4 ms·

Those statistics don't include the amount of money spent fund-raising for more money, e.g. the big ones can spent almost a third of their fund raising on more f

Those statistics don't include the amount of money spent fund-raising for more money, e.g. the big ones can spent almost a third of their fund raising on more fund raising: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03113/Charities_3113867a.JPG http://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03113/Charitie... I'm not a fan of funding more chuggers on my high street. And then how much is spent on the head office, and the executive pay and a whole load of other things that get hidden in a bunch of different buckets?

JoBrad 9y ago
Most charities file a 990 that includes a calculation of how much money they spend on fundraising relative to how much they raised, for example.
- collinmanderson 9y ago
  looks like 6% fundraising for red cross, highest paid employee is $600k. https://p.widencdn.net/wmrybb/FY-2016-Form-990 https://p.widencdn.net/wmrybb/FY-2016-Form-990 (linked from http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance )
orcdork 9y ago
I'm not sure what your issue is (and how it's connected with the op's claim that 99% of foreign aid is lost along the way to the people that need it). But either way, from the graphic you linked it seems like on average, more than 75% of the money you give to these charities ends up being used for charitable activities, with the larger part of the remaining money used to raise more funds. Fundraisers on the high street are occasionally annoying, but I'd be extremely surprised if they are the largest drain on that remaining 25%, particularly compared to other efforts. On a personal note, I have no major issue with them (except agreeing that they are often annoying), wouldn't change my opinion on foreign aid or charity over them and cant help but feel that anyone not donating because a percentage of their donation would go towards their salaries is looking for a convenient excuse rather than actual reason.
- mattmanser 9y ago
  The parent is using statstics that cherry pick spending, without mentioning that a huge proportion of your donation is spent on further fund raising, the snake eating it's own tail. I've nothing against charities and donate to several myself so you can get off your high-horse now. I simply accept the reality that a large proportion of my donation is wasted.

JoBrad 9y ago

Most charities file a 990 that includes a calculation of how much money they spend on fundraising relative to how much they raised, for example.

collinmanderson 9y ago
looks like 6% fundraising for red cross, highest paid employee is $600k. https://p.widencdn.net/wmrybb/FY-2016-Form-990 https://p.widencdn.net/wmrybb/FY-2016-Form-990 (linked from http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance )

orcdork 9y ago

I'm not sure what your issue is (and how it's connected with the op's claim that 99% of foreign aid is lost along the way to the people that need it). But either way, from the graphic you linked it seems like on average, more than 75% of the money you give to these charities ends up being used for charitable activities, with the larger part of the remaining money used to raise more funds. Fundraisers on the high street are occasionally annoying, but I'd be extremely surprised if they are the largest drain on that remaining 25%, particularly compared to other efforts. On a personal note, I have no major issue with them (except agreeing that they are often annoying), wouldn't change my opinion on foreign aid or charity over them and cant help but feel that anyone not donating because a percentage of their donation would go towards their salaries is looking for a convenient excuse rather than actual reason.

mattmanser 9y ago
The parent is using statstics that cherry pick spending, without mentioning that a huge proportion of your donation is spent on further fund raising, the snake eating it's own tail. I've nothing against charities and donate to several myself so you can get off your high-horse now. I simply accept the reality that a large proportion of my donation is wasted.