Daily Beast: Wounded Warrior Project sells your name
I’ve pretty much stayed out of this fight mostly because I don’t understand charities and the regulations that restrain them form doing certain things. I think we’ve had one campaign here wherein I asked for donations to help a youngster whose own charity was flim-flammed by a phony. Other than that, when you guys give donations to TAH, you know it’s going into my liquor cabinet or my humidor. However, according to Tim Mak at the Daily Beast, the money you give to Wounded Warrior Project that you think is going to help, well, wounded warriors, is probably going into someone’s pocket at the upper echelons of management. Now, Mak also says that WWP will rent your personal information to other charities for a profit;
[I]n another twist, [Wounded Warrior Project] is repackaging givers’ personal information and selling it off to third parties, making more than $1 million in the process.
The renting of private information is a betrayal of donors, argues Sandra Miniutti, the vice president of Charity Navigator, a group that rates nonprofits. “When a donor gives to you there’s a level of trust, that you’re going to repay that with respect, that together you’re working to make the world a better place, and that [the charity is] not going to flip and sell my personal information,” she said.
A top official for a another large veterans nonprofit was aghast when informed about the practice. “We have never rented out, sold, or shared our donor list,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Our donors would kill us if we did that…I can’t believe their big, midsize, and small donors would be too happy with that.”
I guess it’s bad enough that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Defense, the Office of Personnel Management are losing control of my PII, now WWP is selling my PII to other entities? That’s a little much.
[Steven Nardizzi—CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project] also argues that refusing to sell information limits charitable sector efficiency: “Donor lists, which tend to include those individuals more interested in philanthropy than the average American, are both cost and mission efficient,” he wrote. “The misdirected privacy protections will limit the effectiveness of important charitable organizations.”
Yeah, well, see that’s the beauty of a free market economy – it’s our choice which people get our donations and most of us want to remain anonymous. I give directly to people in need, not through a charity, and when I do give, it’s on the condition that they don’t tell anyone that I helped precisely because of this – I don’t want folks lined up outside my door with their tin cups rattling for every little thing that they want or need. in effect, that’s what happening with Wounded Warrior Project, if Mak is correct in his investigation.
Category: Dumbass Bullshit
Is Mr. Steve saying that he only sells people’s information to other charitable organizations? Nothing I love more than to receive a local call, that has been spoofed to look local, asking me to donate to the Sheriff’s organization, from another state.
I got this tip from a former Dallas PD friend of mine: tell them to send a car by the house and you’d be happy to donate.
Not a hell of a lot left over for Vets is there? Too bad phoebe (FBI) is so busy sitting around playing with themselves, they could be investigating and booking these a.h.s!
Paralyzed Veterans of America must do this too. Several years ago I made the “mistake” of sending them a donation and within a month my mailbox was inundated by charities of every ilk (not just military. It has slowed down since the initial onslaught but I’m still on a lot of charitable foundations mailing lists.
Bingo. See my comment below.
I will say that the USO, whatever faults they have, doesn’t seem to do this. They do tend to send you multiple “appeals” for donations every year, though. I guess they expect you to forget you already gave and repeat the process several times a year.
The only charity I’ve donated to in the past five years which HASN’T done this has been Heifer International. As a result, on the rare occasions these days when I feel giving, generous, and also flush enough to give in to those urges, they are among my first considerations.
I once made a donation in my mother’s name to the World Wildlife Federation and ever since my inbox has been absolutely filthy with ‘save the poor little wolves!’ messages from not fewer than three different groups wanting my money, none of them being the WWF. As a sheep farmer who has also studied the ecology of wolves and the practical realities of wolf-human intersections, this is particularly blackly humorous.
“misdirected privacy protections”? How about “misdirected funding going to rapacious salaries”?
He sounds like he is really in the wrong place… instead of a charity he should be running a gravel used-car lot.
C’mon, David. Between $160k and $375k a year isn’t that much.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/media/579212/wwp_2012-2013_form_990.pdf
Top executive salaries are on pp. 8-9.
And yes, the first statement was sarcasm. (smile)
Good intentions swallowed up by greed. Fuck them! I will work locally with veterans organization and no longer encourage or support them.
Sale or sharing of information from mailing lists is nothing new. And best I can tell, “charities” are some of the worst offenders.
A few years ago I knew an individual that was getting appeals for donations daily from charities of all kinds. You can’t tell me that was happening simply by coincidence. A much more plausible explanation is that some of those so-called charities were sharing donor info with other “charities” (or selling the info to them) whenever they found a “live one”.
Ahem,
“Susan G Komen Foundation.”
*cough*
/That’s why I support single mom strippers against breast cancer $1 at a time. (well not really)
Hey… that’s the same charity I use to give to!
You should really consider upgrading to Platinum status. I hear the member services interface is much better
Between the day I turned 18 and the day I turned 24 (and reached the mental maturity level of a 12-year-old), I supported the college educations of lots of young women…
Unethical. While there are no “rules” against this, charities are encouraged to adopt privacy policies because it fosters a good relationship with donors.
Memo to WWP – Fuck you when it comes to donations from me until you clean up your house! You’re cutting into the American Red Cross’ turn, you slimy bastards.
Thank you sir!
I just took a look at WWP’s Board of Directors and Executive Staff profiles… I noticed something about them and I wonder if you can see it too:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/mission/executive-staff.aspx
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/mission/board-of-directors.aspx
I think they have a little problem with… what’s the word I’m looking for… DIVERSITY!
I just got tired of writing my full legal name, Friend S. Wilkins, all the time so I’m just going by Flash now. That’s what MMC(SS) Fresquez called me. Said I was exactly like that Basset hound dog from the Dukes of Hazzard.
Boy, you weren’t kidding about the diversity of WWP’s Board of Directors and Executive Staff. White as the wind driven snow! And only two women???
MY ADVICE to those that get unwanted solicitations whether it’s some shady-looking excuse of a charity, AARP,… I’ll get some Elmer’s glue, liberally apply it to the correspondence as well as the inside of the postage-paid return envelope and mail it once it’s all dried, set up, and hard as a board. Sending their crap back after shredding it and putting it in the envelope is fun as well, glue or no glue! (For some *BLEEP* reason, I no longer get junk mail from AARP, thus I save money on glue!!)
I took the email, letter and phone call to AARP at the same time. The phone call basically covered the fact that I had absolutely no intention of joining them, that I was to be removed completely from all mailing lists and that if it wasn’t done, my next step was to show up in person.
Two years later, no correspondence from them.
AARP… another group the fucked America in the ass by selling that bill of goods known as Obamacare.
I stopped their letter by writing on one of their mailers for jointing “FUCK YOU AARP!” in nice big, bold letters and mailing it back to them. Lo and behold, the solicitations stopped.
I do the same thing with credit card solicitations. I remove all Personal Info, shred or tear up one of the general purpose fliers, and stuff it into the pre-stamped return envelope.
Anything with personal info gets cross cut
shredded.
(FYI – the companies that send those pre-stamped return envelopes don’t get charged for that postage UNTIL IT’S ACTUALLY RETURNED. SO let’s help them spend their ill-gotten profits, and RETURN THOSE ENVELOPES!)
Fuck these guys…all they have ever done is sell t shirts and window stickers. All thrust, no vector.
I think people should be transparent with what they do with contributions. When they are not, there is always something lurking in the wood pile.
I have been critical of WWP for years. They suck, the pimp out the sacrifice all of us have made for profit. I won’t be anyone’s bitch. They can all kiss my ass.
Speaking of being transparent, I would like to see an inventory of the liquor cabinet and humidor at TAH International Headquarters.
Something tells me there is an over abundance of Scotch and cheap cigars. I would like to know there is at least one drinkable Bourbon and some Nubs before I show up of a working party.
http://totalbeverage.net/wp-content/uploads/Basil-Hayden.jpg
http://www.indulgecigars.com/premium_cigars_online/media/ccp0/prodxl/nub_sampler_2.jpg
I’m pretty sure it’s always been BYOB
Wait…what….if we show up at TAH International Headquarters we get free booze and cigars?!
I’m changing my ways, “F” terrorists and John “Faker 6” GIDUCK. (Don’t be alarmed oh great one, I’ve been known to change sports teams in the single swing of the bat)
OK, now where are the keys to the trusted Terrorologist moped…
I am assembling an Audit Team to inspect the alleged contents of adult beverages kept secret within the bowels of TAH International Headquarters.
I will be needing several individuals with extensive experience drinking spirits. I will also need a team of volunteers to create a diversion so our Audit Team can get by the Kraken that guards the liquor cabinet.
I hear that the smell of frying bacon can lure the beast away. Maybe a RECON team to disable the Urban Assault Vehicle prior to our departure.
I’m more offended that the CEO gives himself almost $500,00/year and that there are reports that they promise to help vets then don’t follow through. Their charity rating is not up to pare.
I give to Team Rubicon, Soldier’s Angels, and Lone Survivor Foundation because I know how my money is spent and none of them sell their donor lists.
OK, all you potential suckers pay close attention:
Now opening is the “Terrorologist Wounded And Traumatized” project.
TWAT will give 100% of your donations to the Medically Emasculated (ME). So stop being so darn tight fisted and give until it hurts so that those (ME) effected can live a better and more rewarding life.
Now THAT’S funny as hell, right there….
OC
Last I looked roughly 52% of donated money goes to the Warriors. They do do some good. That being said, The BOD and other associated crooks pulling 6 figure salaries under the guise of helping the WPP is disgusting. Maybe the selling of PII supplements the salaries. Eff them, I’ll give my money local or to the Semper Fi Fund. It’s a shame that we have to research charities to determine which ones are worthy.
I only donate to groups that I know use the money for what they say it’s for. Food pantry, Society of St. Andrew (850 food pantries nationwide, gleaning weekends), Safe Harbor Humane Society, and the local library’s book sale room. Stuff like that. Otherwise, it’s no go. I just toss that crap.
I manage the Veterans Hall in Benicia CA. For 2 years we have been steering folks AWAY from the WWP. Fisher house is a good place to donate.
Pete, what’s your take on the DAV? I wrote a comment on their solicitation methods below.
No surprise here.
What really ticks off Ol’ Poe is those charities that send you an envelope full of personalized stickers and scratch pads, calendars, etc, in an effort to make you feel guilty if you don’t make a donation. One actually sent a dollar bill. Well screw them; the only reaction that kind of solicitation gets from me is hiking my old stubborn back up, way up.
DAV is probably the worst in this category of charities. While I support their mission, I refuse to be coerced into making a donation. So, as far as I’m concerned, DAV and the others who follow this practice are screwing the pooch and wasting money that should be going to patient care.
Even worse than charities are politicians. During elections, I make campaign contributions not only within my state but to conservative candidates in other races where I feel they need support. For doing that, I get bombarded with solicitations from Republican candidates for all kinds of offices all over this country. I mean several every day and we’re not even into election season yet.
Delete! Delete! Delete!
Maybe you should investigate a wood-burning stove. Then those unwanted solicitations in the mail could give you a “warm feeling” instead. (smile)
Well that’s $1000 bucks a year that they won’t be getting from me anymore… I’ll give to local veterans groups that I know need the money.
Shame on me for not doing my own due dilligence… “Renting” my personal information is not what I signed up for, but the salaries are what ticks me off!
While I expect that a multi-million dollar charitable organization would pay a decent salary to get quality leadership, $375K is a bit much. You would think WWP’s CEO is leading a FOR profit company. What “risks” is he facing running this charity?
I’m sure they could find a qualified VETERAN to lead that organization for less money if they wanted to.
They put a PH stamp in their solicitation letters but less than 7% of their enrollment (yes, the right term) are PH recipients.
False advertising at its best.
My father runs an annual fishing tournament as a WWP fund raiswr. I’ve been trying to convince him to find a different charity, but to no avail. I’m hoping this might convince him
Veteran’s Guest House in Reno is one place that’s gotten my money. Vets going to Reno VA facility can stay at the Guest House while receiving treatment. Open to vets and their families from the Reno and Northern California area.
Of course, Gina Elise is my favorite. Hope she never stops sellin’ brownies and makin’ calendars.
My 90yr old WW2 Grandpa has this charity on “auto-deduct” from his checking account. Wonder how many others watch the commercials and get set up? Had I not seen the “WWP Blanket” (which is the size of a small bath towel) on the back of his couch.
I would’ve never known. I will make sure he looks at other options on my next visit.
I like DonorsChoose.org. You can help needy schoolkids all over the country by supporting teachers’ projects. You can support the kind of projects you like – like classroom supplies, books, or needed equipment. One school in North Carolina wanted funds to build an awning.
It’s like Kickstarter; the project has a target sum that has to be funded by a certain date or your donation is recycled. You can apply it to a new project that is still open.
My parents were teachers, so I donate in their name to local schools rather than try to buy them something they don’t really need.