|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Webcams | Blogs | YouTube Channel | Classifieds | Calendar | Register | FAQ | Donate | Members List | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
08-31-2017, 07:04 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,946
Thanks: 1,154
Thanked 1,962 Times in 1,212 Posts
|
NPR Red Cross Piece
There have been some posts here about the best places to donate resources, and some major organizations often get slammed for their donations-to-spending ratios (The Red Cross and Goodwill are two I've seen). There was a piece on NPR about the changes Red Cross has been making to address the issue and thought people here might be interested.
Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk Last edited by thinkxingu; 08-31-2017 at 12:28 PM. |
08-31-2017, 07:55 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH
Posts: 209
Thanks: 25
Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts
|
91%
During WMUR's telethon yesterday a rep from the Red Cross said 91% of every dollar goes to the cause. If that is true, that sounds pretty efficient.
|
08-31-2017, 08:12 AM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,946
Thanks: 1,154
Thanked 1,962 Times in 1,212 Posts
|
Quote:
Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk |
|
08-31-2017, 09:56 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,210
Thanks: 1,112
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
|
No excuses!
One important issue though is that we not let ourselves off the hook when we find a particular charity is not as efficient as we would like.
It's great if we decide that a particular charity is inefficient, and then we find a better group to help. But too often people decide a particular group is inefficient, and then smugly sit back and do nothing. Much better to send $100 to a group that spends "only" x% on direct services than to do nothing. |
08-31-2017, 10:12 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,210
Thanks: 1,112
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
|
No excuses!
One important issue though is that we not let ourselves off the hook when we find a particular charity is not as efficient as we would like.
It's great if we decide that a particular charity is inefficient, and then we find a better group to help. But too often people decide a particular group is inefficient, and then smugly sit back and do nothing. Much better to send $100 to a group that spends "only" x% on direct services than to do nothing. |
Sponsored Links |
|
08-31-2017, 10:42 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,296
Thanks: 67
Thanked 166 Times in 126 Posts
|
The Salvation Army actually has the best ratio of donations received to services provided.
|
08-31-2017, 10:56 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,217
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
|
You can find a lot of data and information on these websites. Great for debunking some of the urban folk lore that floats around the internet about some of these charities.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ https://www.charitywatch.org/home |
08-31-2017, 12:26 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,946
Thanks: 1,154
Thanked 1,962 Times in 1,212 Posts
|
|
08-31-2017, 04:18 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tuftonborough & Franklin MA
Posts: 265
Thanks: 99
Thanked 143 Times in 64 Posts
|
The Red Cross issue is complicated. They are a large charity and are always available to respond whether it's a local event (fires that displace families for example) or a large disaster such as Harvey. They have always been the "go to" charity when horrible events like this occur and for a lot of good reasons. Because they are large, nationwide and always available, it's reasonable (to a degree) that they would have higher overhead costs than a smaller, local organization.
That said, there's no such thing as a perfect organization and it sounds like the Red Cross is no exception. The 91% number referenced above is in relation to the dollars spent on relief. That's not the same as the percentage of funds donated in relation to dollars spent on relief, it's somewhat modified. I heard a discussion on this today, sounds like more information will be forthcoming. I can't remember specific details at this point but they got quite a black eye in the aftermath of Katrina about some of their spending choices; we were among the many donors to the Red Cross for that disaster and I recall making a mental note to pay more attention in the future. They may well have revised their overhead and non disaster relief spending since then, I certainly hope so. There are any number of legitimate local charities in the greater Houston area that can be located and checked out on line. (Food banks for example). We've made donations to several, I'm sure we're not in the minority by a long shot. Let's hope and pray those affected by this have better days ahead soon. They need all the help they can get.
__________________
" Any day with a boat ride in it is a good day" |
08-31-2017, 05:28 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,897
Thanks: 644
Thanked 2,153 Times in 900 Posts
|
Big Salaries!
As you open your pockets for your next charitable contribution, please keep these facts in mind:
· The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans' salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses. · 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. So the message is: Be careful where you send your money! |
08-31-2017, 07:24 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 564
Thanks: 46
Thanked 104 Times in 75 Posts
|
Aarp
I am under the impression that AARP is matching donations and EVERY penny is going to Texas. Got this from an impeccable source, my wife.
I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic. |
08-31-2017, 07:35 PM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,217
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
|
Quote:
Just like in sports, while you can argue that the salaries are outrageous, they are what the market will bear, and what you need to spend for a talented CEO. Otherwise, like the sports star, they move to another team. So, the question becomes, would these charities be better off with a lower paid, inexperienced CEO to run multi-million/billion dollar business? I don't have an answer, but I wouldn't dismiss a charity out of hand just because the CEO makes big bucks. If the overall scorecard of the charity is top notch, they have earned it. |
|
08-31-2017, 08:02 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 378
Thanks: 710
Thanked 116 Times in 58 Posts
|
Quote:
I completely agree! |
|
08-31-2017, 09:01 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Kuna ID
Posts: 2,755
Thanks: 246
Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts
|
Samaritan’s Purse is an outstanding organization with an impeccable reputation and very low admin overhead. They are actively engaged in relief efforts in TX.
Nothing wrong with being selective in who you choose to donate to, it defeats the purpose to donate funds to help those in need only to find out a large percentage never makes it to the intended target. Do your homework but as already mentioned no charity can run without some overhead - but there is no doubt some are better run than others. Choose wisely but there is no excuse to sit on the sidelines and do nothing when so many are hurting right now. |
09-01-2017, 04:35 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer
Posts: 1,349
Thanks: 922
Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts
|
This is a complex issue. I, too, donated through AARP which matches donation. AARP does say that 100% of the funds go to relief organizations working directly working in Texas but, no info on the way those organizations distribute funds. I still donated through AARP, only point is, it is a complex situation.
__________________
"You're only young once, but you can be immature forever." |
09-01-2017, 03:25 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,210
Thanks: 1,112
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
|
TiltonBB--Any thoughts on what charities we should support to help folks in Houston or others in need?
|
09-02-2017, 06:26 AM | #17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,897
Thanks: 644
Thanked 2,153 Times in 900 Posts
|
Quote:
It is sad, but it seems that every time there is money available from disasters ranging from September 11th to Katrina the fraudsters and phonies come out of the woodwork. There are a lot of articles written about this. I have attached links to a couple of them. In the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill there were so many fraudulent claims filed that BP hired Louis Freeh, the former FBI director, to investigate claims. He hired numerous retired FBI agents to work full time investigating claims. So far over 300 people have been convicted, and that was BP's money with the FBI investigating. The total claims thus far are in excess of $20 billion. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...no19uDBWcg425A If the link doesn't work Google this: More than 100 jailed for fake BP oil spill claims When it is private money without the oversight of law enforcement I am sure the amount of fraud is huge. It is a sad comment on society that so many people are looking for a free ride. Another article related to Harvey: Don't get duped: How to avoid post-Harvey charity scams - Aug. 30, 2017 http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/30/news...aud/index.html Last edited by TiltonBB; 09-02-2017 at 11:14 AM. Reason: Fix Link |
|
09-02-2017, 08:04 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the hills
Posts: 2,347
Thanks: 1,591
Thanked 763 Times in 457 Posts
|
Today's news: Muslim "activist" Linda sarsour ( i cringe even to mention this POS name...I see her as a dangerous person to our country)
Created a fraudulent fund in the name of hurricane Harvey relief to fund her own PAC group. Our beautiful USA is eroding quickly with all the crap going on...sad. |
09-02-2017, 08:07 AM | #19 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Meredith Bay & LI, NY
Posts: 3,220
Thanks: 1,206
Thanked 1,007 Times in 648 Posts
|
Quote:
|
|
09-03-2017, 08:40 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 213
Thanks: 219
Thanked 36 Times in 20 Posts
|
Hillcountry, could you please provide the name of the fraudulent fund for Harvey relief Linda Sarsour created?
|
09-03-2017, 08:51 AM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the hills
Posts: 2,347
Thanks: 1,591
Thanked 763 Times in 457 Posts
|
|
09-03-2017, 10:04 AM | #22 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA
Posts: 2,210
Thanks: 1,112
Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts
|
Quote:
But this is not fraud. Maybe irritating clickbait at worse--she was accurate in where the money is going. Also, my Google search did not produce many "news organizations", it was more like right wing political action websites that often distort the truth or just make stuff up. Just because there are a bunch of them, it does not mean they are accurate. Like Sarsour's pitch, they masquerade as something they are not. |
|
09-03-2017, 11:00 AM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the hills
Posts: 2,347
Thanks: 1,591
Thanked 763 Times in 457 Posts
|
Quote:
|
|
09-03-2017, 11:12 AM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,946
Thanks: 1,154
Thanked 1,962 Times in 1,212 Posts
|
Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk |
09-03-2017, 11:33 AM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the hills
Posts: 2,347
Thanks: 1,591
Thanked 763 Times in 457 Posts
|
Believe whatever floats your boats...if she indeed used a link to a "community organizing website" that had NOTHING to do with true RELIEF for victims of Harvey and only channeled funds to themselves, this, in my opinion, is a scam to fund her own beliefs which are to bring down the USA as I know and love it.
Period. |
09-04-2017, 04:16 PM | #26 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 104
Thanks: 37
Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts
|
Quote:
The Red Cross is definitely off my list after a few episodes with personal friends. One family, whose house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, was denied ANY assistance from the Red Cross "because they had insurance". It didn't matter that they lost everything except one car and the cash one of the kids had in their pocket - they were told to simply "figure it out". Another friend, who was a volunteer medical doctor, quit working with the Red Cross after discovering that ALL donations go into a single fund and are used wherever the Red Cross decides (a process she found quite alarming as well), regardless of the donation's designation. Which is to say, the $100 you donate for "Harvey victims" may not go there at all, ever. So, unfortunately, caveat emptor applies to charity as well. |
|
Bookmarks |
|
|