Panel on the Nonprofit Sector Appoints Four New Members

(Washington, D.C., February 9, 2006) – In its continuing effort to strengthen the charitable sector, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, a collaboration of leaders from the country's public charities and private foundations, has named four leaders to the Panel. The new members replace four Panel members who have either retired or left their current positions.

The new Panel members are:

• Jonathan F. Fanton, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation;
• Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations;
• Valerie S. Lies, president and CEO of the Donors Forum of Chicago; and
• William D. Novelli, chief executive officer of the AARP.

Read the biographies of the new members.

"As the Panel moves forward with its work, we are pleased to have such exemplary leaders, representing different types of organizations, joining the Panel," said Paul Brest, president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Panel co-convener. "The breadth of experience these individuals bring will be invaluable as we continue our examination of the sector."

The Panel members concluding their service are:

• Marsha Johnson Evans, former president and CEO of the American Red Cross;
• Kenneth L. Gladish, former national executive director of the YMCA of the USA;
• William C. Richardson, former president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; and
• Dorothy S. Ridings, former president and CEO of the Council on Foundations.

"We are grateful for the expertise and service our departing members provided the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector," said M. Cass Wheeler, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association and Panel co-convener. "We look forward to collaborating with the four exceptional leaders that have joined the Panel as we put forth more recommendations intended to strengthen the work of the sector."

Convened in October 2004 at the encouragement of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Panel last June released to Congress its Final Report made up of over 120 recommendations to strengthen the governance, transparency, and ethical conduct of the nation's 1.3 million charitable organizations.

This winter the Panel will release a supplement to its Final Report on such key issues as proposed federal regulation of charitable solicitations, international grantmaking, consumer credit counseling agencies, and treatment of unrelated business income of charitable organizations. The Panel will also work through the year to study recommendations for self-regulation by charitable organizations, financial reporting standards, and improvements to the Forms 990 and 990-PF.

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The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector is an independent panel of 24 leaders from a wide range of the country's public charities and private foundations. Convened by Independent Sector at the encouragement of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the Panel has worked over the last eight months to develop recommendations to improve the governance, ethical conduct, and oversight of nonprofit organizations. A Citizens Advisory Group, an Expert Advisory Group, and five specialized Work Groups are assisting the Panel, which also invited input from charities and foundations of all sizes serving diverse missions and geographic locations. The Panel plans to make further recommendations in a supplemental report in early spring 2006.

Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 600 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit community.