3 ms·

All true. I wouldn't expect ProPublica to expose the "other" nonprofits, which provide steady employment at high wages to politically favored people. Like the C

All true. I wouldn't expect ProPublica to expose the "other" nonprofits, which provide steady employment at high wages to politically favored people. Like the Clinton Global Initiative pre 2016. Or the NGOs who've turned homelessness into a reliable source of government grants. If you go to Charity Navigator, you can find the percentage of the charity's income that goes to "administrative expenses." I seem to recall that CGI had about a 90% figure, but this: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311580204 https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311580204 shows more reasonable numbers: 18.3%. They're based on the 2019 IRS form 990, so it's pretty far out of date. Re this "once a week guided tour" stuff: I'd be totally in favor of regulations outlawing that. If the taxpayers gave you an exemption for it, then the taxpayers get to see it. Edit: since the usual HN reply is "do you have a citation for that?" here they are: https://sfstandard.com/2022/04/27/the-standard-top-25-san-franciscos-top-paid-homeless-nonprofits/ https://sfstandard.com/2022/04/27/the-standard-top-25-san-fr... The largest is Episcopal Community Services: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/951945256 https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/951945256 which shows five people making $100K or close to it. The second largest is the Tenderloin Housing Clinic: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/942681706 https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/942681706 with five people making well over $100K.

seattle_spring 3y ago
Do you expect qualified people to work for these charities for free? 100k is not a lot in SF, and it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations.
- AlbertCory 3y ago
  1) how do you know they're "qualified"? Which leads to... 2) the Civil Service has rigorous rules on fair, non-discriminatory hiring. Do these orgs? 3) I don't know how you could know "it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations." For all we know, they're people who've never had a private sector job in their lives. 4) Why can't the SF civil service do these functions? 5) What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing?
  - taxinaut 3y ago
    > What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing? This is true of government as well. After all there’s some middle management pencil pusher tasked with whatever job, and if it’s a problem getting worse they can get more resources, hire more people, move up the ranks, no? That might be easier and a better way of growing their career than solving the problem!
  - tacticalturtle 3y ago
    Couple points I thought of: “how do you know they're "qualified"?” Interviews? Resumes? References? Same as any job in the market today? “I don't know how you could know "it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations.” They’re providing free legal services to the homeless. I’m assuming they’ve hired lawyers. Looks like average total pay for a lawyer is 150k in SF? https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-francisco-attorney-salary-SRCH_IL.0,13_IM759_KO14,22.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-francisco-attorney-sa... “ What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing?” You could ask this of any charity. What incentive does St. Jude have to cure childhood cancer? At some level, you just have to trust that the people involved in these organizations have altruistic motivations as a guiding principle. If you don’t trust them, you don’t have to give them your money.
    - AlbertCory 3y ago
      I've done my research here. Now it's your turn. These people's names are all on the Charity Navigator pages I referenced. Try them on LinkedIn & other online sites. Tell us what their qualifications are, what other jobs they've held, and where they live. For bonus points: what political causes do they contribute to? Civil Service laws prohibit forcing employees to make political contributions, but those laws don't apply to employees of these orgs, AFAIK. > If you don’t trust them, you don’t have to give them your money I don't, but the City still does.
      - tacticalturtle 3y ago

seattle_spring 3y ago

Do you expect qualified people to work for these charities for free? 100k is not a lot in SF, and it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations.

AlbertCory 3y ago
1) how do you know they're "qualified"? Which leads to... 2) the Civil Service has rigorous rules on fair, non-discriminatory hiring. Do these orgs? 3) I don't know how you could know "it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations." For all we know, they're people who've never had a private sector job in their lives. 4) Why can't the SF civil service do these functions? 5) What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing?
- taxinaut 3y ago
  > What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing? This is true of government as well. After all there’s some middle management pencil pusher tasked with whatever job, and if it’s a problem getting worse they can get more resources, hire more people, move up the ranks, no? That might be easier and a better way of growing their career than solving the problem!
- tacticalturtle 3y ago
  Couple points I thought of: “how do you know they're "qualified"?” Interviews? Resumes? References? Same as any job in the market today? “I don't know how you could know "it's very likely the people in those roles could make multiples more at private organizations.” They’re providing free legal services to the homeless. I’m assuming they’ve hired lawyers. Looks like average total pay for a lawyer is 150k in SF? https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-francisco-attorney-salary-SRCH_IL.0,13_IM759_KO14,22.htm https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/san-francisco-attorney-sa... “ What incentive do these orgs have to actually solve the problem, when their very existence depends on it continuing?” You could ask this of any charity. What incentive does St. Jude have to cure childhood cancer? At some level, you just have to trust that the people involved in these organizations have altruistic motivations as a guiding principle. If you don’t trust them, you don’t have to give them your money.
  - AlbertCory 3y ago
    I've done my research here. Now it's your turn. These people's names are all on the Charity Navigator pages I referenced. Try them on LinkedIn & other online sites. Tell us what their qualifications are, what other jobs they've held, and where they live. For bonus points: what political causes do they contribute to? Civil Service laws prohibit forcing employees to make political contributions, but those laws don't apply to employees of these orgs, AFAIK. > If you don’t trust them, you don’t have to give them your money I don't, but the City still does.
    - tacticalturtle 3y ago