Charities watchdog gets new director

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Charities watchdog gets new director

Updated: June 19, 2012 - 9:33 PM

Most recently, Kris Kewitsch has been with Target.

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Kris Kewitsch

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The Minnesota Charities Review Council, a statewide resource for evaluating charities, announced Tuesday that Kris Kewitsch will become its new executive director.

Kewitsch has directed several grant-making programs for the Target Foundation and Target Corp. since 2007. Before that, she was the director of the Piper Jaffray Foundation and the community relations director for the investment banking firm.

Kewitsch will replace Rich Cowles who, after 13 years at the council, will retire at the end of the month.

"We think her background in corporate America will bring a fresh perspective to the council," said Heidi Christianson, chairperson of the council's board of directors.

The council offers online tools and other resources for individuals and bigger grant makers to evaluate Minnesota charities.

One of the council's strategic goals is to boost its use by foundations and corporate givers, Christiansen said. Kewitsch brought skills that could help make that happen, she said.

"She understood that the council could be a tool to help grant makers increase their impact," Christiansen said.

Kewitsch said she has tapped the council's expertise as both an individual donor and as the director of foundation giving. In addition, she has funded more than 200 programs in the Twin Cities, she said, and has a network in the nonprofit and foundation world in the metro.

The council executive director position, she said, is a logical fit. Kewitsch will start her work in mid-July. Said Kewitsch: 'I'm really excited."

JEAN HOPFENSPERGER