunteer programs I've seen, ensuring that the experience is beneficial for both the organization and the volunteers. The experience was invaluable and I maintain friendships with the staff.

8. What can donors do to strengthen nonprofits?

As donors, we can hold charities accountable. In the business of nonprofits, I want to know that as much of my dollar as possible goes to the charity's mission work. I read annual reports and I ask questions. Whether it's a national or local charity, I believe that expecting high standards keeps the nonprofit sector honest and open about its practices. Donors are investors in charities – thinking of ourselves this way might help understand the roles we can play.