Charities and that SCROOGE Hannity

[underpants]

So the reports are that the "Freedom Alliance" only spends 12-15% of their revenues on actual program expenses.

As someone who has first hand worked in the accounting department of a charity this is outrageous. Scandalous in fact. The fine organization that I was lucky enough to be involved in put 95-97% (depending on how you counted it) into its program services.

This is a great resource in which you can get organizations financials and 990 filings
registration is required. I am not sure about a fee.
http://www2.guidestar.org/


Now to put the Freedom Alliance into perspective:
37 states require charities to register if they are to do any fundraising in that state. This is a small revenue generator for the states (though fees are increasing) and enforcement is rare. If you want to find a good charity check with either your state's Attorney General or the Secretary of State-they usually handle registrations.

The State of South Carolina annually issues a "Scrooges and Angels" list of the best and worst charities registered in that state. They use the same criteria that has come to light for Freedom Alliance.

The PDF list is available here:
http://www.scsos.com/Public_Charities/Scrooges_and_Angels

Here is an article on the 2009 South Carolina list.

http://www.southcarolinaradionetwork.com/2009/11/24/scrooges-and-angels-for-2009/
The 14th annual Scrooges and Angels list has once again been chosen according to Secretary of State Mark Hammond. The “Angels” list represents organizations that exemplify charitable giving in SouthCarolina with the percentage of their program expenses going toward the program activities. Pendleton Place, Inc. of Greenvillereceived top honors on the Angel’s list with 95% of the funds received going to the program.

Hammond’s designated “Scrooges” list is based upon a charitable organization’s failure to spend a high percentage of their collections on the stated program activities. At the bottom of this list was the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund from Arlington, Virginia with 14.3% of their funds collected being used for program activities.

Take a look at the entire 2008 lists
http://www2.wjbf.com/jbf/news/state_regional/south_carolina/article/south_carolina_secretary_of_state_announces_scrooges_and_angels_for_2008/8850/

Those recognized are in alphabetical order, and are not ranked by the Secretary of State.

Animal Protection League of SC, Inc., Hopkins, SC 93.5%
Careteam, Inc., Myrtle Beach, SC 95.8%
Carson Scholars Fund, Inc., Baltimore, MD 88.1%
Country Santa, Pickens, SC 99.3%
Experience Works, Inc., Arlington, VA 92.5%
Fatherhood & Families Engagement, Florence, SC 93.3%
Golden Harvest Food Bank, Inc., Augusta, GA 95.0%
Historic Charleston Foundation, Charleston, SC 85.6%
NAMI of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 87.2%
Outreach Farm, Inc., Pawleys Island, SC 98.8%

The designation of Scrooge is based upon the charitable organization’s failure to spend a high percentage of their collections on the stated program activities and/or the high use of paid (professional) solicitors. The Scrooges chosen, with the percentage of their program expenses that went toward the program activities, are listed below. Those recognized below are in alphabetical order, and are not ranked by the Secretary of State.

American Police & Sheriff’s Association, Chepachet, RI 12.7%
Cancer Assistance Network, Gig Harbor, WA 24.0%
Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc., Powell, TN 14.4%
Committee for Missing Children, Inc., Lawrenceville, GA 10.2%
Dakota Indian Foundation, Inc., Chamberlain, SD 17.8%
Disabled Police Officers of American, Inc., Niceville, FL 11.4%
Dogs Against Drugs/Dogs Against Crime, Anderson, IN 10.3%
Firefighters Charitable Foundation, Farmingdale. NY 11.1%
Foundation for American Veterans, Inc., West Bloomfield, MI 7.6%
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, Inc., Alexandria, VA 11.3%




Hannity, you are a SCROOGE!