Community Chat

[tessakaye]

CharityNavigator.com has been a valuable resource for me.  The site gives stars based on data such as how much is spent on administrative costs and advertising, and how much actually goes to the cause.  

I believe WoundedWarriors never had a good rating. 

[BabyYoda]

We give locally and directly. I opt out of their mailings. After the Katrina disaster when I learned my generous gift to the victims would never get to them from the American Red Cross, I stopped giving to large charities. A friend of ours was collecting for Wounded Warriers a few years ago and we declined to give him anything as we had heard from a previous employee that their expenses and overhead and executive salaries were very high.

[Isobel Archer]

Does anyone know the percentage of money in government benefits programs is consumed in overhead/administrative costs/fraud etc. and how much actually goes to benefit the specific people entitled to it under the rules established?

Just curious.

[Shorty2U]

We donate to one or more than one charity monthly. We give to animal charties, Salvation Army, cancer research, heart, and epilepsy because those have touched our lives with myself having had  cancer and the others with other family members.. And we cant go the long form anymore on taxes, as our house is all but paid off so we dont claim our donations. But we believe in helping others and in giving back. But if one doesnt have it to give well they cant.

[moto]

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

Does anyone know the percentage of money in government benefits programs is consumed in overhead/administrative costs/fraud etc. and how much actually goes to benefit the specific people entitled to it under the rules established?

Just curious.

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@Isobel Archer - which programs, exactly, and which rules? 

[Isobel Archer]

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@moto wrote:

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

Does anyone know the percentage of money in government benefits programs is consumed in overhead/administrative costs/fraud etc. and how much actually goes to benefit the specific people entitled to it under the rules established?

Just curious.

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@Isobel Archer - which programs, exactly, and which rules? 

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Any of the benefits programs - free school lunch, WIC, Food Stamps, Housing, Aid to Seniors, Disaster Assistance, etc. etc.

Folks are expressing concern about giving their money to Charities that have a high percentage paid to staff and overhead and which may also have issues of fraud - resulting in a lower than acceptable percentage of the money donated actually going to appropriate recipients.

So that led me to wonder - if anyone even cares - if there is a way - similar to Charity Navigator - to track how our taxes - allocated to specific programs to help those in need  - measure up to the same standard applied to Charities.