Donated Goods and Services

How "Psychic Numbing" Stops Us from Giving

August 16, 2022

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How "Psychic Numbing" Stops Us from Giving

Aug 16, 2022

As the number of victims of a tragedy increases, the empathy we feel in response to those victims decreases - a concept known as "psychic numbing."

As the number of victims of a tragedy increases, the empathy we feel in response to those victims decreases - a concept known as "...

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Non-cash Donations Obscure How Efficiently A Charity Is Real...

Feb 08, 2022

A charity might spent 90% of your donation on fundraising and overhead costs, but by running large volumes of non-cash donations through its books, it can make itself appear to be operating highly efficiently. ...

A charity might spent 90% of your donation on fundraising and overhead costs, but by running large volumes of non-cash donations t...

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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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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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CharityWatch Supports California’s Bill to Discourage Char...

Jul 12, 2019

CharityWatch has a new ally in the battle against the inconsistent and potentially misleading nature of “gifts-in-kind” (GIK) reporting by charities. The State of California is legislating a bill aimed at promoting transparenc...

CharityWatch has a new ally in the battle against the inconsistent and potentially misleading nature of “gifts-in-kind” (GIK) ...

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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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Planet Aid's Recycling Program, Debunked!

Oct 05, 2018

(Updated May 18, 2022) 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 May 18, 2022) CharityWatch has been keeping an eye on Planet Aid, a charity known for its ubiquitous clothing collection ...

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Aid Charity's 95% Program Claim Is 'Unfair and Deceptive'

Jul 13, 2018

The California AG has accused Food For The Poor of using an "unfair and deceptive" program percentage statement in its fundraising solicitations. In that "95% Statement," which per the AG, "created a likelihood of confusion...

The California AG has accused Food For The Poor of using an "unfair and deceptive" program percentage statement in its fundraising...

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Gaia-Movement Living Earth's 'Recycling' Program, Debunked!

Apr 12, 2018

CharityWatch has been keeping an eye on Gaia-Movement Living Earth (GAIA), a charity known for its ubiquitous clothing collection boxes, for many years. GAIA consistently reports low overhead and high program spending in its annua...

CharityWatch has been keeping an eye on Gaia-Movement Living Earth (GAIA), a charity known for its ubiquitous clothing collection ...

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'False Financial Reporting Scheme' Leads to Shut Down of Can...

Mar 23, 2018

According to a Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction, dated March 8, 2018, in the matter of The People of the State of California v. The National Cancer Coalition, The National Cancer Coalition (NCC) has been shut down. In a co...

According to a Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction, dated March 8, 2018, in the matter of The People of the State of Californi...

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Vietnam Veterans of America's 'Recycling' Program, Debunked!

Dec 08, 2017

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) reports reasonable overhead and program spending in its annual financial documents, but a closer analysis by CharityWatch reveals a different picture of how efficiently this charity operates.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) reports reasonable overhead and program spending in its annual financial documents, but a closer...

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Heavily Advertised Charity Comes Under Fire From CharityWatc...

May 09, 2017

Before you respond to the Kars4Kids infectious jingle, read CharityWatch's article, Costly and Continuous Kars4Kids Ads Disguise Charity's Real Purpose, check out our rating for Kars4Kids, and watch the CBS News segment featu...

Before you respond to the Kars4Kids infectious jingle, read CharityWatch's article, Costly and Continuous Kars4Kids Ads Disguise C...

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Costly and Continuous Kars4Kids Ads Disguise Charity's Real ...

Mar 10, 2017

Described by many as annoying and by SFGate.com as the subject of "widespread, ubiquitous hate," the catchy advertising jingle for the charity known as Kars4Kids can now be heard not only on radio stations nationwide...

Described by many as annoying and by SFGate.com as the subject of "widespread, ubiquitous hate," the catchy advertising jingle for...

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Multiple Names + Exaggerated Programs = Two Related Charitie...

Sep 20, 2016

Veterans and cancer are two of the most popular charitable causes to which Americans direct significant donations. While these two causes seemingly have little to do with one another, one set of charities proves otherwise...

Veterans and cancer are two of the most popular charitable causes to which Americans direct significant donations. While these two...

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CharityWatch Ratings Bridge the Knowledge Gap between Donors...

Aug 10, 2016

What do you know about GAAP? Unless you are knowledgeable about accounting, probably very little. GAAP is short for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Sounds like boring stuff you don't need to know about, right?...

What do you know about GAAP? Unless you are knowledgeable about accounting, probably very little. GAAP is short for Generally Acce...

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Making Sense of WWP's Program Spending: Which Ratio Should Y...

Jun 17, 2016

Ever since the popular veterans charity Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) was accused of wasting donations on lavish spending in reports by CBS News and The New York Times in early 2016, WWP's program percentage...

Ever since the popular veterans charity Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) was accused of wasting donations on lavish spending in repor...

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Charity Finishes Last at Car Donation Charities: Micro-Mini ...

Dec 18, 2015

Its "Wheels for Wishes" ads that mention "Make-A-Wish" have attracted tens of thousands of car donations, but it appears that many more of these "wheels" are for profits than for charitable wishes...

Its "Wheels for Wishes" ads that mention "Make-A-Wish" have attracted tens of thousands of car donations, but it appears that many...

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Long Running Family Charity Scheme Exposed

Jul 27, 2015

Unfortunately for most of us, we have been touched personally by cancer in some way. That makes it all the more shameful when bad actors in the charity world mislead good-intentioned donors under the ruse of helping cancer patient...

Unfortunately for most of us, we have been touched personally by cancer in some way. That makes it all the more shameful when bad ...

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Donors' Intentions Violated at For-profit Thrift Stores

Jan 22, 2015

When you donate unwanted clothes or household goods to a charity for resale at thrift stores, just how much of the dollar value of those items actually goes to the charity you've intended to support? In some cases, the answer to t...

When you donate unwanted clothes or household goods to a charity for resale at thrift stores, just how much of the dollar value of...

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Thrift Store Donations for Veterans Charity Investigated

Dec 10, 2014

Veterans benefit very little when clothes and household items are donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. Watch CharityWatch president talk with Portland, OR KATU TV investigators about CharityWatch's analysis of this F rated char...

Veterans benefit very little when clothes and household items are donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. Watch CharityWatch presi...

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Car Donations: Taking Taxpayers for a Ride

May 16, 2012

Car donations to charities seem like a win-win proposition. A donor gets a hassle-free way of disposing of an old car and a fat tax deduction, a charity gets money that it would not otherwise receive through cash contributions and...

Car donations to charities seem like a win-win proposition. A donor gets a hassle-free way of disposing of an old car and a fat ta...

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Tips for Donating a Car to Charity

May 16, 2012

A charity that uses a donated vehicle for transportation or hauling goods obviously benefits directly from such a donation. However, in many cases donated cars will be sold en masse, either by the charity itself or by a dealer to ...

A charity that uses a donated vehicle for transportation or hauling goods obviously benefits directly from such a donation. Howeve...

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Tips for Donating Your Old Cell Phone

May 16, 2012

Americans are replacing their cell phones about once every two years to get the latest and greatest model. So what do we do with all of our leftover phones? An environmentally friendly solution is to donate the phone to a charity ...

Americans are replacing their cell phones about once every two years to get the latest and greatest model. So what do we do with a...

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View Through the Looking Glass

Apr 01, 2012

In August of 2011 CharityWatch published The Alice in Wonderland World of Charity Valuation, in which we described a serious problem among many charities that raise and distribute non-cash aid called gifts-in-kind (GIK). Charities...

In August of 2011 CharityWatch published The Alice in Wonderland World of Charity Valuation, in which we described a serious probl...

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