Charity Articles

Don't Let the Golden Rule Get In the Way Of Your Giving

October 04, 2021

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Don't Let the Golden Rule Get In the Way Of Your Giving

Oct 04, 2021

The Golden Rule tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated, not as they would like to be treated. These two things are not always the same.

The Golden Rule tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated, not as they would like to be treated. These two things ar...

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Crowdfunding: The Wild West of Charitable Giving

Sep 30, 2021

"...[C]rowdfunding campaigns [are] the 'Wild West of charity fundraising... Good intentions mixed with hubris is a dangerous combination,' Styron said." Crowdfunding: Don't Rely on the Wisdom of the Crowd. ...

"...[C]rowdfunding campaigns [are] the 'Wild West of charity fundraising... Good intentions mixed with hubris is a dangerous combi...

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CharityWatch Alerts Regulator to Red Flags at American Life ...

Sep 16, 2021

American Life League reported paying $1,862,208 and $554,897 in 2015 and 2017, respectively, to Anthony Kane and Associates for "printing and mailing services," with the relationship reported as "board of director is owner." Other...

American Life League reported paying $1,862,208 and $554,897 in 2015 and 2017, respectively, to Anthony Kane and Associates for "p...

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Ratings of Small and Local Charities

Aug 25, 2021

It's important to understand how smaller charities differ from larger ones so that their financial efficiency and governance can be judged in the appropriate context. ...

It's important to understand how smaller charities differ from larger ones so that their financial efficiency and governance can b...

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Busting the Myths of "The Overhead Myth"

Jun 10, 2021

Before donating to charity, many donors want to know what portion of their donation the nonprofit will spend on programs versus overhead. And this makes sense. Charities and nonprofit fundraisers often reference two industry-...

Before donating to charity, many donors want to know what portion of their donation the nonprofit will spend on programs versus ov...

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Fundraisers for ‘F’ Rated Charities Hit with a Combined ...

May 19, 2021

In separate actions in January 2021 and September 2020, the FTC joined forces with state charity regulators across the country to crack down on the predatory fundraising practices of for-profit companies soliciting donations on be...

In separate actions in January 2021 and September 2020, the FTC joined forces with state charity regulators across the country to ...

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5 Tips for Avoiding Charity Frauds & Scams

Apr 22, 2021

Your $10 donation to an efficient, effective, and legitimate charity will make a bigger impact in forwarding the cause you want to support than your $1,000 donation to a scammer or highly inefficient nonprofit...

Your $10 donation to an efficient, effective, and legitimate charity will make a bigger impact in forwarding the cause you want to...

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The Moral Questions of Giving

Mar 24, 2021

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron: Many of us receive significantly more requests for charitable donations than we have the resources to fulfill. As we attempt to narrow down the list of organizati...

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron: Many of us receive significantly more requests for charitable ...

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You're on the Case! Help CharityWatch Investigate '?' Charit...

Dec 04, 2020

Wise donors like you turn to CharityWatch for ratings and quality reporting on wrongdoing in the nonprofit sector because you know we aren’t afraid to name names and hold charities accountable to their donors...

Wise donors like you turn to CharityWatch for ratings and quality reporting on wrongdoing in the nonprofit sec...

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Our Hope for a Better World is Reflected in Our Acts of Givi...

Nov 02, 2020

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron: If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that suffering exists on a spectrum. However each of us measures success and stability in our lives this year we have...

A message from CharityWatch Executive Director, Laurie Styron: If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that suffering ex...

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Good Riddance ‘F’ Rated Charities

Jul 16, 2020

(Updated March 12, 2021) CharityWatch analysts collectively spend more than 1,000 hours each year analyzing and reporting on the financial waste and questionable practices we uncover. We warn donors about inefficient charitie...

(Updated March 12, 2021) CharityWatch analysts collectively spend more than 1,000 hours each year analyzing and reporting on the f...

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‘Scam PACs’ Are On the Rise: Don’t Confuse Them for Le...

Jun 17, 2020

Political action committees, also known as PACs, are not the same thing as public charities, but some questionable actors from the charity world may be confusing donors into thinking otherwise. These individuals appear to be opera...

Political action committees, also known as PACs, are not the same thing as public charities, but some questionable actors from the...

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COVID-19: The Struggle & the Aftermath

Apr 15, 2020

A Message from CharityWatch’s Executive Director, Laurie Styron: In times of tragedy we feel a deep need to make sense of an often chaotic world and to find order within it by acting upon it in some way. Donating to charit...

A Message from CharityWatch’s Executive Director, Laurie Styron: In times of tragedy we feel a deep need to make sense of ...

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Collapse of Third-Party Giving Platform Leaves Charities Unp...

Oct 16, 2019

“Leaving New York charitable donors uncertain if their donations will ever make it to their intended cause is unacceptable,” said New York’s Attorney General in an October 4, 2019 press release announcing a lawsuit filed aga...

“Leaving New York charitable donors uncertain if their donations will ever make it to their intended cause is unacceptable,” s...

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Move America Forward Held Back by Financial & Political Inte...

Sep 13, 2019

(Updated Nov 30, 2020) Officers and directors of the military charity, Move America Forward, have been accused of using charitable contributions to enrich themselves while misrepresenting to the public the percentage of donations ...

(Updated Nov 30, 2020) Officers and directors of the military charity, Move America Forward, have been accused of using charitable...

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CharityWatch Calls for Military Care Package Charity to 'Ado...

Jul 25, 2019

CharityWatch has identified a history of troubling financial reporting by AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort that earned it “?” ratings from CharityWatch since its 2012 fiscal year, and an "F" rating for 2017...

CharityWatch has identified a history of troubling financial reporting by AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort that earned it...

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Unboxing HeroBox

Jul 25, 2019

The mission of HeroBox is simple. Through its website at herobox.org, the charity matches deployed soldiers’ wish lists for comfort supplies with willing donors. Donors can choose to sponsor a soldier, referred to as a “h...

The mission of HeroBox is simple. Through its website at herobox.org, the charity matches deployed soldiers’ wish lists for comf...

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California AG Accuses Another Aid Charity of Misleading Dono...

Jun 24, 2019

The office of the California Attorney General (OAG) "is committed to protecting generous donors from the harm caused by misleading accounting gimmicks," states a May 30th, 2019 press release announcing the OAG's lawsuit......

The office of the California Attorney General (OAG) "is committed to protecting generous donors from the harm caused by misleading...

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Is the United Way Relevant in the Internet Age?

May 14, 2019

In the Internet age where giving directly to charity only requires a few clicks of a mouse or touches on a smartphone, is the United Way with its workplace giving campaigns even necessary? While the mechanics of directing money to...

In the Internet age where giving directly to charity only requires a few clicks of a mouse or touches on a smartphone, is the Unit...

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Veterans Charity Forgiven of $13.9 Million of Debt Is $6.9 M...

Mar 18, 2019

Only three years after Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) entered into a settlement agreement with the New York Office of the Attorney General and was forgiven of $13.9 million in fundraising debt, it reports being nearl...

Only three years after Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) entered into a settlement agreement with the New York Office o...

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Cat Charity Criticized for Straying from Good Governance Pra...

Dec 17, 2018

Alley Cat Allies, 'the global engine of change for cats' according to its website, has found itself the target of criticism in an article by Marc Gunther titled 'The Limits of Nonprofit Oversight.' The November 2018 article was pu...

Alley Cat Allies, 'the global engine of change for cats' according to its website, has found itself the target of criticism in an ...

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Charity Continues to Deceive Donors In the Name of Fallen Po...

Dec 05, 2018

"Police officers put their lives on the line every day for their communities. It is wrong for any organization to try to take advantage of public sympathy for the losses of the families of fallen heroes," said Minnesota's Attorney...

"Police officers put their lives on the line every day for their communities. It is wrong for any organization to try to take adva...

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How To Check If a Charity Respects Your Privacy

Oct 19, 2018

Before you make a charitable donation, do you consider how the charity might make use of your personal information? In other words, do you check for a donor privacy policy? Did you realize that some charities don't have a written ...

Before you make a charitable donation, do you consider how the charity might make use of your personal information? In other words...

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Planet Aid's Recycling Program, Debunked!

Oct 05, 2018

(Updated Mar 12, 2020) CharityWatch has been keeping an eye on Planet Aid, a charity known for its ubiquitous clothing collection boxes, for many years. This charity consistently reports low overhead and high program spending in i...

(Updated Mar 12, 2020) CharityWatch has been keeping an eye on Planet Aid, a charity known for its ubiquitous clothing collection ...

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