Fellow Patriot
Out of curiosity, I went to Charity Navigator and checked out the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the one with the professional, tear-jerking commercials. Here's what I found:
1. WWP are pros at fund-raising, and they know rating organizations like Charity Navigator will be looking at them, so they adhere to most accountability and transparency standards. This is good, but all it really means is, they get a decent score for this factor because their records are generally open to public view; it does NOT mean that people will necessarily like what they see if they bother to read those records.
2. WWP says it spends $31.8 million on programs annually. BUT it also spends $21.3 million on fund-raising (!) and $4.7 million on administrative expenses. If you had $57.8 million to give away to a worthy cause, would you give it to an outfit that would spend $26 million of it -- 45% -- on non-program expenses? I wouldn't. Many other organizations that serve veterans in one way or another score much better.
3. WWP's executive director, Steven Nardizzi, rakes in compensation of $319,692 per year. I don't know how many others live large on WWP salaries.
4. A couple of years ago, in response to their frequent appeals on TV, I contacted WWP and said I would like to donate my time at any events (bike races, whatever) that are geared to wounded vets and might be coming up in Maine or Florida. I eventually received a thank-you letter and a promise to let me know when and where my services might be needed. Since then, I have heard NOTHING about any events, but I'm on their list for monthly requests for money, money, money.
5. Just to compare a few other charities, the giant Red Cross devotes 92% to program expenses, and AMVETS spends 72% on programs. The much smaller Hope for Warriors ("restoring self, family, hope") spends 87% on programs and the president/CEO is paid only $72K. Finally, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund devotes 94% to programs. These are only a few examples, but when compared with the much-hyped Wounded Warrior Project, which allocates only 55% to programs.....well, you get the picture.
A Good Friend of SM1
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