An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Shafting the Vets
Study Faults Charities for Veterans
Some Nonprofits Shortchange Troops, Watchdog Group Says
Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.
Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation’s largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.
There are no laws regulating the amount of money charities spend on overhead, fundraising or giving. But the institute’s report suggests that 20 of the 29 military charities studied were managing their resources poorly, paying high overhead costs and direct-mail fundraising fees and, in some cases, providing their leaders with six-figure salaries.
You would assume that a person running a charity would have the decency to forgo a hefty salary.
The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog, issued a report card this month for 29 veterans and military charities. Letter grades were based largely on the charities’ fundraising costs and the percentage of money raised that was spent on charitable activities. The charities that received failing grades are in bold type.
(actually, no, they aren’t, but I did put them in bold here)
Air Force Aid Society (A+)
American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation (F)
American Veterans Coalition (F)
American Veterans Relief Foundation (F)
AMVETS National Service Foundation (F)
Armed Services YMCA of the USA (A-)
Army Emergency Relief (A+)
Blinded Veterans Association (D)
Disabled American Veterans (D)
Disabled Veterans Association (F)
Fisher House Foundation (A+)
Freedom Alliance (F) This one REALLY surprised me.
Help Hospitalized Veterans/Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (F)
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (A+)
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (F)
National Military Family Association (A)
National Veterans Services Fund (F)
National Vietnam Veterans Committee (D)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A+)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (F)
Soldiers’ Angels (D)
United Spinal Association’s Wounded Warrior Project (D)
USO (United Service Organization) (C+)
Veterans of Foreign Wars and foundation (C-)
Veterans of the Vietnam War & the Veterans Coalition (D)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (D)
VietNow National Headquarters (F)
World War II Veterans Committee (D)
I have to admit, some of these organizations, I’ve never even heard of. We give a lot to veterans organizations, and I’m fairly annoyed that one in particular, HHV, got a failing grade. I understand it costs quite a bit to ask for money, but they might save quite a bit if they’d stop inserting dollar bills when asking. Not everyone returns the bill, with a donation. And honestly, I don’t need another calender! The only one I really like are the ones from the WWII Committee.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
I am VERY shocked and surprised at this one: “Soldiers’ Angels (D)”.
I not only have featured them repeatedly on my blog and radio show, but donated money to them myself. A D is not acceptable AT ALL.
And more than shocked, I am deeply saddened.
I think the only way to make sure your money goes where it counts is to personally visit troops yourself or send them care packages directly.
Sad, sad indeed.
Kate, I have this same story up, but I don’t have the organizations listed…
Do you have a link to all of that?? Can you post it and/or email it to me?? I NEED those same figures but the way I get attacked by Bush Bots, I need the source as evidence PLEASE…
Nebber mind, I got it…:D
Ya scared me there for a minute Fred. Thought I had messed up and not made the link. LOL
Jenn, I’m totally dismayed by any vet organization that got less than an A! I didn’t see Wounded Warriors on that list, so now I’m wondering about them too. I guess Fisher House is going to get the majority of my donations in the future. At least, until the others can get their heads out of their hinders!