How much of the money given to the Red Cross goes to overhead

[still_one]

and how much goes to the victims?

I just made my donation to them, but would like to know

[Cornus]

1. Charity Navigator

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3277.htm

[still_one]

3. Thanks, I have been negative on the Red Cross for a number of years

then started reading some of threads which turned me around

This makes me feel quite good, that it is going where I want it to go

Appreciate the link, and glad I turned around

[acmejack]

2. 6% they say.

http://www.nyredcross.org/donate/donate_faq.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I quit donating to Red Cross

when a friend who had a fire received a bill from the Red Cross for the 'help' they had given her family. This was over 20 years ago. I have no idea if they still bill the victims they help.

[still_one]

5. I felt that way because of similar stories, but have changed

due to various discussions I have come across, and actual first hand account from people who have went through other disasters

When you donate you can designate where you want you money to go

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. I just recently had another friend who received help

and The Red Cross did not bill her.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. I got news for you re: Coast Guard Helo's

When I was in the Coast Guard (in New Orleands in the 1960's), a Coast Guard helo rescue was $3600 -- and they charged you for it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. And if you couldn't pay?

Did they turn you over to a bill collector?

[Coastie for Truth]

14. If you are rescued at sea-

they exercise a "salvor's lien" on your ship or boat. The claim is turned over to the Justice Department, and the Justice Department seizes the vessel.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I don't mean to keep hammering at this,

but this just stuns me. What if you needed rescuing because your boat sank? Do they bill you for the cost of recovering your boat from the bottom of the ocean?

[Coastie for Truth]

17. I don't have the URL

but when I was looking for something else on the Coast Guard web site I came across it.

I do remember the Judge Advocate chortling about it once (almost 40 years ago).

[Cleita]

7. My father said the same thing.

He fought in WWI (not II, but I). He said the Red Cross and the Salvation Army set up tents to give the doughboys coffee and donuts. He said the Red Cross charged the soldiers for the coffee and the Salvation Army passed it out for free. He told me, he never donated to them after that and told me not to either.

I have heard it's a bit top-heavy. Spokespersons like Libby Dole and Dr. Bernadette Healey don't come cheap. I also know that charities by law need only to use a minimum amount for the actual needs they are administering to. The rest can be used for administration and in many cases it means cushy salaries for the administrators.

I really look at the financial statements of any charity I donate to.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. United Way used to be incredibly top heavy

Remember back in the 80s when this was exposed? That was back when we had media in the US.

[Cleita]

18. Funny about United Way, I worked in a place that forced us

to donate. They actually deducted the donation from our checks. It took a group of us to protest that we had our own charities we preferred to donate to. It took awhile but some other employees who were much cleverer than I, found some legal statutes that they presented to the management and it stopped.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. They make a big deal out of having 100% of us donate every year

So I donate ONE dollar. That way my boss gets the little plaque for 100% participation. And I think ONE dollar makes quite a statement too. :)

[Coastie for Truth]

13. There is no billing for disaster services.

I am a Disaster Assistance Team Captain (immediate temporary housing, food, minimal clothing) for disaster victims and a Mass Disaster Shelter Supervisor.

We have a script:

The assistance you are receiving/have received is a gift of the American people as individuals - there is no government assistance -- and you will not be billed. There is no obligation to repay this assistance

I am only aware of one case where we were ever repaid in my Chapter.

[RevCheesehead]

9. If you donate to UMCOR, 100% goes directly to relief efforts.

That's United Methodist Committee on Relief. It's our church's missional branch, and it works in partnership with Church World Service (CWS).

We're the ones doing the floodbuckets, too. :)

Information on how to donate:

http://www.methodistrelief.org/site/pp.asp?c=bhKNI4PHIpE&b=876335

You can donate on-line, by mail, or drop off at your local United Methodist Church. Donations can be tax-deductible, too.

[Wind Dancer]

12. CNN is pushing "Operation Blessing"

Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348

This is a Pat Robertson operation even though they just list his initials, very misleading.


Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) humanitarian organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Since 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 179.7 million people in 96 countries and all 50 states, providing goods and services valued at more than $1.1 billion. Operation Blessing is governed by a national board of directors that includes founder M. G. Robertson and retired COO Robert W. Fanning.



http://www.ob.org/about/index.asp

http://www.patrobertson.com/humanitarian /


Why have 2 different relief sites both connected to Pat Robertson?

I wouldn't trust any group affiliated with the RW fundies.

[Coastie for Truth]

16. If I am going to give to a faith based charity (other then my faith)

it will not be to Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell. It will most likely be to the Salvation Army (our Chaplain when I was on active duty was a Salvationist -- and he was one of the truly finest clergymen I ever met)

[Wind Dancer]

20. Ditto! I am furious with CNN for promoting Pat Robertson.

[tanyev]

21. What percentage of your donation goes to funding

assassinations of foreign leaders?