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Crisis Relief Network

CharityWatch report issued
May 2024

 
CharityWatch Grade
*Why no rating?
 
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

Crisis Relief Network
4601 SW 34th Street
Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32811-6415

Other Names

Breast Cancer Relief Network
Child Watch
Child Watch of North America
Childhood Abuse and Trauma Foundation
Children's Cancer Relief Foundation
Disabled Children's Relief Foundation
Veterans Trauma Support Network

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.crisisreliefnetwork.org

Stated Mission

Prevention & recovery of missing, abused & exploited children. Also offers therapy services to survivors of childhood abuse & trauma, and offers services to veterans & first responders.

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Ratings & Metrics

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2022

*Why a Question Mark Rating?

CharityWatch currently has concerns about this organization and/or is unable to provide complete rating information due to the organization's nondisclosure of financial information. Please see the Analysts' Notes section for a more detailed explanation.

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about Governance & Transparency
CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
Crisis Relief Network
does not meet governance benchmarks.
 
Crisis Relief Network
does not meet transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy

Top Salaries

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Unable to Provide Salaries

CharityWatch is unable to provide a range of Top Three Salaries for this charity for the above fiscal reporting year because we lack complete salary data for the organization. Except for officers, directors, and trustees, the IRS does not require breakouts of salaries totaling less than $100,000.

For example, XYZ charity would be required to provide a breakout in its tax form of compensation to its president of $55,000, but would not be required to provide a breakout of $99,000 in compensation to its top medical researcher if that person is not also an officer, director, or trustee of the organization.

This charity reports that compensation to its officers, directors, and trustees is under $100,000 per individual. Donors who would like to view limited salary data for this organization should refer to its tax form, which may be available on the charity's web site or from a number of third-party sources. See CharityWatch's Links page for information on obtaining copies of charity tax forms.

Analysts' Notes

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CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch is unable to provide a rating for Crisis Relief Network (CRN) based on its fiscal year ended 12/31/2022 due to an inability to obtain audited financial statements. For this reason we have issued the charity a "?" rating, signifying nondisclosure of financial information and/or other specific concerns. 

CharityWatch's most recent letter grade rating of Crisis Relief Network was an "F" on our "A+" to "F" rating scale based on our analysis of its fiscal 2019 financial information. Based on our analysis of CRN's 2019 financial activities, CharityWatch determined that CRN spent 14% of its cash budget on programs and that it cost the charity $82 to raise each $100 in cash support. 

Per CRN's tax form 990 for its fiscal year ended 12/31/2022, Part IV, line 12a, CRN confirmed that they "obtained separate, independent audited financial statements for the tax year." However, in Part XII, 2b, CRN responded "No" to the question: "Were the organization's financial statements audited by an independent accountant."

CharityWatch reached out to CRN by mail on February 2, 2024, to request a copy of its fiscal 2022 audited financial statements. Additionally, CharityWatch utilized the messaging function on the charity's website to make the above request and received no response as of the date of this note, May 1st, 2024. 

According to its 2022 IRS tax Form 990, CRN reports raising $1,171,299 in contributions and incurring $1,228,020 in total expenses in 2022. 

If CRN provides audited financial statements to CharityWatch in the future we may update our rating of the organization at that time.
Crisis Relief Network (CRN) was cited as a "charity client" in the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit against several telemarketers, Federal Trade Commission, et al. v. Outreach Calling, Inc., et al., filed in September of 2020. When soliciting donors on behalf of CRN, the Defendants made representations that were "false and misleading," according to the Complaint, when they communicated that funds would be used to provide therapy to children exposed to violence and trauma, to children with cancer, to disabled children and their families, and to women living with breast cancer.

According to the Complaint: 

  • "From 2013 to 2017, CRN raised over $7 million through its professional fundraisers, but in 2015 and 2016 spent approximately $84,000 per year on therapy services, amounting to less than 1.2% of the funds raised."


  • "CRN has had only one therapist on staff able to provide trauma therapy, and from 2011 to 2017, CRN provided therapy treatments to approximately 50-100 patients each year. Since 2017, CRN has only provided therapy services to approximately 20 breast cancer patients."


  • "Based on CRN’s contract with [professional fundraising company] Outreach [Calling], Defendants have retained approximately 90% of the funds they raised and distributed 10% to CRN."

Related External Articles

FTC Joins Four States in Action to Shut Down Alleged Sham Charity Funding Operation That Bilked Millions From Consumers
NY Attorney General James Shuts Down Fundraising Operation That Solicited Donations on Behalf of Sham Charities
Complaint for Permanent Injunction and Other Equitable Relief in the matter of Federal Trade Commission, et al. v. Outreach Calling, Inc., et al.
Child Watch Uses Kids' Pictures Without Permission