Health Care Communication News;
The Federal Trade Commission this week came down hard on four cancer charities that investigators say defrauded donors out of more than $187 million. Some of the charities have met the charges head-on, and others have run for the hills.
The organizations charged with charity fraud (along with some of their leaders) are Cancer Fund of America Inc. (CFA), Cancer Support Services Inc. (CSS), Children’s Cancer Fund of America Inc. (CCFOA) and The Breast Cancer Society Inc. (BCS). From 2008 to 2012, the FTC claims that 85 percent of the money these organizations brought in went to fundraisers and personal extravagances, including a Disney vacation, concert tickets and data site memberships.
Only three percent of the funds collected actually went toward the actual charity.
h/t Karen
And how does this compare with the Clinton Foundation charity. Which promises to do…. what exactly? How much of donated funds get to the intended recipient? What difference, at this point, does it make?
Not to mention a lot of “pink washing” where we are all enjoined to buy “pink” products to support breast cancer initiatves but, in reality, very little goes to breast cancer research or patient help.
cancer is a huge business and is profitable for those who work in the business.
I never give to cancer charities they spend more money on fund raising than cancer research it’s about time this pandoras box was opened,why find a cure when you could loose all those donations!
Running charity rackets is a very old and dishonourable vocation.
Politicians between gigs seem particularly good at it.
the side effect of our corrupt and disintegrating/extinct morals is that I have absolutely no compassion for those “hurting” or to give to charity of any kind.
Unintended consequence?
“We’re gonna find a cure for cancer!” – um, no we’re not, because too many people are making bookoo bucks off it.
“We’re gonna end hunger/poverty/homelessness”. – Um, no we’re not because many people choose to be that way. It’s now more lucrative to be poor than to work for what you have.
At least I have my soul.
“Big iron lung” didn’t stop the polio vaccine. Whoever cures cancer will be remembered, just as Salk and Fleming are. I put the “big pharma will stop this” arguments right up there with the 200 mpg carburettor.
C_Miner: Great analogy!
I don’t donate to any organization that can afford to do television commercials. That’s where I start, at least.
A few years ago I was visiting my brother at Princess Margaret Cancer hospital here in Toronto while he was undergoing chemo. We were watching the news and a very similar item came on about cancer charities in Canada.
The worst (when measured by the amount spent on patients and research compared to the amount raised)? Princess Margaret charities…
The best was the Terry Fox charity.
Oh, and bro is currently in remission (three years).
The “Slippery Slope” starts when the dedicated volunteer Boards of Directors, who developed and spent tremendous amounts of time getting a Charitable Funding Enterprise established resign. New Board Members are appointed. This is normally after an Executive Director is appointed with a demonstrably small salary, but with the capabilities; staffing and time to move the Charitable Funding Enterprise to another level.
When this other level is reached the Politicos see their opportunity to fatten resumes with a meeting or two per month and the apperance of altruism. It is at this time the Board of Directors are vulnerable to the praising of and for the Executive Director and key staff. The “Great E.D.” needs competent well paid people to take some of the load. After all it is not as if we are spending “our money”.
Naturally the E.D. must earn more than the well paid staff, therefore remuneration moves into the six figure and/or seven figure levels.
My goodness if this new well acclaimed Board of Directors has such well paid people reporting (ostensibly-BoD learns quickly not to interfere in E.D.’s Budget), then the BoD should have benefits, not remuneration, for their good efforts.
ERGO- Fancy Dinners; Hideaway Seminars for planning in exotic resorts; Travel Conferences to mingle with International (U.N. funding absorbers) to have a Global perspective.
The original hard working volunteers would have a going away dinner at the first level of Annual General Meetings. Probably a well-deserved recognition for their efforts.
How many other charities are ripping off the people their suppost to help?
Where are the criminal charges and subsequent arrests?
Where is the MSM’s outrage over this story?
Where the hell are we living these days?
BTW, don’t know if “Take ‘Til It Hurts” is a Kate original but definitely worth a chuckle and shake of the head.
With Canadian charities who use telemarketers, the telemarketers get the lions share of the money. The charity is basically paid a commission for using their name and charitable status. If a national charity is phoning you, the guy you are talking to is probably the biggest beneficiary of your cash.
The United Way should be next in line; staff there all make huge bucks and whats left goes to more staff at the charities they support and very little actually benefits who they promote.
Scar is exactly right. Another scam they use is that they want you to buy tickets to send children to some event usually involving athletes or entertainers. They actually tried to bill me once even after I said no. When I reported them to the police for fraud, the police just laughed. The police were using the same company for their “fund-raising”. The company owned an entire building and gave free office space to charities just for the use of the name.
Standard procedure when I get a charity call, I firmly and politely tell them “Sorry, but I do not give donations to charities that solicit by phone.” After a few of these they stop calling.
To think of the foolishness of some criminals. Get a harsh sentence for knocking off a convenience store. Some hitherto honest dedicated employee of a small business gets ruined and disgraced, because they had their fingers in the till.
These heartless charity people thus run little or no risk. Money pouring out and does not stop. Not even a face saving solid application of their so called charity and giving say 25%.
They have found the “money tree”. I read about this kind of thing in the late Kurt Vonnegut’s novel -God Bless You Mr. Rosewater. They cannot have even a twinge of conscience. Is there not possible pay back in anyway for these fat cats?. I can only hope they become obese with too much good living. Maybe bored stiff.
TimR “Sorry, but I do not give donations to charities that solicit by phone.” After a few of these they stop calling.”
When you give to one charity over the phone, the same telemarketer will keep calling you back on behalf of other charities. When you straighten them out, they drop you from the sucker list.
My 83 year old Mother has given to these charities, and others just as scummy.
She receives a stack of mail an inch thick from these grifters every day. And yes, the family now (finally) has her power of attorney and is putting a stop to this fraud and theft from her.
They prey on the trusting and vulnerable elderly. You have won a million dollars!, send us $19.95 to collect; Your social Security is in Danger!, send us money to fight for you; Save the poor puppies and kittens!
Please look out for your parents and grandparents.