MADD - another reason I don't like donating to charities

[*SunShyne*]

source.

Another reason I don't like giving to charities...

most of the high-profile charity's money is spent on fundraising and administration, leaving only about 19 cents of each donor dollar for charitable works.

For years MADD has been claiming it spends donor money well — fundraising pitches say "83.6 per cent of your donation is spent directly on MADD Canada programs

charities that hire professional fundraisers to do all, or almost all, their fundraising. Fundraisers typically take 70-90 cents of each dollar. That's what is happening at MADD, with the money turned over to the charity then being eaten up by administrative expenses and head office salaries. A portion of those salaries can be claimed as good works if the charity executives carry out charitable activities in addition to running an office. For example, part of MADD's mandate is to lobby for better laws.

Donors across Canada gave $5.4 million over the last year when the charity's telemarketers called. MADD's financial statements show 76 per cent ($4.1 million) was kept by the telemarketer. Part of the remaining .

24 per cent ($1.3 million) was eaten up by other charity expenses such as administration, leaving little for good works

So really, if you ever want to do something charitable and help someone out, do it with your pwn hands.

Make a homeless person a nice warm calorie enriched meal for example.

Hand out clothing on the street with a group of friends...

But this has really hit the head on the nail as to why giving to charities, really isn't all that charitable.

[esoter1c]

For the price of a cup of coffe, you can buy me a new car. :086:

[-evil-duerr-]

ya all those ones advertised on tv seem pretty scammish.

Unicef anybody?

[*SunShyne*]

Exactly.

Of course I'm not so ignorant that I believe 100% of donations go to said charity... but 19 cents per dollar? That's a bit insane...

Not to mention, the CEO of MADD refuses to let us know what he and his staff are making in terms of salary and benefits... so I can only imagine how much money thay have pocketed over the years

[omega_image]

are you really that surprised though? MADD isn't a charity organization, it's a protestors group who want to raise awareness. as such your money is basically being spent on events to do as much.

i would think the ratio is a lot better for actual charities.

[miss.myra]

Yeah, a few charities are not so good and it gives you justification to rule out donating to any charity. Brilliant idea. Any good charity will be able to provide you with exactly how funds donated are allocated right up front.

[crookedking]

i want to start a charity.

[gnosis]

Um... Hi!

Go for: AIDS foundations and cancer groups.

Frosty
(does not contribute)

[apri_peel]

friend of mine did some promo stuff for MADD few years back giving out these little awareness cards and on the back of the cards there was a major typo. it said:
Mothers Against Drunk Drinking

im not sure what MADD did about it, but they gave the go ahead to distribute the cards anyways.

this story is completely unrelated, but we had a good laugh about it

[djmarkpaul]

One person's slush fund is another person's ticket to impenitence. It's like a Christian's communion but without the religious connotation (or that tasty little Jesus waifer... mmmmm, Jesus). It'd be pretty gullible to think all charities are there to just rip you off, but equally gullible to think that some sort of flow chart of funds allocated negates any sort of insider dabbling.

My work around is that if I'm involved in any sort of charitable work, it will be local and always, always grassroots. Otherwise you can never truly be sure.

Oh, did I mention direct involvement or no involvement at all?

That's pretty key.

[djmarkpaul]

Originally Posted by -evil-duerr-

ya all those ones advertised on tv seem pretty scammish.

I fucking love Peter Popoff, anybody else know this guy!? He sends you this miracle healing water for free. It's great.

I ordered it just for the_hell_of it, it was just some see through oil shit. I shoulda used it as lube, but I discarded as far as I can remember. 6 months of monthly letters asking for 20 dollar 'donations' promised to have my prayers answered as long as I took part in some weird artsy-craft involving a piece of cotton shaped as a sheep, and a ribbon to tie around said sheep and the money, which was to be sent back in the return envelope said letters came in. I have never had such good kindling for the ol' fire place since.

I hope his corpse will be embalmed and displayed prominently in a wax museum for the most likely to be reincarnated as used car salesmen.

[Joe Dirt]

MADD makes suckkas not drink and drive, I see peeps drink 8 beers and smoke 3 joints and drive.. Someshit has to stop that. If we all did that our moms would be hella sad.

[thebobman]

Originally Posted by Joe Dirt

MADD makes suckkas not drink and drive, I see peeps drink 8 beers and smoke 3 joints and drive.. Someshit has to stop that. If we all did that our moms would be hella sad.

don't say hella.
that's hella lame.

[Ree Fresh]

I dont think some of you see the big picture. Sure charities spend most of their money on telemarketing, people to work in the office, and advertising... but I'm sure they wouldnt get as much money if they wernt out there asking for it and educating the public. Personaly I dont donate to telemarketers becuase I know that most of my money is going to pay them to call me, but they do make some lucky calls to people who would never think to give. Also if you have a well founded/repital charity then big buisnesses and celebs are more likly to donate. If your really up set about giving money, than maybe you should volenteer your time to help organize and spread the word so they dont have to pay ppl. Our world isnt a utopia yet.

As for MADD, Ive never really thought their way of solving the problem makes any sence. Sure their comercials make you think for a moment when you watch them, but really they should be out in the clubs/streets making you aware. They could work with clubs to offer free cover/non alcohol drinks to ppl who are driving. Incurage Transit to work later at night or even create car pool for grad events or ppl coming from out of town who have to pay over $30+ for a cab ride home. Road blocks are only so effective... but its easy to avoid them or even get passed them.

[apri_peel]

agreed! MADD should get out on the streets to promote their campaign. not everyone watches TV or listens to the radio. MADD leads mostly passive campaigns, it would probably worked better if they were more active about what they promote, got out there and talked to people, it always works better and is a better use of donations.

many clubs do offer non-alcoholic drinks at no charge, which is a good idea.

i like the idea behind operation red nose, where they come pick you up and drive you home. but i dont quite get why they wouldnt work in vancouver but everywhere else in the lower mainland.

[charly]

^ i haven't heard of them not working in vancouver before?

either way, while they're good and all.. they only work during holiday season (when most holiday parties are).

during the rest of the year, you always have the option of Keys Please, but they cost money.. more worth it to spend the money on that, instead of a taxi so you don't have to waste time the next day going back wherever to get your car (and whatever parking violations/costs may go along with that). but we all know everyone likes free stuff better.

[charly]

And when you look at the dollar amounts, it makes sense why a charity would be put some money into things like advertising and what not.

Seriously, if some charity was out there with very little coverage and only volunteers doing what they can (which is limited) and made $1,000,000.00 over the year and then used $0.80/dollar directly on the charity... they'd only be giving $800,000 to the cause. But if they use more of that money to advertise and get themselves well known and instead make $10,000,000 in a year and only put $0.20/dollar towards the cause.. they're still coming out on top and having more money for whatever cause they're fighting for.

Nothing is ever going to be free. I'm not justifying all charities in doing this, as I'm sure there are plenty that could cut some costs to give more to the cause, but they have to use some of it or they would never survive.

[apri_peel]

Originally Posted by charly

^ i haven't heard of them not working in vancouver before?

its what i heard on the radio couple of weeks ago
i was quite surprised too