Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

Link to the actual list

Link to story in Tampa's Paper

CNN's cover of the story

(CNN) -- The worst charity in America operates from a metal warehouse behind a gas station in Holiday, Florida.

Every year, Kids Wish Network raises millions of dollars in donations in the name of dying children and their families.

Every year, it spends less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.

Most of the rest gets diverted to enrich the charity's operators and the for-profit companies Kids Wish hires to drum up donations.

In the past decade alone, Kids Wish has channeled nearly $110 million donated for sick children to its corporate solicitors. An additional $4.8 million has gone to pay the charity's founder and his own consulting firms.

No charity in the nation has siphoned more money away from the needy over a longer period of time.

But Kids Wish is not an isolated case, a yearlong investigation by the Tampa Bay Times and The Center for Investigative Reporting has found.

Using state and federal records, the Times and CIR identified nearly 6,000 charities that have chosen to pay for-profit companies to raise their donations.

Then reporters took an unprecedented look back to zero in on the 50 worst - based on the money they diverted to boiler room operators and other solicitors over a decade.

.........

Sick!

Message edited 6/13/2013 12:19:49 PM.

Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

so sad... I understand if people are working on behalf of the charity for the hours spent but they shouldn't be making a profit above it.

Re: Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

I hate that. Ruins it for the legit companies trying to help families in need.

Re: Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

Ugh...half those so-called charities call my house regularly. Such scammers. I just tell them I don't commit to donations over the phone, but they can sell me materials on their organization. Shuts them down. But it concerns me because I know there are plenty of people who don't know any better and give them money.


My favorite is when they open up with "Thank you for your contribution of $50 last year, can we count on you for the same amount this year?" when I know fully well that I didn't "donate" to their scam last year or ever.

Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

I am very careful about who I give to since seeing a similar article years ago. I check with give.org which posts statistics on most large charities. Like Chatham-Chick I tell callers that I never give over the phone, adding that it is a family policy. Sometimes I let them know that can send me information to consider. Most never do.

Re: Anyone see this story on the 50 worst charities?

I feel like Red Cross is right up there. Sorry, but I will never donate to them. The salaries that the uppers are paid is disgusting.