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I mentioned to a few close friends today that I had made a donation to the Red Cross for hurricane relief and encouraged them to do the same, and pretty much ev

I mentioned to a few close friends today that I had made a donation to the Red Cross for hurricane relief and encouraged them to do the same, and pretty much everyone told me that it was a bad charity. I guess I wasn't paying attention to their scandals but the Red Cross has a pretty bad PR problem right now. Hopefully they deal with it because getting that kind of feedback about something that should have made me feel good made me feel pretty bad.

thrillgore 9y ago
The best organizations to support I find are regional food banks or healthcare groups. I've given some fund to Direct Relief and the Houston Food Bank. Your local food bank may also be providing support, so check with them first. I'm generally reserved about going crazy about supporting aid efforts, since the nightmare regarding aid projects post-Haiti really did dampen my enthusiasm. Exhibit A: https://www.wnyc.org/story/272660-what-happened-to-the-aid-meant-to-rebuild-haiti/ https://www.wnyc.org/story/272660-what-happened-to-the-aid-m...
roywiggins 9y ago
Pro Publica's story on the Red Cross' handling of Sandy, for reference: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disa... > The Red Cross botched key elements of its mission after Sandy and Isaac, leaving behind a trail of unmet needs and acrimony, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NPR. The charity’s shortcomings were detailed in confidential reports and internal emails, as well as accounts from current and former disaster relief specialists. > What’s more, Red Cross officials at national headquarters in Washington, D.C. compounded the charity’s inability to provide relief by “diverting assets for public relations purposes,” as one internal report puts it. Distribution of relief supplies, the report said, was “politically driven.”
- imron 9y ago
  See also: http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red...
- krn1p4n1c 9y ago
  NPR covered them a couple years back. Specifically, Gail McGovern, who alienated many of the long time employees. She focussed on what she knows best, marketing, rather than humanitarian aid and brought in more of her associates from prior companies. https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-12-15/corporate-takeover-red-cross https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-12-15/corporate-takeover-re...
mturmon 9y ago
I don't often read Slate, but the piece below rounds up a lot of the objections to Red Cross relief efforts. It sounds like not just a PR problem: more like a real life problem. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/don_t_give_money_to_the_red_cross_we_need_a_new_way.html http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/do...
aaron695 9y ago
Was it for hurricane relief or Hurricane Harvey relief? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/08/29/attention-is-on-harvey-but-flooding-has-killed-thousands-this-month-in-other-countries-too/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/08/29... Meh, you spend lots of money on alcohol (or whatever your poison is) to feel good, if helping locally makes you feel good then that's an ok thing to blow money on. Just don't forget the rest of the world. The American Red Cross has/had major issues. I would not say the International Red Cross does. Try - http://www.givewell.org/ http://www.givewell.org/
differentView 9y ago
> the Red Cross has a pretty bad PR problem right now. Hopefully they deal with it They should stop worrying about PR and focus on doing what they claim to do.
pvg 9y ago
The Red Cross has had this 'PR Problem' for ages. It came under a lot of criticism for its handling of funds after 9/11 and even then it wasn't a new story. It's a sort of disaster evergreen that doesn't seem to affect them very much, for some reason.
probably_wrong 9y ago
I heard the same about literally every other charity. My take is: people will always remember that one negative article they read once, and assume everything is wrong. I would suggest asking them "so, which one is good?", and see whether they know what they are talking about. (Disclaimer: I don't donate to the Red Cross now, but I've done it)
- aaronbrethorst 9y ago
  I'll bite: Try the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, created by Houston's mayor: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/ https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/ Or the Texas Diaper Bank: https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-ch...
  - will_brown 9y ago
    I get a little nervous when I hear about a new fund but its run through an existing 501(c)(3), Greater Houston Community Foundation. 501(c)(3)'s must disclose their finances to the IRS where they are publicly available. I didn't look at that rather an audit summary, some highlights: 2016 income: $197M Total Assets: $529M 2016 CEO compensation: $379,139 Board size: 14 Estimated total Salary of Board: 10% of income ($19.7M)...this should definitely be verified in light of CEO compensation. Program Expenses: Estimated 65% of funds spend on program activities.
will_brown 9y ago
American Red Cross, 2016 financial highlights: CEO Compensation: $556,772 Total Income $2,660,138,000 Program expenses 2,435,461,000 Fundraising expenses $169,676,000 Administrative expenses $116,402,000 Total expenses: $2,721,539,000 Expenses in Excess of Income (-61,401,000) Beginning Net Assets 1,593,810,000 Other Changes In Net Assets -546,736,000\ Ending Net Assets 985,673,000 Total Liabilities 2,250,133,000 Total Assets 3,235,806,000
- iamapipebomb 9y ago
  It'd be nice if there were also a metric for number of lives improved. Like meals consumed, beds slept in, etc https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_abou...
- bahjoite 9y ago
  > Fundraising expenses $169,676,000 $1 in every $16 spent is on fundraising. That seems a lot.
  - msrpotus 9y ago
    It's actually pretty good. Having worked with a number of nonprofits, around 10% going to fundraising is pretty normal. Things like fundraising galas are expensive. That said, the bigger question isn't the amount they spend on fundraising but how much good they do with the money they raise. And the Red Cross has decidedly mixed reviews at that.
  - will_brown 9y ago
    As you might expect there are a number of non-profits that act as watch dogs for other non-profits, almost like a Better Business Bureau (BBB) type of concept, and they grade them on these financial dealings. Historically, I think Florida has the worst, where you see many non-profits spending upwards of 90% of their income on salary and administrative costs, meaning at best 10 cents on the dollar gets spent on the cause. Off the top of my head the formulas give the best rating if the total compensation of the board is less than 10% of income, the cost of fundraising is less than 35% of income and at least 65% of the income goes to the cause/projects. Of course I am with you, if you have ever attended some of these non-profit fundraisers, its pretty disgusting, a ballroom full of people living the high life, taking beneficial tax deductions, and so full of self-congratulatory righteousness you'd have to ask them to save some room if you'd have any interest in patting them on the back.

thrillgore 9y ago

The best organizations to support I find are regional food banks or healthcare groups. I've given some fund to Direct Relief and the Houston Food Bank. Your local food bank may also be providing support, so check with them first. I'm generally reserved about going crazy about supporting aid efforts, since the nightmare regarding aid projects post-Haiti really did dampen my enthusiasm. Exhibit A: https://www.wnyc.org/story/272660-what-happened-to-the-aid-meant-to-rebuild-haiti/ https://www.wnyc.org/story/272660-what-happened-to-the-aid-m...

roywiggins 9y ago

Pro Publica's story on the Red Cross' handling of Sandy, for reference: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disa... > The Red Cross botched key elements of its mission after Sandy and Isaac, leaving behind a trail of unmet needs and acrimony, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NPR. The charity’s shortcomings were detailed in confidential reports and internal emails, as well as accounts from current and former disaster relief specialists. > What’s more, Red Cross officials at national headquarters in Washington, D.C. compounded the charity’s inability to provide relief by “diverting assets for public relations purposes,” as one internal report puts it. Distribution of relief supplies, the report said, was “politically driven.”

imron 9y ago
See also: http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red...
krn1p4n1c 9y ago
NPR covered them a couple years back. Specifically, Gail McGovern, who alienated many of the long time employees. She focussed on what she knows best, marketing, rather than humanitarian aid and brought in more of her associates from prior companies. https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-12-15/corporate-takeover-red-cross https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-12-15/corporate-takeover-re...

mturmon 9y ago

I don't often read Slate, but the piece below rounds up a lot of the objections to Red Cross relief efforts. It sounds like not just a PR problem: more like a real life problem. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/don_t_give_money_to_the_red_cross_we_need_a_new_way.html http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/do...

aaron695 9y ago

Was it for hurricane relief or Hurricane Harvey relief? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/08/29/attention-is-on-harvey-but-flooding-has-killed-thousands-this-month-in-other-countries-too/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/08/29... Meh, you spend lots of money on alcohol (or whatever your poison is) to feel good, if helping locally makes you feel good then that's an ok thing to blow money on. Just don't forget the rest of the world. The American Red Cross has/had major issues. I would not say the International Red Cross does. Try - http://www.givewell.org/ http://www.givewell.org/

differentView 9y ago

> the Red Cross has a pretty bad PR problem right now. Hopefully they deal with it They should stop worrying about PR and focus on doing what they claim to do.

pvg 9y ago

The Red Cross has had this 'PR Problem' for ages. It came under a lot of criticism for its handling of funds after 9/11 and even then it wasn't a new story. It's a sort of disaster evergreen that doesn't seem to affect them very much, for some reason.

probably_wrong 9y ago

I heard the same about literally every other charity. My take is: people will always remember that one negative article they read once, and assume everything is wrong. I would suggest asking them "so, which one is good?", and see whether they know what they are talking about. (Disclaimer: I don't donate to the Red Cross now, but I've done it)

aaronbrethorst 9y ago
I'll bite: Try the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, created by Houston's mayor: https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/ https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/ Or the Texas Diaper Bank: https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-change-a-life https://texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/33717-ch...
- will_brown 9y ago
  I get a little nervous when I hear about a new fund but its run through an existing 501(c)(3), Greater Houston Community Foundation. 501(c)(3)'s must disclose their finances to the IRS where they are publicly available. I didn't look at that rather an audit summary, some highlights: 2016 income: $197M Total Assets: $529M 2016 CEO compensation: $379,139 Board size: 14 Estimated total Salary of Board: 10% of income ($19.7M)...this should definitely be verified in light of CEO compensation. Program Expenses: Estimated 65% of funds spend on program activities.

will_brown 9y ago

American Red Cross, 2016 financial highlights: CEO Compensation: $556,772 Total Income $2,660,138,000 Program expenses 2,435,461,000 Fundraising expenses $169,676,000 Administrative expenses $116,402,000 Total expenses: $2,721,539,000 Expenses in Excess of Income (-61,401,000) Beginning Net Assets 1,593,810,000 Other Changes In Net Assets -546,736,000\ Ending Net Assets 985,673,000 Total Liabilities 2,250,133,000 Total Assets 3,235,806,000

iamapipebomb 9y ago
It'd be nice if there were also a metric for number of lives improved. Like meals consumed, beds slept in, etc https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_abou...
bahjoite 9y ago
> Fundraising expenses $169,676,000 $1 in every $16 spent is on fundraising. That seems a lot.
- msrpotus 9y ago
  It's actually pretty good. Having worked with a number of nonprofits, around 10% going to fundraising is pretty normal. Things like fundraising galas are expensive. That said, the bigger question isn't the amount they spend on fundraising but how much good they do with the money they raise. And the Red Cross has decidedly mixed reviews at that.
- will_brown 9y ago
  As you might expect there are a number of non-profits that act as watch dogs for other non-profits, almost like a Better Business Bureau (BBB) type of concept, and they grade them on these financial dealings. Historically, I think Florida has the worst, where you see many non-profits spending upwards of 90% of their income on salary and administrative costs, meaning at best 10 cents on the dollar gets spent on the cause. Off the top of my head the formulas give the best rating if the total compensation of the board is less than 10% of income, the cost of fundraising is less than 35% of income and at least 65% of the income goes to the cause/projects. Of course I am with you, if you have ever attended some of these non-profit fundraisers, its pretty disgusting, a ballroom full of people living the high life, taking beneficial tax deductions, and so full of self-congratulatory righteousness you'd have to ask them to save some room if you'd have any interest in patting them on the back.