Friday, September 5, 2014

Throwing Hot Water on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Good Day World!

I’ve got nothing against fundraisers to help people, but caution should be courted before parting with your money.

Not all charities are created equal.

This may come as a surprise to you, but a serious search reveals even the biggest names in charity only put a small portion of your donation towards what you think is going directly to benefit someone.

For example, lets take the recent (is it still going on?) Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money for ALS research. The campaign has gone viral and over $100 million in donations have been collected.

Where is that money going?

According to the ALS Foundation, not towards ALS.

Over 73% of all donations raised are going to fundraising, overhead, executive salaries, and external donations. Less than 27% is actually used for the purpose we donated for.

According to the ECFA, a charitable watchdog, 27% of donations actually making it to the cause they are donated to is unacceptable.

In fact, the ECFA won't deem a non-profit as a reliable charity unless at least 80% of donations make it to their intended projects.

The illustration on the right shows the breakdown of the ALS Foundation's Financials.

Employee salaries at the ALS Foundation are out-of-this-WORLD!

Jane H. Gilbert – President and CEO –$339,475.00
Daniel M. Reznikov – Chief Financial Officer – $201,260.00
Steve Gibson – Chief Public Policy Officer – $182,862.00
Kimberly Maginnis -Chief of Care Services Officer – $160,646.00
Lance Slaughter -Chief Chapter Relations and Development Officer – $152,692.00
Michelle Keegan – Chief Development Officer – $178,744.00
John Applegate – Association Finance Officer – $118.726.00
David Moses – Director of Planned Giving – $112,509.00
Carrie Munk – Chief Communications and Marketing Officer – $142,875.00
Patrick Wildman – Director of Public Policy – $112,358.00
Kathi Kromer – Director of State Advocacy – $110,661.00

The ALS Foundation is a terrible organization to send your money.

If you decide to take the Ice Bucket Challenge, may I humbly suggest that you select a well-researched charity (on your own, no endorsements here) and send it to them.

If you’re wondering what charities are the best, I refer you to CHARITY NAVIGATOR, an excellent website and Guide to Intelligent Giving.

Time for me to walk on down the road… 

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