Re: [Mpls] Urban Ventures in the News

[Elizabeth Greenbaum]

I checked out the nonprofit status of Urban Ventures. As I posted below, the report from the Charities Review Council shows them having a 501(c)3 nonprofit status with no mention of their religious affiliations. Interestingly, I also found this other web site for Peace Church openly regarding UV as a faith-based agency. Well, well, well - it seems as though they want their cake and eat too and they pick and choose accordingly as to who their audience is and what they reveal - including flyers put through the schools. As a director of a nonprofit myself (that is personally affected by the flyer moratorium in the schools) I find it appauling that they have gotten away with this for so long. When an organization flagrently misrepresents themselves like this, one can see why us legitimate nonprofits are so tightly scrutinized - one rotten egg makes everyone question if we've all gone bad - thanks loads Urban Ventures. I hope the attorney general is looking into this. I put the links below if anyone is interested... Liz Greenbaum Longfellow Urban Ventures in Minneapolis Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation is a faith-based agency that works to rebuild an inner-city neighborhood in Minneapolis. Urban Ventures seeks to restart the neighborhood's economy while at the same time offering assistance in job training, family support and poverty services. The RCA is committed to Urban Ventures, as it provides a significant portion of Pastor Tim Overweg's salary, while asking Synod of the Heartland Churches to provide additional assistance. Contributions to the Urban Ventures project will go toward Tim's salary. http://www.peace-eagan.org/urbanventures.html ____________________________ Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation meets all standards of the Charities Review Council. (Date of final report: December 12, 2003.) CHARITY PROFILE Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation (“Urban Ventures”) is an organization of servant leaders focused helping community residents and businesses develop assets and capacities in ways that help build a livable sustainable neighborhood. Founded in 1993, Urban Ventures’ efforts are focused in its “Opportunity a ten-block area along Lake Street, just east of Interstate 35W, in the Central and Phillips neighborhoods. Urban Ventures is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code. It is eligible receive tax-deductible contributions. Urban Ventures current in its annual reporting to the Minnesota General’s Charities Division. MISSION/PURPOSE Urban Ventures states its mission as follows: To build successful community in our city through developing youth leadership, strengthening families, and creating viable work opportunities. http://www.crcmn.org/review/urbanventures.pdf