Not happy with the false bill scammers.
I'm not really sure how to view these facts.
Is it standard for charities to redirect over 97% of funds away from those they are supposed to be helping?
This week, I received 2 letters from The American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), at two addresses with the same content:
- Thanks for my non-existent "generous telephone pledge"
- "Personal Thanks" from Phyllis Wolf, 574 and 335 respectively (I don't know why she was numbered)
- 2 references to the "donation amount" of $12.50
- "OPER # 393038"
- "AGENT C"
- the date: 02/11/2009, 02/05/2009
- A descriptionless but official looking "92987970"
It looks like the classic "false bill" scam. Plus, there is no reference in the letter to this "donation" being tax deductible.
A little research showed it was surprisingly from ABCF.
So, naturally, I took a quick look at their financial report [from their web site: http://www.abcf.org].
Under "Statement of Functional Expenses" for FY-2007:
Total Expenses: $14,702,612
Total Public Appeal: $12,726,319
Total Research Grants: $357,500
Total Charitable Contributions: $350
Fundraising Total: $4,734,129
Fundraising Public Appeal: $4,619,741
Less than %3 was contributed to Charities and Research.
Over %86 was spent on "Public Appeal"... advertising.
Over %96 of all "Fundraising" expense is "Public Appeal".
Over %31 was spent on "Fundraising" as "Public Appeal".
In other words, about 1/3 of every dollar you give them goes directly to getting more money.
Over half a dollar beyond that is spent on what would appear to be advertising/"Public Appeal".
About half a nickel of every dollar gets sent to Research or Charities.
The rest goes into rent/salaries/etc, other valid expenses.
Then, I notice the additional data:
National Gift Processing Center
Post Office Box 16037
West Palm Beach, FL 33416-6037
They pay a 3rd party to process donations; I don't know how large of a slice goes to this other organization.
Is it standard for charities to redirect over 97% of funds away from those they are supposed to be helping?
This week, I received 2 letters from The American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), at two addresses with the same content:
- Thanks for my non-existent "generous telephone pledge"
- "Personal Thanks" from Phyllis Wolf, 574 and 335 respectively (I don't know why she was numbered)
- 2 references to the "donation amount" of $12.50
- "OPER # 393038"
- "AGENT C"
- the date: 02/11/2009, 02/05/2009
- A descriptionless but official looking "92987970"
It looks like the classic "false bill" scam. Plus, there is no reference in the letter to this "donation" being tax deductible.
A little research showed it was surprisingly from ABCF.
So, naturally, I took a quick look at their financial report [from their web site: http://www.abcf.org].
Under "Statement of Functional Expenses" for FY-2007:
Total Expenses: $14,702,612
Total Public Appeal: $12,726,319
Total Research Grants: $357,500
Total Charitable Contributions: $350
Fundraising Total: $4,734,129
Fundraising Public Appeal: $4,619,741
Less than %3 was contributed to Charities and Research.
Over %86 was spent on "Public Appeal"... advertising.
Over %96 of all "Fundraising" expense is "Public Appeal".
Over %31 was spent on "Fundraising" as "Public Appeal".
In other words, about 1/3 of every dollar you give them goes directly to getting more money.
Over half a dollar beyond that is spent on what would appear to be advertising/"Public Appeal".
About half a nickel of every dollar gets sent to Research or Charities.
The rest goes into rent/salaries/etc, other valid expenses.
Then, I notice the additional data:
National Gift Processing Center
Post Office Box 16037
West Palm Beach, FL 33416-6037
They pay a 3rd party to process donations; I don't know how large of a slice goes to this other organization.