Posted on 11/16/2014 2:17:25 AM PST by Fenhalls555
The figures are astonishing. There are more than 195,289 registered charities in the UK that raise and spend close to £80 billion a year. Together, they employ more than a million staff – more than our car, aerospace and chemical sectors – and make 13 billion ‘asks’ for money every year, the equivalent of 200 for each of us in the UK.
But many charities have become hungry monsters, needing ever more of our money to feed their own ambitions. And while registered charities claim that almost 90p in every pound donated is spent on ‘charitable activities’, many spend at least half their income on management, strategy development, campaigning and fundraising – not what most of us would consider ‘good causes’.
My book, The Great Charity Scandal, is not an attack on charity, but an attack on charities that put their own interests first.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Go with Religion. Catholic Relief Svc (for instance) gets about 93% to the needy. The religious aren’t taking anywhere near as big a cut of the pie as ‘professionals’ do.
I have become a much bigger fan of truly local charities, where I personally know the people doing the work. The wounded Warrior commercials are gut-wrenching, but I have to ask how much they are spending on a three minute commercial EVERY night during The Five?
That may be true, and to some degree it makes sense if they are trying to convert donations into cash which can be more effectively targeted. I don’t worry about SA’s motives as I would the RC and United Way. A generation ago, United Way’s excesses and questionable donations to politically motivated groups (e.g., Planned Parenthood, etc.) were exposed for what they were. I wouldn’t give them a slug penny.
There is nothing wrong with donating to groups that a largely comprised of volunteers, especially at the local level....my skeptical sights are zeroed in on orgs like SGK, United Way, Humane Society of the United States, and to some extent, the RC and its connections to international organization.
I long ago quit giving money to the mega collectors, my reason then was that all of them, no matter what they said they were doing, seemed to be passing money to the abortion industry. Since then my donations are personal. I have someone’s water bill when the husband is incapacitated for a while, for instance or for piano lessons for a talented kid who had no other way. Some of it is not money. I have helped a ghetto family get started homeschooling. None of it goes to pay CEOs and office staffs. My overhead is the 3 cents my check costs or the gas to get to the utilities department. United Way and the like are just another tax.
Needy unicorns?
Salvation Army, USO. My two primary charities.
Never to United Way or Red Cross.
It's dishonest. When I'm donating clothes to the poor, it's clothes that I think people in need could use. If I want to give the Salvation Army a cash donation, that's what I'll do. If I, for free, give clothes for the truly needy, I expect them to be given to the needy for free. Ideally, the whole operation should be run by volunteers or needy people given an opportunity for a pay check.
I have a small pension that I try to budget well. Why would I subsidize salaries of management who are paid much more than I live on?
I was the UW chairman for my company for two years back in the 90s. What I saw when the UW CEO rolled into town to hand out awards was disgusting. Limousine, private jet, etc. I quit and have never donated another dime to them.
Unfortunately at least in the past, the US Military makes UW funding campaign an annual event.
I give my charity to relatives and friends who have occasional misfortunes.
It isn’t like they’re trying to hide that fact from you. I’ve seen this plenty, but if it is in the power to take donated clothes and generate more money that can be used also to buy new clothes, maybe more appropriate, then why not?
I’d condemn almost any charity before I would the Salvation Army, myself.
Lastly, the great thing about charities vs. forced federal taxing for income redistribution is choice - which you certainly have in this case, and I don’t condemn it either way, it’s your choice.
As Mark Belling likes to state, “There is allot of profit in non-profit.”
Please use (sarc) as some FRs really believe what you say.
Interesting you cite WWP. I personally have seen the results they get via wounded vets at the Pentagon, and they are staffed by good people with big hearts. But I too wonder about the regular tear-jerker ads. Those ads have an awful lot in common with similar ads for abused animals, impoverished kids and Jews, etc. worthy causes all, no doubt; but why do they all want $19 a month in return for some advertising trinket like a blanket?
TC
They spend enormous amounts of money on primetime advertising—that should tell you.
Gotta be somethin' in the water up there . . .
THINK BEFORE YOU DONATE!
As you open your pockets to do a good thing and make yourself
feel good, please keep the following facts in mind:
The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans’ salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
MARCH OF DIMES
It is called the March of Dimes because only a dime for every 1 dollar is given to the needy.
The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE.
Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
GOODWILL CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business.
You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
He pays nothing
for his products and pays his workers minimum wage!
Nice Guy. $0.00 goes to help anyone!
Stop giving to this man.
Instead, give it to ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
The Salvation Army Commissioner, Todd Bassett receives a small salary of only $13,000 per year(plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.
96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.
The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary.
Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
Make a Wish: For children’s last wishes.
100% goes to funding trips or special wishes for a dying child.
St. Jude Research Hospital 100% goes towards funding and helping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and
cannot afford to pay.
Ronald McDonald Houses
All monies go to running the houses for parents who have critically ill Children in the hospital.
100% goes to housing, and feeding the families.
Lions Club International
100% OF DONATIONS GO TO HELP THE BLIND, BUY HEARING AIDES, SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSIONS
AROUND THE WORLD. THEIR LATEST UNDERTAKING IS MEASLES VACCINATIONS
(ONLY $1.00 PER SHOT).
See United Way.
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