Donated and then got unsolicited phone calls.

redpete

dealer_wins wrote: »

Giving to "charity" these days means that 5% of your cash goes to help if that.

Cancer Research UK: 80% of donations available to beat cancer.
Oxfam: 84% of donations go directly to emergency, development and campaigning work.
Scope: 70% of income is spent on charitable activities.
Age UK: 48% of incoming resources was expended on charitable activities.
RNIB: 86% of total expenditure goes on charitable purposes.
Naomi House children's hospice: 61% of total expenditure is for charitable purposes.

Couldn't find any of these charities for which as little as 5% of income "goes to help".

paddyrg

redpete wrote: »

Couldn't find any of these charities for which as little as 5% of income "goes to help".

I'm sure that poster was trying to make some dramatic effect, and I'm also sure 5% as a figure was plucked from thin air. However, when doing this kind of investigation, do dig deep to confirm the charity's activities actually are what you think they are.

One major services charity spends a huge percentage of its money building buildings through a company intimately associated with the wife of the charity manager, who owns a building company. It could be queried whether what the MoD really needs is more buildings, as they have several standing vacant, but it's a large party of the activity of this services charity, where some people feel more direct aid for service users would be more effective.

Always dig to find out what deals are done and agreed, and if a charity provides products for beneficiaries, what their supply agreements are. Some charities are in the position to get great discounts on the open market, but stick with close, premium suppliers for no good reason.