Comments on: Some veterans charities stiff vets

By: Faultline USA

Faultline USA — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:27:32 +0000

What a shame!!! Excellent post. I’ll pass the info along.

By: BobF

BobF — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:41:24 +0000

Hopefully this will help shed more light on the subject. The link below if for the Combined Federal Campaign (area specific) which all military installations contribute though. It’s a PDF file for the 2007 Campaign. It lists each organization that’s eligible to receive contributions through CFC and it also lists the percentage of dollars spent on administering the charity. CFC considers any charity that spends more than 35% on administrative costs to be problematic. For the discussion above, the DAV spends 3.7% of its dollars on administrative costs.

http://www.gatewaycfc.org/

The USO lists at 21.8% for the national headquarters but fortunately local chapters have much lower overhead costs.

Unfortunately their are a lot of organizations ripping off Veterans and the American People. These types prey on the hearts and respect Americans have for their military and its needs.

By: TexasFred

TexasFred — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:07:27 +0000

Guy, be all that as it may, I didn’t write the piece, I posted it, if you have exacting figures to the contrary, by all means, post em here, you know I have no objection to that…

By: GUYK

GUYK — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:05:12 +0000

I believe this is misleading Fred…first of all the DAV spends a tremendous amount of money on the lobby in Washington DC..and this is to help disabled Vets. Another thing is that DAV has full time paid counselors in VA Hospitals
to help disabled Vets put in claims for disability and they spend a lot of money on legal assistance to fight for the VA disability.

Every DAV post home is different..one that I went to in Lakeland had a couple of Vans that they used to take those disabled Vets who had no transportation back and forth to the VA Hospital in Tampa.

And, DAV is not a charity per se. It is an organization of Disabled Veterans who are trying to help each other and other disabled vets. When I applied for disability four years after I retired it was DAV who got it done for me..VA drug their feet..

I have to believe that these things were not taken into account by those who rated this organizations. But I will find out from DAV if I can where the money goes that is sent in to the national headquarters

By: Bill Smith, ARRA Editor

Bill Smith, ARRA Editor — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:47:21 +0000

Thank you for doing this. I am not gullible and try to be charitable with fellow veterans a by giving to support groups BUT I was shocked to learn that I had been hoodwinked into giving regularly to a couple of the “F” rated groups. Printed entire list and have it in our “giving folder.”

Will also post something on this!

By: TexasFred

TexasFred — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:57:18 +0000

If you want to give a charity someÂ money Guy, that’s your thing, I am glad for you, if you give it to a charity that has an almostÂ failing grade on actually helping Vets, I have to ask… WHY??

By: GUYK

GUYK — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:27:34 +0000

I am a card carrying life time member of the Disabled Veterans and as such most of my money goes to them…the rest to the Starvation Army which has the reputation of spending more of its intake on helping people than any of the rest..and this time of year I always dump what ever change I have in my pockets in the bucket where that lady is ringin’ the bell>