Topic: Why I Don't Donate to Charities over the Phone

[BobbyR]

The Disabled National Veterans Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., and founded in 2007, received about $55.9 million in donations since it began operations in 2007, according to publicly available IRS 990 forms.

Yet according to the DNVF's tax filings with the IRS, almost none of that money has wound up in the hands of American veterans.


http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/07/us/veterans-charity-fraud/?hpt=hp_c1

[brooze72]

Yes, you sure have to pick your charities carefully these days.  Does your IRS revoke charity status if a certain percentage doesn't go directly to good works or an excessive amount is used for "administration"?   I'm also very reluctant to give to anybody who comes to my door too, same reasons.

[BeSeeingYou]

Most of these "charities" hire professional fundraisers and at least here in Minnesota they have to identify themselves as "professional fundraisers raising money for so and so."  A key giveaway that a large percentage goes to administrative costs.  But I make it a rule not to give my card number out over the phone regardless of what the charity is.  They could be anybody.

[Duanob]

Spam emails, junk snail-mail and door to door sales people are all the same to me. i don't give to them. I have researched the charities and causes I give to already. That's what I tell them.