Some fundraisers pay >90% of the funds to themselves
A network of political nonprofits, known as 527s, misallocates over 90% of donations to fundraising rather than causes. ProPublica's investigation exposes lack of transparency, regulatory loopholes, and concerns over legitimacy.
Read original articleA network of political nonprofits, including groups like the American Breast Cancer Coalition and National Coalition for Disabled Veterans, has been found to allocate over 90% of donations towards fundraising activities rather than their stated causes. These nonprofits, known as 527s, engage in political fundraising, influencing elections and supporting broad political causes. ProPublica's investigation revealed that these groups, connected to fundraisers like Thomas Berkenbush, have raised millions but spent little on activities with a clear political purpose. The lack of transparency and oversight surrounding 527 groups makes it challenging for the public to monitor their operations effectively. Despite regulatory actions against deceptive fundraising practices, loopholes allow these groups to continue fundraising for political purposes. The investigation also uncovered connections between these nonprofits, shared vendors, and similar language in their filings, raising concerns about their legitimacy. Efforts to solicit donations from individuals like retiree Laurence Eggers highlight the need for increased scrutiny and transparency within the political nonprofit sector to ensure donations are used as intended.
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Can this be improved? Yes, this was going to be improved but the politicians were invited to a fundraiser where they got good food and some freebies. And then it stopped. Or something like that...
For example, one charity I like [0] runs a school and the administrators don't take any income from it.
If I could see a history of what was the ROI (in terms of money spent on actual programs) of my monthly donations, and also easily reallocate those donations to other charities, I'd certainly check up on that app every once in a while.
Wreaths Across America is notorious for this. All the money they raise goes to the wreath making company that the board members own. When they put out RFPs, as per legal requirements, Worcester Wreath Company is always sole-source provider. https://popular.info/p/the-truth-about-wreaths-across-americ...
Worcester Wreath Company lost its contract with LL Bean due to their bad busines practices. Wreaths Across America was created by Morril Worcester as a way to sell more wreaths. It's a grift all the way down.
https://files.mainelaw.maine.edu/library/SuperiorCourt/decis...
especially when the CEO can be paid "market rate."
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