Comments on: Charities for Veterans Report Card

By: MaryAnn

MaryAnn — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:35:31 +0000

This is from the AIP website’s writeup about Soldiers’ Angels:

“A closer look at one of SA’s programs could dash such hopes about this AIP D-rated charity. (The major reason for this rating is that SA spent only 36% of its total 2006 cash expenses on program services.)”

However, a look at the SA 2006 financial report reveals that:

- Program expenses (support for the Troops) - 64%
- Supporting services (fundraising and admin) - 36%

They reversed the numbers. One should be able to expect more accuracy from a so-called watchdog organization, but apparently one cannot.

Not a single member of SA’s Board receives a salary of any kind. Admin is typically things such as postage, accounting fees, etc. And fundraising in the form of direct mail is a necessity for smaller organizations like SA.

It’s also unfortunate that the financials of organizations like SA cannot take volunteer time/money into account. As Shayna notes, it is an especially large part of what SA does, including hospital/VA visits and the many thousands of Angels who adopt soldiers and support them with their own time (and money!) by sending letters and packages.

By: Shayna

Shayna — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:36:24 +0000

It saddens me to read the rating of Soldiers Angels. First and For Most… I am a member of this charity. I for one have spent many of my own time and effort with several of the veterans in my area. I pretty much adopted one that became like my grandfather until he passed away earlier this year. I know that I continue to get emails from Soldiers Angels requesting for help for the veterans… which I have seen first hand in giving this help.

“Soldiers are professionals, not charity cases, and ought to be treated with respect. It is fine for a charity to send tokens of appreciation to soldiers, but it is wrong to mislead donors by implying that the basic needs of soldiers are not already being met by the military.”

I have no doubt that our Soldiers are professionals… I don’t take them as being charity cases but I do take them as needing a friendly gift every now and then.

As for our veterans… it is horrible to say that more and more are needing charity because our government is not taking care of them like they should. I have witnessed this and it is terrible.

By: JP

JP — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:54:07 +0000

They have very suspect numerology on this rating system. Yes, some need watching, but there were quite a few odd ratings given out.
Freedom Alliance(I think this is North’s and Hannity’s, right?) has college scholarships they give. So they take the money given and put it in an account so it can grow a bit as the kids to get it are growing themselves. Because they have so much money awaiting the kids to actually need it and it is college fund size amounts, they get poor grades from the AIP system, they get a low grade because they have “too much money” in the bank. Those that ship to the folks in the fields are spending lots on postage to get the stuff there. They too were down rated because they “waste too much” and fewer of the dollars are in the hard goods received. So before you decide a place isn’t worth your money, please see how that money gets spent.

By: Soldier Angel Robin

Soldier Angel Robin — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:19:08 +0000

You might want to check out this (person)/ organization who is giving out the ratings before you judge any of these wonderful organizations. http://www.charitywatch.org/

Check them out on Guidestar. In 2006 they raised about $436000…of which $124000 compensated Borchoff. No one else is paid. His salary (not including payroll taxes etc) consumes 30% of the donations….and it’s all allocated to ‘program services’