Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum Announces Oregon’s 20 Worst Charities for 2012

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The list highlights nonprofits that spend less than 25 percent of the funds they raise on charitable services or programs they claim to support.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today issued the Department of Justice’s 20 Worst Charities list, an annual review of organizations that spend the vast majority of their donations on fundraising and other administrative costs rather than charity.

The 20 nonprofits on this year’s list spent 25 percent or less of their funds on charitable programs. Go to:  www.doj.state.or.us/charigroup or see below for list.

Today’s announcement is a reminder for Oregonians to be as vigilant as they are generous when donating to charity this holiday season. The Better Business Bureau recommends donors avoid any charity that delivers less than 65 percent of its money to its stated charitable pursuit.

“There are many reputable nonprofits doing great work in our communities,” said Attorney General Rosenblum. “My office is committed to ensuring that the few unscrupulous charities aren’t taking advantage of Oregonians’ generosity.”

State law requires Oregon’s 18,000 registered charities to file periodic financial reports with the Attorney General disclosing how much money the organization raised and how the funds were spent.  

The vast majority of the charities active in Oregon far exceed Better Business Bureau spending guidelines. This list focuses on a few exceptions. All are registered to solicit in Oregon. None of the charities on the list are based here.  As in previous years, many claim to support causes that have an emotional appeal, such as public safety, children, veterans and the terminally ill.

Topping this year’s 20 Worst Charities list is the Law Enforcement Education Program of Troy, Michigan. The group spent less than 2.7 percent of its $2,299,994 in annual expenditures on creating and supporting educational programs for the law enforcement community – its purported charitable mission.

Under current law, the Department of Justice cannot dictate how charities spend the funds they raise. But the department can help consumers do some basic research to ensure their money is put to the use for which it is intended.

The department provides some basic advice on selecting a legitimate charity, as well as “red flags” to watch out for this holiday season on its website at http://tinyurl.com/apb7wzm.

Donors should also make sure the organization is registered with the Attorney General’s Office by searching the Department’s online database or by calling 971-673-1880. They can also visit www.guidestar.org, a national clearinghouse of information on charities and their performance.

Attorney General’s 20 Worst Charities

2012

Charities are required to file periodic financial reports with the Oregon Department of Justice documenting their national fundraising and expenditures and explaining how donations were spent. Under guidelines issued by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), organizations should dedicate at least 65% of their funds to charitable programs, with no more than 35% toward administrative and fundraising costs. The following charities registered to do business in Oregon failed to meet that standard based on a three-year average of annual expenditures. This is not an exclusive list, but represents the 20 charities that fell farthest from the BBB guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.oregonattorneygeneral.gov.

Organization Average Annual Percent Spent On Expenditures Charitable Cause

Law Enforcement $2,299,994 2.7%

Education Program

Troy, MI 

Purpose: To create and support educational programs for the betterment of both the general public and the law enforcement community.

Shiloh International $846,340 3.2%

Ministries

La Verne, CA 

Purpose: To improve the quality of life of America‘s disabled and needy children by providing medical necessities and moral support.

American Medical $783,217 4.2%

Research Organization

Sarasota, FL 

Purpose: To support medical research in the cause, cure, and treatment of macular degeneration. 2

Firefighters Support $3,263,878 7.0%

Foundation

Greenfield, MA 

Purpose: To offer training programs and support injury prevention initiatives for firefighters and other first responding public safety agencies.

Disabled Police Officers $681,599 7.4%

Counseling Center, Inc.

Niceville, FL 

Purpose: To provide educational and counseling programs to assist disable police officers, and to educate the public on the needs and abilities of disabled police officers.

Woman to Woman Breast $4,921,015 8.0%

Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 

Purpose: To support women by promoting regular examinations, early detection and aggressive treatment for those suffering from breast cancer.

Disabled Police $1,488,122 8.8%

Officers of America

Niceville, FL 

Purpose: To provide financial scholarships to those disabled and retired law enforcement officers requesting them.

Firefighters Charitable $6,924,179 8.8%

Foundation

Farmingdale, NY 

Purpose: To provide financial assistance to individuals who have been affected by a fire or disaster and to support other disaster or prevention related charities, and volunteer fire departments.

The Wishing Well $1,249,566 10.0%

Foundation

Metairie, LA 

Purpose: Fulfilling the fondest wish for any terminally ill child not expected to reach 18 years of age.

Foundation for $6,655,583 10.2%

American Veterans, Inc.

West Bloomfield, MI 

Purpose: Promoting social and recreational welfare for current and past U.S. Armed Forces members, dependents, widows, widowers and others.

Dogs Against Drugs/ $1,042,284 11.1%

Dogs Against Crime

Anderson, IN 

Purpose: Dedicated to the betterment of law enforcement K9 operations throughout the United States.

National Vietnam $4,374,031 11.2%

Veterans Foundation

Alexandria, VA 

Purpose: Funding of programs and projects which benefit American veterans and their families.

Operation Lookout $1,589,751 11.5%

National Center for

Missing Youth

Everett, WA 

Purpose: To locate missing children.

Committee for Missing $2,368,192 12.1%

Children

Lawrenceville, GA 

Purpose: Distribute pictures of missing children by encouraging educational dealers, manufacturers and publishers to produce pages of missing children and distribute them throughout the country.

Law Enforcement $2,932,662 14.6%

Legal Defense Fund

Arlington, VA 

Purpose: Conduct research on legal issues, use and publish results of such research; support and engage in litigation safeguarding human and civil rights; and assist similar charitable and educational organizations.

Caring for Our $618,658 15.3%

Children Foundation

Everett, WA 

Purpose: Provide administrative assistance to other non-profits and give small grants to underfunded nonprofits that help victimized and missing children.

United American $1,625,517 18.4%

Patriots, Inc.

Greensboro, NC 

Purpose: To value individual liberty, protect and preserve the Constitution of the United States and our national sovereignty, to promote Free Enterprise, National Defense, traditional American Values and the education of youth.

National Veterans $9,333,238 18.8%

Service Fund

Darien, CT 

Purpose: To inform and educate in conjunction with service-related illnesses and work to raise public awareness of the contributions of veterans to our society.

American Border $1,383,812 20.8%

Patrol

Sierra Vista, AZ 

Purpose: To monitor the border on regular basis and to educate the public about border control issues.

Dakota Indian $1,255,942 21.7%

Foundation

Chamberlain, SD

Purpose: Assist in education of Indian people and preservation of Native American culture.

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Founded in 1994 by the late Pamela Hulse Andrews, Cascade Business News (CBN) became Central Oregon’s premier business publication. CascadeBusNews.com • CBN@CascadeBusNews.com

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