SAINT PAUL, Minn. and WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, which supports The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation and 1,600 other affiliates across Minnesota, and Philanthropedia, a subsidiary research arm of GuideStar, today announced the results of custom research that identifies the effectiveness of environmental nonprofits operating in the state of Minnesota.
This is the first custom research study conducted by Philanthropedia on behalf of a community foundation. Using Philanthropedia's unique methodology and access to experts in the environmental sector, the research was commissioned to help donors learn about and support high-impact nonprofits in Minnesota. Some 178 experts participated in the research, which resulted in recognizing 18 nonprofits as high-impact organizations in the environmental sector.
Philanthropedia anticipates more community foundations, as hubs of community knowledge, will commission similar studies in areas of interest to help individuals identify high-impact nonprofits. Philanthropedia also conducted research to identify high-impact nonprofits working in workforce development in Minnesota. The results of this research are expected to be released in late-April 2012.
"Minnesotans are generous people, and they seek information to help them make smart decisions about which nonprofits to support," said Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. "Philanthropedia's customized research gathers and analyzes experts' opinions about nonprofits in Minnesota, giving donors the opportunity to support their favorite causes with greater confidence that their funds are having a positive impact."
The expert-identified, high-impact nonprofits will be highlighted on Philanthropedia's website, GuideStar's Take Action website, and MNSights magazine, a free bi-annual publication by Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, to help donors learn and connect with high-impact nonprofits. To see the results, please visit: http://myphilanthropedia.org/top-nonprofits/minnesota.
"Customized research on behalf of community foundations is a fantastic way to put the power of Philanthropedia's research to work on a very local level," added Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of GuideStar. "As more and more donors demand transparency, accountability and evidence of impact from nonprofits and the foundations that recommend them, this research becomes an invaluable tool for foundations looking to provide donors with in-depth information on the effectiveness of the nonprofits operating in their own backyard."
For those interested in working with Philanthropedia on a custom research project, please contact Dawn Kwan at dkwan@guidestar.org for more information.
About Minnesota Philanthropy Partners
Minnesota Philanthropy Partners is a network of foundations, funds and organizations that share knowledge and services to have the greatest possible impact through charitable giving. MN Partners supports The Saint Paul Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation and more than 1,600 affiliates across Minnesota. Learn more at http://www.mnpartners.org/.
About Philanthropedia
Philanthropedia is an online resource for donors who want to make a bigger difference with their charitable giving. Philanthropedia was founded on the belief that experts working in the field, such as foundation professionals, researchers, and nonprofit senior staff, are best suited to evaluate nonprofits in a more holistic way.
As of April 2011, Philanthropedia was acquired by GuideStar. GuideStar is the industry leader in nonprofit data with information on more than 1.8 million nonprofits. And, as an industry leader, GuideStar has a national audience of millions of professionals, funders, advisors, individuals, and others.
About GuideStar
GuideStar, www.guidestar.org, connects people and organizations with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, government officials, academic researchers, and the media.
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