When you call me or knock on my door, I had better already know you personally... or else you have just made a life-long enemy, and I shall commit myself to exactly the opposite of whatever the hell you wanted when you decided to bother me in my home.
A good idea gone bad, just like any other beaurocracy.
That's why you should always ask for a charity's financial reports before making large donations. Believe me. MADD isn't the only one who spends a large percent on overhead.
I'd bet it's mind-boggling.
Look for the interlocking relationships with the fundraising companies. I absolutely refuse to donate to any charity that uses a professional fundraiser. IMHO any group that does not spend at least 80% of their budget towards program expense should lose their charity designation and be considered a subsidiary of the professional fundraising company. Then hit them with a RICO violation.
I only give to the library.... late fees.
This is why charities get so little in donations esp politicians, isn't your mailbox chock full of gimme, gimme, gimme? This sounds like Jimmy Baker or united way ripoffs, how many more will it take? The only real charity is person to person, no middle men, no judas, skimming off 80%.
"The real money is in the non-profits!"
Can't remember where I heard this, but it does seem to be true sometimes.
Since when is lobbying considered "charity"?
Drinkers Against Mad Mothers (DAMM) spends its money right where it says it's going to: at the bar buying pitchers.
Every organism consumes all it can use before it wastes any.
We used to donate every year to MADD. My husband started donating when he received a phone call. Therefore, they had his name, not mine. Therefore, when they called they asked for him. If he was not available they were so rude to me, that we stopped donating.
Sorry about the redundancy of "therefores". It's a good cause but MADD's callers were rude and quite uppity.
There's good money to be made in looking out for the poor and the downtrodden.......
We don't have these issues at DAMM: Drunks Against Mad Mothers.
Mothers... Andrew?
I'm the ED of a not for profit professional organization, and I'm not rolling in big bucks. I make a great hourly wage, but only work part-time. For what my association needs and what I do (cause yes, I'm that damn good at it), they don't need to pay me full-time.
My philosophy has always been to do more with less, make it better by streamlining and cutting away waste. Invest as much as possible back into the organization. Control costs, control costs, control costs and host programs where the fee to attend is just a hair over what it took to put it together. I've never strong-armed anyone for sponsorship, never hunted down funds just to justify my salary, and never played footloose with the association's money.
You know what? We've grown almost 100% in membership, 150% in sponsorship, and 50% in new programs and services in just 3 years. Sponsors are lining up to support our organization because they like what we are doing and see value in it.
Organizations that have to hire paid professional fund raisers have lost their vision, are top heavy, and need a total revamping. We easily fit the 60% model - but dedicated leadership, a great Board of Directors, and a whole group of fantastic volunteers, make it possible!