Executive Red
Is it true that The Red Cross takes only about 10% of it’s funds to put toward the intended cause?
I have heard from multiple sources, as well as written articles that The Red Cross only provides a very small portion of donation toward my intended cause (e.g. Japan disaster relief, etc). And that most of the money they pull in, goes to their executives in Washington D.C. Where can I make a donation with the certainty that it will all go to the intended cause?? Are there any non-corrupt disaster relief organizations?
This is absolutely not true.
Also, donations that “all go to the intended cause” can actually harm organizations.
The earthquake happened on Friday. The Red Cross and other relief organizations already existed, right? So before the disaster hit, they had offices in place to get information and coordinate their responses.
Relief agencies need stuff independent of any specific disaster.
Agencies need vehicles to get to disasters. These are usually vans and trucks. These need gas, oil, tires, inspection, maintenance, and insurance–all of which costs money. Agency offices need electricity, water, computers, Internet access, phones, phone service, printers, paper, toner–and people. Donors, like yourself, want accurate and complete reports on how money is spent. That requires trained people managing the organization full-time. These people need to be paid living wages and have health insurance in full-time jobs. (You want that, right?)
All of that already had to be paid for, so when disasters occur, the agencies are ready. Without unrestricted donations not tied to any event, relief agencies cannot have any of these necessities–and can’t respond as effectively as necessary.
If every penny donated last year had been restricted to Haiti, we in New York would not have been able to respond to more than 3,000 local fires and help many thousands more people with food, clothing, and shelter. Please think about the disasters that haven’t happened yet, that will need responses. Most of what the Red Cross does never makes the news, and so will never attract specific donations.
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