Posted on 05/04/2015 7:05:53 AM PDT by pabianice
What happens when a non-profit that was started to help veterans becomes the neighborhood bully?
For a charity supposedly devoted to helping veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project spends an enormous amount of time suing or threatening to sue small non-profits—spending resources on litigation that could otherwise be spent on the vets they profess to serve.
At issue is the Wounded Warrior Project’s brand: the charity has become particularly litigious over the use of the phrase ‘wounded warrior’ or logos that involve silhouetted soldiers. At least seven such charities have discussed their legal problems with The Daily Beast.
The Wounded Warrior Project has become, in the words of those they’ve targeted for legal action, a “bully,” more concerned about their image and increasing the size of the organization than actually providing services to wounded warriors.
“They do try to bully smaller organizations like ourselves... They get really territorial about fundraising,” said the president of one charity with the name “wounded warrior” in their title.
He asked to remain anonymous out of fear that the Wounded Warrior Project would launch legal action against his group if he spoke out. His group hasn’t been sued, but he said individuals from the WWP had pressured him to change their name. “They’re so huge. We don’t have the staying power if they come after us—you just can’t fight them.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
It was very scary for the first 6 months. None of us knew how much he would recover. It has gone from resuscitation to walking with a cane, so he has come a long way.
He actually met his future wife while in the hospital, has married, and has gone back to school for engineering. He had about 1 1/2 years of college when he joined the Marines, just didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life then. Although he was sure he wanted to be a Marine from an early age. It’s just the rest of his life he is finally giving some thought.
He keeps changing engineering fields too, so who knows.
>> Total revenue,, 234 million. Spent in vet related activity, 158 million <<
So they claim that 2/3 of the money goes not precisely to vets themselves, but rather to “vet-related” activities. Looks to me as if that weasel word “related” gives WWP an opening big enough to drive a monster truck thru!
So IMHO it’s time for a reliable conservative investigative journalist to do an in-depth study of WWP.
James O’Keefe, or Breitbart, are you listening?
Kevslisababy,
Please thank your son for us. I hope he has managed to overcome his injuries. I have son and son in law currently serving as well.
Big kudos to Fisher House! They are awesome. Our family has long supported Fisher House. They do an awesome job and maximize the part of donations that actually get to the people that need their help.
My father in law has been a receipient of their help. Bless you and your son!
WWP did a lot to get my son back on his feet after we was wounded in Iraq. His vehicle was hit by an IED. He sustained a brain injury, shattered his left wrist, crushed a testicle and had both ear drums blown out. WWP stepped in while the VA was dragging their feet and got things rolling.
WWP was a godsend to me and my family.
Thank you. I always brushed off the thanks I was given as the mom of a member of the military until he was injured. I spent time and energy worrying while he was deployed, but the stuff hit the fan after he was hurt, and it’s a sacrifice no parent wants to make, but never gives it a thought if needed.
I give every year to the Semper Fi and Fischer House every year.
I have heard some non-complimentary things about WWP.
Your recommendation is welcome and most helpful.
Thank you, your son and all your family for all you have done.
Search the internet looking for: “WWP Form 990”
You should see several IRS Form 990’s in PDF format.
The latest I could find is for FY 2011 (ending Sept 2012)
$154 million Revenue
$5.5 million Total “Grants”
($4.6 million Grants to other organizations)
($871,194 Grants to individuals)
The way I read that is 3.57% of income are grants (with 0.57%, yes, about 6 tenths of one percent, to individuals)
If anyone can show me how that is incorrect, I am open to suggestions.
Regards,
HLB
God Bless your son and your family for the sacrifices that you all have made for all of us.
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