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Where the giving goes: How local nonprofits raise and spend their money

Tis’ the season for giving. But do you know how your money is being spent? Charity watchdog groups rate nonprofit organizations for their financial health and how they operate. You can do some of that research for local charities yourself. First, pick a cause you care about, says Rich Cowles, executive director of the Charities Review Council, a St. Paul, Minn.-based organization.  Then review information about charities that support it, including how those groups spend their money. “We encourage donors to give generously, but to give with head and heart,” Cowles says. “Think it through, because you do want to make sure that your money will be wisely used.” Here the Forum uses data from the North Dakota Secretary of State and Minnesota Attorney General to show how Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead organizations report raising and spending money. Not all organizations must file reports. For more information, contact the charity you’re interested in.

1. Choose a state: North Dakota or Minnesota

2. Choose charities

Using the checkboxes below, you can see breakdowns of revenue and expenses for these area charities. You can select mutliple charities if you would like to see their combined data.

Company

3. Choose: Revenue | Expenses

Sources:

Fargo and West Fargo figures are from 2005 data provided the North Dakota Secretary of State. Moorhead figures are from the most recent reports filed with the Minnesota Attorney General’s office. For more information about these reports, visit the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Web site, www.nd.gov/sos/nonprofit <http://www.nd.gov/sos/nonprofit> , or the Minnesota Attorney General’s Web site, www.ag.state.mn.us <http://www.ag.state.mn.us/> .