I was reading this article in CharityWatch, Multiple Names + Exaggerated Programs = Two Related Charities, But Little Help for Vets or Cancer Relief. Ticked me off.
“Help the Vets (HTV) and Breast Cancer Outreach Foundation (BCOF) are two relatively new charities that share the same address and phone number, as well as the same family members in leadership positions, including the president. But of more concern to donors should be another shared trait between HTV and BCOF — the likelihood that most donations will go towards paying for-profit, professional fundraisers rather than for helping veterans or cancer sufferers.”
I found these grades of charities for veterans and military organizations in the Winter 2016/2017 Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report, so they theoretically have changed since then, though unlikely. The entities noted with a ? means that CharityWatch did not have enough information. Perhaps some are less than three years old.
“CharityWatch believes it is reasonable for a charity to set aside less than three year’s worth of its annual budget for financial stability and possible future needs. When a charity’s available assets in reserve exceed three year’s worth of its annual budget, CharityWatch downgrades its final letter grade rating. However, we continue to show what a charity’s efficiency rating was prior to being downgraded for those donors who do not wish to factor a charity’s high assets into their giving decisions.” (Those graded thus have two grades and a dollar sign.)
The listings in italics have a grade of B+ or better and therefore are ranked among the top-rated charities.
AdoptAPlatoon Soldier Support Effort: ?
Air Force Aid Society: A/F $
American Legion National Headquarters: D
American Studies Center: ?
AMVETS National Headquarters: D
AMVETS National Service Foundation: F
Armed Services YMCA of the USA: A
Army Emergency Relief: A+/F $
Blinded Veterans Association: D
Bob Woodruff Family Foundation: A-
Center for American Homeless Veterans: F
Circle of Friends for American Veterans: F
Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes: F
Disabled American Veterans: D
Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust: ?
Disabled Veterans National Foundation: F
Disabled Veterans Services: F
Feed Our Veterans: F
Fisher House Foundation B+
Foundation for American Veterans: F
Freedom Alliance: C-/D $
Gary Sinise Foundation: A
Good Charity: ?
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind: A
Healing Heroes Network: F
Help Hospitalized Veterans: F
Help Our Wounded: F
Help the Vets: F
Homes for Our Troops: A
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund: A
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America: A-
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation: B-
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation: F
Mission Continues: A
National Military Family Association: A
National Veterans Foundation: ?
National Veterans Services Fund: F
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation (DISSOLVED): F
Navy SEAL Foundation: A+/C+ $
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: A
Operation Homefront: A
Paralyzed Veterans of America: F
Paws for Purple Hearts: F
Semper Fi Fund: A+
Soldiers’ Angels: B
Special Operations Warrior Foundation: A/F $
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: B+
TREA Memorial Foundation: ?
Troops Need You: F
United American Patriots: F
United Service Organizations: C
United Spinal Association: C-
United States Armed Forces Association: F
United States Navy Memorial Foundation: D
Veterans Assistance Foundation: C-
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and Foundation: F
Veterans of the Vietnam War & The Veterans Coalition: ?
Veterans Support Organization: F
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund: D
Vietnam Veterans of America: F
VietNow National Headquarters: F
Wounded Warrior Project: C
Wounded Warriors Family Support: A
About a fifth of these received a B+ or better. Over a third received an F.
That seemed to me to be an awful lot of charities until I checked what organisations exist for ex-servicemen in the UK, most of which I’ve never heard of. It would be helpful if we too had some sort of rating agency especially as today is Remembrance Day.
It’s pretty shameful how many scammy “charities” play off of things good-hearted people want to help. I have a couple of rules – I always check Charity Navigator (they are online) for how they rate the charity and how much of the money goes to “services” vs. “overehead” (e.g., salaries to the CEOs). My general rule is not to give to any group where less than 80% goes to the actual function of the charity, and I really prefer 85%
Also, having gotten caller ID means I don’t get blindsided any more and don’t have to tell people “No, I don’t want to give.” (I once got cussed out by someone from what turned out to be a scammy cancer charity when I asked them “Can you tell me what percentage of your intake goes to ‘overhead.'” Told me all I needed to know right there.)
Kinda curious about the A+/F rating.
Whoops. It’s explained. NEVER mind (she said, embarrassed but honestly a little tired.)