Comments on: For-Profit Fundraisers Rip Off Non-Profits and their Donors http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:03:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Mike A http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325/comment-page-1#comment-13273 Mike A Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:17:17 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325#comment-13273 I believe it's naive to suggest that for-profit fund-raising is merely a ripoff. As I suggest at Truth Wins Out, this tactic is a successful method for political non-profits to abuse their tax-exempt status and channel donations to blatantly partisan campaigns that happen to be operated by the for-profit telemarketer. This tactic also intentionally diverts charitable donations that were intended for antigay/antiabortion advocacy into advocacy by the telemarketers for issues that might offend donors, such as free trade, tax breaks for gaming and tobacco industries, and anti-environmental causes. Concerned Women for America, for example, launders more than 93 percent of its charitable telemarketing solicitations, via marketing consultants, into Republican national political campaigns. Ralph Reed and the American Family Association have previously been caught laundering donations into pro-gambling advocacy. Money-laundering by charitable organizations and their telemarketers is, often, no accident. I believe it’s naive to suggest that for-profit fund-raising is merely a ripoff.

As I suggest at Truth Wins Out, this tactic is a successful method for political non-profits to abuse their tax-exempt status and channel donations to blatantly partisan campaigns that happen to be operated by the for-profit telemarketer.

This tactic also intentionally diverts charitable donations that were intended for antigay/antiabortion advocacy into advocacy by the telemarketers for issues that might offend donors, such as free trade, tax breaks for gaming and tobacco industries, and anti-environmental causes.

Concerned Women for America, for example, launders more than 93 percent of its charitable telemarketing solicitations, via marketing consultants, into Republican national political campaigns.

Ralph Reed and the American Family Association have previously been caught laundering donations into pro-gambling advocacy.

Money-laundering by charitable organizations and their telemarketers is, often, no accident.

]]> By: Samantha Davis http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325/comment-page-1#comment-13204 Samantha Davis Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:49:12 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325#comment-13204 Absolutely criminal. Of course there is always a silver lining. I couldn't help but notice the Concerned Women For America Education And Legal Defense Fund only got a 6.6% return. Absolutely criminal.

Of course there is always a silver lining. I couldn’t help but notice the Concerned Women For America Education And Legal Defense Fund only got a 6.6% return.

]]> By: Robguy http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325/comment-page-1#comment-13191 Robguy Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:33:49 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325#comment-13191 A group in Madison Wisc tried that one year. If you didn't answer the phone and wait a considerable period for a minimum wage operator to get around to you - they'd keep calling and putting you on hold. I figured any non-profit that was stupid enough to hire a group like that didn't deserve to get any money from me. A group in Madison Wisc tried that one year. If you didn’t answer the phone and wait a considerable period for a minimum wage operator to get around to you – they’d keep calling and putting you on hold. I figured any non-profit that was stupid enough to hire a group like that didn’t deserve to get any money from me.

]]> By: Johno http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325/comment-page-1#comment-13175 Johno Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:48:49 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325#comment-13175 Thanks for that link, I've been using this one as well: http://www.charitynavigator.org/ It isn't very kind to The Trevor Project also, which was disappointing to see. Thanks for that link, I’ve been using this one as well:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

It isn’t very kind to The Trevor Project also, which was disappointing to see.

]]> By: Scott http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325/comment-page-1#comment-13168 Scott Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:09:24 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/07/06/2325#comment-13168 "Donors", Jim. “Donors”, Jim.

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