Solicitations

Fundraisers Ordered to Pay $18.8 Million and Banned from Soliciting Forever Forced to Relinquish Luxury Assets

October 18, 2023

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Weak Excuses for High Fundraising Costs

Aug 01, 2009

You would think that a charity with impressive-sounding programs such as Handicapped Children's Services of America and American Veteran's Network would be spending more than $50,000 on program services. Unfortunately, this is not...

You would think that a charity with impressive-sounding programs such as Handicapped Children's Services of America and American V...

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F Rated Charities Awarded Best in America Seal

Dec 01, 2008

Ubiquitous on charity websites is a ribbon-style seal that in large type reads "BEST IN AMERICA," features five stars across the top edge, and indicates that the charity awarded the seal is "certified by Independent Charities of A...

Ubiquitous on charity websites is a ribbon-style seal that in large type reads "BEST IN AMERICA," features five stars across the t...

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A Wink and a Smile Train

Dec 01, 2008

100% of your donation goes toward programs -- 0% goes toward overhead. Many AIP members have seen the above language in solicitations from Smile Train, a charity that treats children born with cleft lip and palate. One may wonder...

100% of your donation goes toward programs -- 0% goes toward overhead. Many AIP members have seen the above language in solicitat...

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America Needs More Truth in Fundraising

Aug 01, 2008

The doubling of oil and food costs, higher unemployment rate, housing and mortgage market collapse, and government cutbacks have caused millions of Americans to struggle to stay financially afloat. Charities that provide assistanc...

The doubling of oil and food costs, higher unemployment rate, housing and mortgage market collapse, and government cutbacks have c...

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Two Layers of F's

Aug 01, 2008

What happens when you donate one dollar to an F rated charity that gives it to another F rated charity? In the case of The Veterans Fund and Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), about a nickel's worth of program services is all...

What happens when you donate one dollar to an F rated charity that gives it to another F rated charity? In the case of The Veteran...

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No Jail Time For Prison Fellowship Ministries

Dec 01, 2007

An AIP member forwarded to us a solicitation letter she received from Prison Fellowship Ministries earlier this year. Included with the letter was a bright, yellow slip of paper which read in large letters, "EMERGENCY FINANCIAL UP...

An AIP member forwarded to us a solicitation letter she received from Prison Fellowship Ministries earlier this year. Included wit...

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Street Solicitations Promote Uninformed Giving

Apr 01, 2007

Is there anything more annoying than being accosted repeatedly in the street by charity solicitors as you are trying to finish up your errands before your parking meter expires? Chuggers, short for charity muggers, are probably th...

Is there anything more annoying than being accosted repeatedly in the street by charity solicitors as you are trying to finish up ...

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Bungled Charity Raffles Become Gateway to Fraud Allegations

Apr 01, 2007

A St. Louis court ordered Gateway to a Cure, a charity that funds spinal cord injury research, to pay $2 million in restitution in what became a pricey raffle ticket scandal. The scandal involved five failed raffles...

A St. Louis court ordered Gateway to a Cure, a charity that funds spinal cord injury research, to pay $2 million in restitution in...

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No Defense for Bad Accounting

Apr 01, 2007

Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Defenders of Wildlife once again receives a "D" rating from AIP based on recently received 2005 financial information...

Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Defenders of Wildlife once again receives a "D" rating from AIP based on recently rece...

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Beware of Inflated Charity Efficiency Claims!

Dec 01, 2006

When I founded the American Institute of Philanthropy 14 years ago, I often said that there is a vacuum of independent information available to help donors make giving decisions. Now in 2006, particularly as a result of the Intern...

When I founded the American Institute of Philanthropy 14 years ago, I often said that there is a vacuum of independent information...

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Matchless Matching Campaign

Dec 01, 2006

The Union of Concerned Scientists recently conducted a fundraising campaign, "Save the Science," which promised that the UCS board of directors would "match all contributions from UCS members from now until July 21 to expand our c...

The Union of Concerned Scientists recently conducted a fundraising campaign, "Save the Science," which promised that the UCS board...

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Charity with Large Assets Reserves Pleads Poverty

Aug 01, 2005

In 2003, a number of AIP members received a direct mail solicitation from Asian Relief, which also uses the name World Villages for Children, that cries desperation. The letter signed by Sister Michaela Kim, Director of World Vill...

In 2003, a number of AIP members received a direct mail solicitation from Asian Relief, which also uses the name World Villages fo...

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Undercover Investigation Reveals How Easy It Is to Set Up Ph...

Apr 01, 2004

The American Institute of Philanthropy worked with ABC News on a yearlong investigation of the charity business. Rhonda Schwartz, a producer for ABC News, went undercover to see how easy it would be to set up a phony charity...

The American Institute of Philanthropy worked with ABC News on a yearlong investigation of the charity business. Rhonda Schwartz, ...

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Supreme Court Rules that Fundraisers Who Don't Lie Can Pocke...

Aug 01, 2003

Learning the skills of an unethical fundraiser can start early in life: Little Freddie finishes a big piece of chocolate cake. Wanting more and knowing his mom won't allow it, he shrewdly asks her if he can bring some cake next do...

Learning the skills of an unethical fundraiser can start early in life: Little Freddie finishes a big piece of chocolate cake. Wan...

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Buried in Solicitations

Feb 01, 2001

As a charity watchdog, we receive loads of complaints about the practices of nonprofit organizations. By far the most frequently heard donor complaint expresses this sentiment: "I am fed up with receiving a ridiculously large numb...

As a charity watchdog, we receive loads of complaints about the practices of nonprofit organizations. By far the most frequently h...

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American Indian Charity Accused of Lying

Nov 01, 2000

The American Indian Relief Council, AKA National Relief Charities, and codefendants last year entered into a $395,000 consent agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to settle allegations that "they intentionally exploited...

The American Indian Relief Council, AKA National Relief Charities, and codefendants last year entered into a $395,000 consent agre...

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Wishful Giving Goes Down the Well

Sep 01, 1999

Whoops! The professional telemarketing solicitor had it reversed. The solicitor told potential donors that 80% or more of their donation would be used for granting the wishes of terminally ill children when in actuality the solici...

Whoops! The professional telemarketing solicitor had it reversed. The solicitor told potential donors that 80% or more of their do...

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The Truth About Prospect Fundraising

Dec 01, 1997

The following is a solicitation letter–for new donors from a fictitious charity–that a fundraiser would write only after swallowing a dose of truth serum......

The following is a solicitation letter–for new donors from a fictitious charity–that a fundraiser would write only after swall...

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Holiday Mission Ads May Mislead Public

Dec 01, 1997

During the holiday season, our newspapers and mailboxes are replete with pictures of dreary homeless people digging into a turkey dinner and stories of how "Jack" or "Tom" was saved by a local mission. It is difficult for a caring...

During the holiday season, our newspapers and mailboxes are replete with pictures of dreary homeless people digging into a turkey ...

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Funding Fundraising Opportunities

Sep 01, 1997

Unlike other charities that have programs to employ disadvantaged people as childcare workers, retail store clerks, landscapers, etc., The Native American Heritage Association hires American Indians "in areas of high unemployment ...

Unlike other charities that have programs to employ disadvantaged people as childcare workers, retail store clerks, landscapers, e...

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