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Crusty · 12-01-2014, 10:58 PM

I've found a loophole that I'm sure some "charities" are using to make it look like they're spending less on fundraising than they really are.

When you read reports on various charities, they are frequently ranked by the amount of money that goes to "program expenses" as opposed to administrative and fundraising costs. I've noticed that a number of main-stream charities include "education" as part of their program. I've also noticed that each of the many fund requests I receive in the mail contain some sort of "educational" flyer. Guess what. This allows them to categorize their fundraising mailing as an "educational program expense".

This was a disappointing and depressing discovery.

My donations now go to a very few charities that I have carefully screened. I suggest looking at local causes, ones with volunteer fundraisers, and church-affiliated charities.

12-01-2014, 10:58 PM	#5
Crusty Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus OH / Smiths Pt Posts: 128 Thanks: 175 Thanked 158 Times in 57 Posts	I've found a loophole that I'm sure some "charities" are using to make it look like they're spending less on fundraising than they really are. When you read reports on various charities, they are frequently ranked by the amount of money that goes to "program expenses" as opposed to administrative and fundraising costs. I've noticed that a number of main-stream charities include "education" as part of their program. I've also noticed that each of the many fund requests I receive in the mail contain some sort of "educational" flyer. Guess what. This allows them to categorize their fundraising mailing as an "educational program expense". This was a disappointing and depressing discovery. My donations now go to a very few charities that I have carefully screened. I suggest looking at local causes, ones with volunteer fundraisers, and church-affiliated charities.