Beware of Charitables

[Woody]

This time of year - losts of businesses are out trying to get your heart and pocketbook.

Many at least in my state keep 95% of the money they get just to administrate or pad their own pockets before it gets to the starving children of Africa.

So watch out. These stats are amazing just in my state:

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/interact...charities-state

[GreatLakesGramma]

I don't ever donate to telephone solicitations. I don't even listen to their entire spiel.

[phkrause]

I don't ever donate to telephone solicitations. I don't even listen to their entire spiel.

I let my answering machine take those calls.

[Gerr]

I've learned to check a charitable organization with the AIP (American Institute of Philanthrophy) to see how good it is. The AIP gives a grade on many of them. Anything that receives a grade of less than an A-, I just ignore. You can find AIP in the internet. As a former serviceman, the soldiers serving or who have served our country, are dear to me. I used to donate to the Disabled Veterans of America for years and years until I saw a TV broadcast where the founder of it was being grilled by congressmen. It turned out, most of the money was used to pad his own pocketbook. No telling how many of these so-called charitable organizations are truly helping people.

[Nan]

I believe that even with the Red Cross here only about 10% of donations actually makes it past administration costs. I was a little disturbed when

during the major disasters here last summer, ADRA worked through the Red Cross. Hoping that did not mean the same fate for the donated funds.

At least having my phone number on the do not call list for telemarketing has eliminated one problem.

[Stan]

IN Canada only 20% can go to administration expenses, and that, I believe includes fundraising expenses. Most of the money received in one year has to be spent, in, I believe the next fiscal year.

I have formed a 510c3 and was looking for people to be board members, with the purpose of monitoring the expenses, and even more important. Do internet ministry that would take a certain denomination 20 years to figure out they should be doing that.

Would like to build sites such as www.sabbathforum.com and a host of other similar things.

Changing the world, one Byte at a time.

[Dottie]

Is a 510c3 in Canada the same as a 501c3 in the U.S.?

[Stan]

The one I mentioned is a US based one.. Do not have a Canadian one... they have other names..

[Gerr]

Re: ADRA

My recollection is that they claim 90% of what they collect actually goes to help people, so I give more to them than to any charitable organization.