The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Going

[h=1]The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Going[/h]by Jesse Eisinger and Justin Elliott, ProPublica, and Laura Sullivan, NPR, Dec. 4, 2014, 8:23 a.m.

This story was co-produced with NPR.
The American Red Cross regularly touts how responsible it is with donors' money. "We're very proud of the fact that 91 cents of every dollar that's donated goes to our services," Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern said in a speech in Baltimore last year. "That's world class, obviously."
McGovern has often repeated that figure, which has also appeared on the charity's website. "I'm really proud" that overhead expenses are so low, she told a Cleveland audience in June.
The problem with that number: It isn't true.
After inquiries by ProPublica and NPR, the Red Cross removed the statement from itswebsite. The Red Cross said the claim was not "as clear as it could have been, and we are clarifying the language."
The Red Cross declined repeated requests to say the actual percentage of donor dollars going to humanitarian services.

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Link

I found this interesting and though I would share.

*Note to moderators - if this actually belongs in the non-MSM section, please move it, as I am unsure - it does cite co-production with NPR*


An additional note - while searching for this story, which I originally heard about on my local public radio station, I ran across this page on Snopes: Link

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

I try to find a way to give around big charities like the Red cross, etc. One of the ways is to look for small volunteer groups near the affected area or for charities that do one specific aspect primarily with the exception of St. Jude's

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

Declan said:

I try to find a way to give around big charities like the Red cross, etc. One of the ways is to look for small volunteer groups near the affected area or for charities that do one specific aspect primarily with the exception of St. Jude's

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The Snopes article actually mentions a few that it found OK, if that helps.

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

The Mark said:

The Snopes article actually mentions a few that it found OK, if that helps.

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I am not as obsessive about the % that goes to overhead as some people are. I just like to find organizations that do very specific things--like I will donate to a no kill shelter somewhere but not the ASPCA. When Colorado was burning down the other year, I donated to a group that was specifically trying to rescue injured wildlife and stranded horses that a friend in the equine community had mentioned on FB and that she was familiar with their work in the past.

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

I have experienced several situations, personally, that have opened my eyes about how disingenuous the Red Cross is. The first was when I was a child and my father brought home 52.00 a month and was ORDERED to donate to Red Cross. That was back in the mid 50s. Another experience was when there was a flood in Denver. The Red Cross went door to door offering blankets and supplies to victims of the flood for donations. Salvation Army was right behind them with free blankets and food. We were on the fire line several times and the Red Cross would be there, sometimes, ready to sell us sandwiches and drinks. The Salvation Army was ALWAYS there with FREE food and drinks. We donate a good size check to the Salvation Army every year. Red Cross, not so much.

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

I don't donate to organizations that use paid for solicitors. The charity doesn't get enough of the money, and I don't want to support the telemarketing industry.

If a volunteer calls me, they have a pretty good chance of getting something.
We always have something to donate to Purple Heart, which they pickup from the front porch (typically cloths or kids toys or some such).

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

You know, it doesn't offend me anymore when a politician or some other bureaucrat-type lies or misleads people, but when an organization like the Red Cross can't even stay on the straight and narrow...

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

This year I gave money to the local Red Cross when there was a mudslide that killed 44 in our state. There was a massive collection drive to help out those during the disaster which seemed the right thing to do.

Yes, it sucks if only pennies of a dollar made it to the victims and people doing the work at the mudslide. I do realize there is going to be some overhead for an organization that big . It is advantageous to have an organization that big that can swoop in and help those unfortunate.

But it is a human condition that a large lump of money is often too tempting for most humans not to try and take some. We saw that with the Wall Street Bailout with upper management acting like looters at Ferguson.

Re: The Red Cross CEO Has Been Serially Misleading About Where Donors’ Dollars Are Go

Crosscheck said:

This year I gave money to the local Red Cross when there was a mudslide that killed 44 in our state. There was a massive collection drive to help out those during the disaster which seemed the right thing to do.

Yes, it sucks if only pennies of a dollar made it to the victims and people doing the work at the mudslide. I do realize there is going to be some overhead for an organization that big . It is advantageous to have an organization that big that can swoop in and help those unfortunate.

But it is a human condition that a large lump of money is often too tempting for most humans not to try and take some. We saw that with the Wall Street Bailout with upper management acting like looters at Ferguson.

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I think the point was that while the Red Cross may do good things, it could do MORE good if it had less overhead.

At at least they could be honest about how much overhead they have.