Charities Review Council Warns Donors: Be Wary of Badge Groups.News Editors/Business Editors ST. PAUL St. Paul as a missionary he fearlessly confronts the “perils of waters, of robbers, in the city, in the wilderness.” [N.T.: II Cor. 11:26] See : Bravery , Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2004 The alarm should sound and lights flash when you're asked to contribute to so-called badge organizations in support of local law enforcement or fire protection, the Charities Review Council of Minnesota warns. These badge organizations may have police officers or fire fighters as members, but they are without the connection to local police or fire departments that's often implied in their solicitations, the Council says in its newly released Spring/Summer 2004 Giving Guide. "With rare exception, your contribution will not directly support your local law enforcement or fire department." Furthermore, the Council advises, professional fundraisers usually pocket most of the money contributed to badge organizations, which receive--on average--only about 17 cents out of every dollar contributed. This compares with an overall average of 54 percent for charities that use professional fundraisers, the Council reports. In addition, contributions may not be tax-deductible. That's because many badge groups are not charities, even though they are "tax-exempt" as non-profits. Nonprofits that aren't charities "generally are not eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Giving Guide, which offers this advice to those who are asked to contribute: -- Listen carefully to the name of the group and determine whether the caller Caller may refer to one of the following:
professional fundraisers must identify themselves as such before they ask for a contribution. -- Ask whether your contribution is tax-deductible. -- Find out what portion of your contribution will go to the badge organization. -- Hang up, if the solicitor solicitor, in English law, person duly admitted to practice before the supreme court of judicature. He is the agent of the person whose suit he handles, and is distinguished from a barrister, who argues cases before the judge (see attorney). won't answer questions or uses aggressive, misleading or disrespectful dis·re·spect·ful adj. Having or exhibiting a lack of respect; rude and discourteous. dis  re·spect tactics. The Charities Review Council recently did a blind-solicitation of information from the seven badge organizations about which it receives the most calls: Fraternal fraternal /fra·ter·nal/ (frah-ter´n'l) 1. of or pertaining to brothers. 2. of twins; derived from two oocytes. fra·ter·nal adj. 1. Of or relating to brothers. Order of Police--Minnesota State Lodge, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, Minnesota State Patrol The Minnesota State Patrol is the statewide police force in the state of Minnesota. The State Patrol concentrates primarily on traffic enforcement and highway safety. Troopers are also involved with accident reconstruction and commercial vehicle enforcement. Trooper's Association and Police Officers Alliance of Minnesota. Only three of the groups sent any information, and none provided a copy of IRS An abbreviation for the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing internal revenue laws. Form 990, as required by law. From public documents, the Council determined each organization's reported percentage of expenses that go toward program, management and fundraising
Additionally, the Council attempted to initiate formal charity reviews with six of the badge organizations, as it does with other nonprofits about which it receives many inquiries from the public. Only the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association agreed to be reviewed. While it didn't meet three of the Council's 16 standards, "at least it was willing to disclose its information to the Council." As indicated in the Council's charity report available on its website, the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association stated that it was making changes to come into compliance with the standards it didn't meet. Additional information about badge organizations, as well as a listing of the results of the Council's charity reviews, is offered in the Spring/Summer Giving Guide, which is available without charge by calling the Charities Review Council of Minnesota at 1-800-733-GIVE (Metro 651-224-7030), by writing to the Council at 2610 University Ave. W., Suite 375, St. Paul, MN 55114-2007 or by e-mailing at charity@crcmn.org. The information also is offered on the Council's web site--www.crcmn.org. The direct link to the badge article is http://www.crcmn.org/donorinfo/police_fire.htm. The Charities Review Council was founded in 1946 to serve the interests of Minnesota donors. The Council maintains and applies nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. accountability standards in the areas of public disclosure, governance, financial activity and fund-raising fund-raising, large-scale soliciting of voluntary contributions, especially in the United States. Fund-raising is widely undertaken by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and political groups to acquire sufficient funds to support their activities. . It also maintains information on several thousand charities registered in Minnesota, including comprehensive written reports for about 300. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion