{"id":12788,"date":"2017-11-03T08:56:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-03T13:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/?p=12788"},"modified":"2017-11-03T08:56:14","modified_gmt":"2017-11-03T13:56:14","slug":"brutalizing-charities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/2017\/11\/03\/brutalizing-charities\/","title":{"rendered":"Brutalizing Charities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Into the old email feedbag comes another bit of dubious email. It feeds off some true life scandals, making it easy to lead its readers down scurrilious paths. Due to its nature, I’ll quote it in total and then descend upon it. It was quite colorful, with red dominating the first set of entries, and green the second half.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n
FALL IS NEARLY UPON US WITH THE GIVING SEASON RIGHT BEHIND – DONATING ITEMS OR MONEY… WHICH GROUP?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A TIMELY REMINDER BEFORE YOUR GENEROUS SPIRITS OPEN YOUR WALLETS. Who Would Have Imagined That This Was The Case<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0<\/u>
\nAmerican Red Cross<\/u>
\nPresident and CEO Marsha J.
\nEvans’
\nsalary for the year was $651,957\u00a0<\/strong>
\nplus expenses<\/strong><\/td>\n		MARCH OF\u00a0<\/u>
\nDIMES<\/u>
\nIt is called the March of
\nDimes because
\nonly a dime for\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>
\nevery 1 dollar is given to the
\nneedy<\/u><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/td>\n		The\u00a0<\/u>
\nUnited Way<\/u>
\nPresident Brian
\nGallagher
\nreceives a $375,000 base salary\u00a0<\/strong>
\nalong with numerous expense benefits.<\/strong><\/td>\n		UNICEF<\/u>
\nCEO Caryl M. Stern
\nreceives
\n$1,200,000 per year (100k
\nper month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS
\nROYCE.
\nLess than 5\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/em>
\ncents of your donated dollar goes to the
\ncause<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/td>\n		GOODWILL<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>
\nCEO and owner Mark Curran
\nprofits $2.3 million a year.
\nGoodwill is a
\nvery catchy name for his business.
\nYou donate to his business
\nand then he sells the items for
\nPROFIT.
\nHe pays nothing
\nfor his products and pays his workers minimum wage!
\nNice Guy.\u00a0
\n$0.00 goes to
\nhelp anyone!<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>
\nStop giving to this
\nman.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Instead, give to any of the following
\nGO\u00a0“GREEN”<\/strong>\u00a0AND
\nPUT YOUR MONEY WHERE IT WILL DO SOME GOOD:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0<\/u>
\nSalvation Army<\/u>
\nCommissioner, Todd Bassett
\nreceives a small salary of only
\n$13,000 per year(plus housing) for\u00a0<\/strong>
\nmanaging this $2 billion dollar
\norganization.<\/strong>
\n96 percent of donated dollars go\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>
\nto the cause.<\/u><\/strong><\/td>\n		The\u00a0<\/u>
\nAmerican Legion<\/u>
\nNational Commander receives
\na\u00a0$0.00 zero\u00a0<\/strong>
\nsalary<\/strong>.\u00a0
\nYour donations go to help
\nVeterans and their families and youth!<\/strong><\/td>\n		The<\/u><\/strong>
\nVeterans of Foreign Wars<\/u><\/strong>National Commander receives
\na\u00a0$0.00 zero\u00a0<\/strong>
\nsalary<\/strong>.
\nYour donations go\u00a0<\/strong>
\nto help
\nVeterans and their families and youth!<\/strong><\/td>\n		The\u00a0<\/u>
\nDisabled American Veterans<\/u>
\nNational Commander receives
\na\u00a0$0.00 zero\u00a0<\/strong>
\nsalary.
\nYour donations go
\nto help
\nVeterans and their families and youth!<\/strong><\/td>\n		The\u00a0<\/u>
\nMilitary Order of Purple Hearts<\/u>
\nNational Commander receives a
\n$0.00 zero salary<\/strong>.\u00a0
\nYour donations go
\nto help
\nVeterans and their families and youth!<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The\u00a0<\/u>Vietnam Veterans Association<\/u>
\nNational Commander receives
\na\u00a0$0.00 zero\u00a0<\/strong>
\nsalary.<\/strong>
\nYour donations go\u00a0<\/strong>
\nto help
\nVeterans and their families and youth!<\/strong><\/td>\n		Make a Wish:<\/u>
\nFor children’s last
\nwishes.
\n100% goes to funding trips or\u00a0<\/strong>
\nspecial wishes for a dying child.<\/strong><\/td>\n		St. Jude\u00a0<\/u>
\nResearch Hospital<\/u>
\n100% goes towards funding and\u00a0<\/strong>
\nhelping Children with Cancer who have no insurance and
\ncannot afford to pay.<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n		Ronald\u00a0<\/u>
\nMcDonald Houses<\/u>
\nAll monies go to running\u00a0<\/strong>
\nthe houses for parents who have critically ill
\nChildren in the hospital.<\/strong>
\n100% goes to housing, and feeding\u00a0<\/strong>
\nthe families.<\/strong><\/td>\n		Lions\u00a0<\/u>
\nClub International<\/u>
\n100% OF DONATIONS GO TO HELP THE\u00a0<\/strong>
\nBLIND, BUY HEARING AIDES, SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSIONS
\nAROUND THE WORLD.THEIR LATEST
\nUNDERTAKING<\/strong>
\nIS MEASLES VACCINATIONS<\/strong>
\n(ONLY $1.00 PER SHOT).<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Please share this with everyone you can.<\/u><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So do these accusations fly? Or is this more like that poor cow used in catapult testing? Here’s my analysis:<\/p>\n

American Red Cross<\/strong><\/em> – Via\u00a0Charity Navigator<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, here is the data on the American Red Cross:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Compensation of Leaders\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>(FYE 06\/2015)<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Compensation<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/th>\n% of Expenses<\/a><\/span><\/th>\nPaid to<\/th>\nTitle<\/th>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
$517,364<\/span><\/td>\n0.01%<\/span><\/td>\nGail J. McGovern<\/td>\nPresident, CEO<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

ARC<\/strong><\/em> is characterized as being in excess of $1 billion. While the mischaracterization of the CEO’s salary is minor, it’s important to keep in mind the size of the organization, the high rating of the organization – and how little impact the CEO’s salary has on it. So long as the CEO is an effective leader, it’s difficult to fault the salary. Still, it’s a judgment call.<\/p>\n

March of Dimes<\/strong><\/em> – Via\u00a0Charity Navigator<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, I chose to use their Financial Performance Metrics, since the complaint was about how much money makes it to the recipients.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Financial Performance Metrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses<\/a>
\n(Percent of the charity’s total expenses spent on the programs
\nand services it delivers)<\/em><\/td>\n		75.6%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdministrative Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n11.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n13.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Efficiency<\/a><\/td>\n$0.14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nWorking Capital Ratio<\/a>\u00a0(years)<\/td>\n< 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses Growth<\/a><\/td>\n0.6%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nLiabilities to Assets<\/a><\/td>\n88.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by March of Dimes on recent 990s filed with the IRS.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Questions concerning the above categories can be answered by following the link, above, and clicking on the category names. In general, it appears to fairly well run, but with room for improvement – Charity Navigator’s score of 75.6% for Program Expenses is near the top of its second-tier in that category, nearly first tier. I’d rate this claim false.<\/p>\n

The United Way<\/strong><\/em> – Via\u00a0Charity Navigator<\/a><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0–<\/p>\n

Compensation of Leaders\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>(FYE 12\/2015)<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
Compensation<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/th>\n% of Expenses<\/a><\/span><\/th>\nPaid to<\/th>\nTitle<\/th>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
$849,581<\/span><\/td>\n0.94%<\/span><\/td>\nBrian A. Gallagher<\/td>\nPresident, CEO<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

So the mail is accurate. However, here are The United Way<\/strong><\/em> financials:<\/p>\n

Financial Performance Metrics<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses<\/a>
\n(Percent of the charity’s total expenses spent on the programs
\nand services it delivers)<\/em><\/td>\n		91.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdministrative Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n5.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n3.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Efficiency<\/a><\/td>\n$0.04<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nWorking Capital Ratio<\/a>\u00a0(years)<\/td>\n0.49<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses Growth<\/a><\/td>\n0.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nLiabilities to Assets<\/a><\/td>\n44.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by United Way Worldwide on recent 990s filed with the IRS.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Program Expenses value of 91.4% is very good, indeed. So here you have to decide if you’re terribly offended at the high salary of a very well run, apparently, charity.<\/p>\n

UNICEF<\/strong><\/em> –\u00a0Via\u00a0<\/a>Charity Navigator –<\/p>\n

\n

Compensation of Leaders\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0(FYE 06\/2016)<\/h2>\n

Compensation<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0% of Expenses<\/a><\/span>\u00a0Paid to Title
\n$537,682\u00a0<\/span>0.09%\u00a0<\/span>Caryl M. Stern President, CEO<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Or less than 50% of the claim. Still, it’s a hefty amount, isn’t it? Does the CEO deliver?<\/p>\n

\n

Financial Performance Metrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses<\/a>
\n(Percent of the charity’s total expenses spent on the programs
\nand services it delivers)<\/em><\/td>\n		89.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdministrative Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n2.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Expenses<\/a><\/td>\n7.4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFundraising Efficiency<\/a><\/td>\n$0.07<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nWorking Capital Ratio<\/a>\u00a0(years)<\/td>\n0.22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nProgram Expenses Growth<\/a><\/td>\n3.1%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nLiabilities to Assets<\/a><\/td>\n50.2%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by UNICEF USA on recent 990s filed with the IRS.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Program Expenses of 89.8% puts it in the top tier for efficiency, and suggests far more than 5 cents of your dollar makes it to recipients.<\/p>\n

At this juncture, honestly, the authors of this mail are beginning to look like cold-blooded manipulators who object to these causes on ideological grounds – and will lie and bully to get their way<\/em>. Still, let’s see on this last one.<\/p>\n

Goodwill<\/strong><\/em> – In Charity Navigator<\/strong><\/em> there are a number of Goodwill entries, confusing me, so I did a search of the Web for Mark Curran and Goodwill<\/strong><\/em>. The result, as\u00a0summarized\u00a0<\/a>on\u00a0Wikipedia\u00a0<\/b><\/i>(other sites supporting):<\/p>\n

A widely circulated email titled “Think Before You Donate” aims to convince readers that \u201cGoodwill CEO and Owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year”, but fact-checking groups have debunked the content of the email: the CEO of Goodwill Industries International is not Mark Curran, nor does he make $2.3 million a year.[27]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0The current President and CEO of Goodwill is\u00a0Jim Gibbons<\/a>, who in 2014 received a total reported compensation of $689,418.[28]<\/a><\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So this appears to be out and out deception. For those who believe that all scandals should be revealed, Goodwill has certainly had a few, such as pay out of line for CEOs of\u00a0 the various branches, and some questions about the use of disabled labor. In the end, this out and out lie was unnecessary, as the facts on the ground may be enough to discourage potential donors.<\/p>\n

So how about this manipulator’s favorites?<\/p>\n

The Salvation Army<\/strong><\/em> – I do not see a Todd Bassett on the Salvation Army’s\u00a0list of Commissioners<\/a>. Ah, here we go –\u00a0PRO bono\u00a0<\/b><\/i>of Australia\u00a0covered\u00a0<\/a>a similar email, and I’ll just borrow their coverage on\u00a0The Salvation Army<\/b><\/i>:<\/p>\n

Finally, in reference to The Salvation Army Snopes.com said \u201cThe information presented above is outdated, as W. Todd Bassett stepped down as National Commander of The Salvation Army in April 2006; the current National Commander of the Salvation Army is William A. Roberts. The Salvation Army is not required to file a Form 990 with the IRS because it is primarily a religious organisation, but according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB<\/a>), Roberts’ last reported total annual compensation was $126,920, much higher than the $13,000 reported above. Forbes rates this organisation’s efficiency at 82 per cent, a fair bit lower than the 93 per cent figure claimed in the story.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The American Legion<\/strong><\/em> has been difficult to find uptodate figures. Back in\u00a02009\u00a0<\/a>and 2011 stories were published refuting this $0 salary claim, but of course, this may have changed – perhaps current General Rohan is not receiving a salary. However, given the size of the organization, I feel that’s not true, and feel reasonably confident in the suspicion that the author of this mail has, once again, lied through his teeth.<\/p>\n

Well, that’s enough of today’s game of\u00a0Manipulate the Reader<\/i>\u00a0– I feel full up to the ears of malignant lies. We’ve seen buttons pushed and money thrown around. Were you a victim? Or did you smell rotten fish and ignored this one? I hope it was the latter.<\/p>\n

And I must say there are many sites out there that will discredit mail like this. Rather than accept these malignant lies into your lives, perhaps a little research is in order.<\/p>\n

Or just discard the damn things. They rot the mind and the soul.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Into the old email feedbag comes another bit of dubious email. It feeds off some true life scandals, making it easy to lead its readers down scurrilious paths. Due to its nature, I’ll quote it in total and then descend upon it. It was quite colorful, with red dominating the \u2026 Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12788"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12791,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12788\/revisions\/12791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}