Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog

Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)

CharityWatch rating issued
July 2016

F
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
6%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$89
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)
1613 E. Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32803

Other Names

American Disabled Veterans Foundation
Military Families of America
Veterans Emergency Blood Bank
Vets Fighting Breast Cancer

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Improving the lives of severely injured and disabled U.S. Veterans, especially those who have served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

View similar charities
Charity  
AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort  
Air Force Aid Society  
American Legion National Headquarters  
American Studies Center  
AMVETS National Headquarters  
AMVETS National Service Foundation  
Armed Services YMCA of the USA  
Army Emergency Relief  
Blinded Veterans Association  
Bob Woodruff Foundation  
Center for American Homeless Veterans (DISSOLVED)  
Circle of Friends for American Veterans (DISSOLVED)  
Coalition to Salute America's Heroes  
Coast Guard Foundation  
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)  
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust  
Disabled Veterans National Foundation  
Disabled Veterans Services (DISSOLVED)  
Fisher House Foundation  
Folds of Honor Foundation  
For The Troops  
Foundation for American Veterans (DISSOLVED)  
Freedom Alliance  
Gary Sinise Foundation  
Healing Heroes Network (DISSOLVED)  
Help Heal Veterans  
Help Our Wounded (DISSOLVED)  
HeroBox  
Homes For Our Troops  
Homes for Veterans  
HonorBound Foundation  
Hope For The Warriors  
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund  
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America  
K9s For Warriors  
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation  
Move America Forward  
Mutts With A Mission  
National Military Family Association  
National Veterans Foundation  
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation (DISSOLVED)  
Navy SEAL Foundation  
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society  
Operation Finally Home  
Operation Homefront  
Paralyzed Veterans of America  
Paws for Purple Hearts  
Purple Heart Foundation  
Semper Fi & America's Fund  
Soldiers' Angels  
Special Operations Warrior Foundation  
Team Red, White & Blue  
The Mission Continues  
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)  
TREA Memorial Foundation (DISSOLVED)  
TroopsDirect  
United American Patriots  
United Service Organizations (USO)  
United Spinal Association  
United States Armed Forces Association  
United States Navy Memorial Foundation  
Veterans Community Project  
Veterans of Foreign Wars  
Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation  
Veterans Relief Network  
Veterans Support Organization (DISSOLVED)  
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund  
Vietnam Veterans of America  
VietNow National Headquarters (DISSOLVED)  
Wounded Warrior Project  
Wounded Warriors Family Support  
Wreaths Across America  
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2015

Program Percentage: 6%

The percentage of Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)'s cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$2,100,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $89

How many dollars Help the Vets (DISSOLVED) spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$2,100,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)'s rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
42% $54
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Help the Vets IRS Form 990 46-1741446
Help the Vets Audited Financial Statements 46-1741446
Entity: Help the Vets
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 46-1741446
Entity: Help the Vets
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 46-1741446

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.
Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)
does not meet governance benchmarks.
 
Help the Vets (DISSOLVED)
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

  Name Title Compensation
1 Neil G. Paulson, Sr. President $142,415
1
Name: Neil G. Paulson, Sr.
Title: President
Compensation: $142,415

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.
According to the Help the Vets 2015 tax filing (IRS Form 990 Schedule O):

Business or Family Relationships of Officers, Directors, Etc.

"Director Brian Paulson is the adult son of Neil Paulson, Director and President."

[Note: Neil Paulson Sr. goes by "Paul" Paulson, according to the Help the Vets website. Also reported as directors on the seven-person Help the Vets board for 2015 were Joan Dietz and Wayne Pauluk, who are Paul Paulson's mother and brother, respectively, according to an attachment to the Help the Vets IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption, filing.]

Six of the seven board members of Help the Vets also serve on the board of directors of another charity, Breast Cancer Outreach Foundation, including: Neil ["Paul"] Paulson Sr., Joan Dietz, Wayne Pauluk, Sherwood Shoff, Ron Smith, and Marian Amune. Help the Vets also shares the same address and phone number with Breast Cancer Outreach Foundation.
According to the Help the Vets audit and tax filing of December 31, 2015, the organization reports receiving in-kind donations which it valued at $4,463,055. According to Schedule B of its tax filing, Help the Vets reports that these in-kind donations consisted of:

"2300 vouchers for chiropractic care," which it valued at $690,000.

"Vouchers for veteran lodging" which it valued at $3,654,300.

"Care kits, Clothing, Blankets" which it valued at $116,296.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

Related External Articles