Not to defend Driscoll but that is exactly the model used by red cross, denominations, and a host of other charities. Their budgets are fungible. That is the bottom line. If they decide 10000 is going to Burundi, then your designated 1000 to Burundi will be said to go there. Their target will then drop to 9000. With your 1000 that will equal their planned 10000. Nothing has changed. If they get 11000 in designated money, then 1000 will be pushed to the next year’s budget for burundi. Apparently, that’s legal.
The United Way comes to mind...
Yes. You are correct regarding general funds. However, when a separate fund is set up and promoted as such - for a designated purpose, those designated funds are to be segregated and not used for other purposes. And when funds donated to a charity are used for personal use by trustees, then you have another problem. When leaders of a charity conspire to deceive donors, then there’s another problem. It goes on and on.