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Two of America’s worst charities call OC home, watchdog says
April 20th, 2009, 3:00 am · 29 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
Two of the 10 charities on a national “hall of shame” list are in Orange County - The Association for Police and Sheriffs in Fullerton, and The Association for Firefighters and Paramedics in Santa Ana.
Both claim to help those in need - victims of violent domestic abuse, and survivors of traumatic burn injuries - but actually spend the overwhelming majority of their money to raise money, and not to do good works.
This earned them the No. 4 and 5 spots on nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator’s “Ten inefficient fundraisers” list. Orange County really stands out here; no other state in the nation - not even New York! - managed to contribute two charities to this list. (Way to go, OC.)
- The Association for Police and Sheriffs in Fullerton spent 88 percent of its money - $1.2 million - raising money. It only spent 4 percent - a measly $60,000 - to “end domestic violence and help women and children whose lives are devastated by abuse.”
- The Association for Firefighters and Paramedics in Santa Ana spent 92 percent of its money - $3.6 million - raising money. It only spent 2 percent - a measly $80,500 - ”to help the survivors of catastrophic fires.”
“Excellent charities succeed because their resources are not tied up in fundraising,” Charity Navigator says. “They find creative ways to spend less to raise more, thereby maximizing the resources they can devote to their programs. These 10 charities are not so fortunate or efficient. They spend more than 50 cents to raise each dollar in support, making them four times less efficient 
than the average charity. This inefficiency forces them to devote more than 40 percent of their budgets to fundraising, limiting the difference they can make with your dollars.”
That OC is home to potboilers and scammers who prey on the good intentions of others for their own benefit isn’t exactly a shock. In “All Glitter, Little Good,” our colleague Ronald Campbell chronicled how Mitch Gold (left), the king of telemarketing fraud in Orange County, built a network of dubious charities that preyed on unsuspecting donors. Gold did time behind bars, but his proteges, subcontractors and former clients carried on, raising more money with less scrutiny than Gold ever did.
The Association for Firefighters and Paramedics is run by Michael F. Gamboa, who worked for Gold in the late 1990s. No one from the charity returned calls seeking comment by deadline. (Nor did anyone return calls the last time the nonprofit landed on the Charity Navigator hall of shame list).
We were unable to reach anyone at the Association for Police and Sheriffs in Fullerton for comment; its phone number was disconnected, and its web site is no longer working. Here, though, is how it described its work on tax returns (cue violins):
“APS believes that every person has the right to live in a home free of violence. APS seeks out the most in need due to this national epidemic. APS funding supports: transitional shelters for battered women and children; victims of domestic violence; after school programs; and education programs aimed at victims and perpetrators.”
Not to be outdone by The Association for Firefighters and Paramedics:
“ AFP believes it is our community duty to protect those who are mo
st vulnerable and most at risk, contributing grants and gifts to burn victims and burn programs at hospitals throughout the United States for the purpose of treating burn patients. AFP’s board directs much needed funds to help the survivors of catastrophic fires.”
Do us at The Watchdog a favor. Make sure you - and your loved ones, especially aging parents who might be inclined toward generosity - are on the National Do Not Call Registry. (The gent to the right is William Borland, a retired stockbroker who gave $80,000, saying it was hard to resist telemarketers’ pleas for donations to help children, veterans and firefighters. )
And before giving to any charity, do some quick and simple research at Charity Navigator and GuideStar. Look for charities that funnel at least 65 percent of their spending to programs.
More Watchdog:
- Three of OC’s top 10 employers are government agencies
- Oink! Lawmakers fry up $20 million in pork for OC, group says
- OC’s pork projects list
- OC pork breakdown, by lawmaker
- Surprise! Most think taxes are too high, but OK wealth redistribution
- Politicians climb aboard “The Money Train”
- Laguna Woods approves OC’s first mandatory spay-neuter law
- Controversial spay-neuter law heads to Laguna Woods council
- Vote! Should Laguna Woods approve mandatory spay-neuter law?
- Salt for your thyroid in a nuclear emergency: $4.5 million
- Stimulation, indeed: Feds to drop $285 million on new cars
- Transportation czars enjoy $300-a-night hotels while traveling
- White tabs just won’t do! Tustin pays $400 for color-coded tabs at councilwoman’s request
- Surfrider appears to benefit from its toll road fight
- KPCC public radio on ‘low-performing charity’ list
- Defying economic gravity: One OC city rakes in sales tax as others bleed
- Smile! More airborne government cameras snap pictures of your yard
- State moves to revoke embattled lender’s real estate license
- With $150 million in the bank, why is fire authority axing firefighters?
- Former top cop in Garden Grove guilty of embezzlement
- U.S. Postal Service seeks $25 billion federal bailout
- State considers ban on big screen TVs
- Backyard breeders (trying to evade taxes) oppose spay/neuter laws, OC activist says
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YO! Real Police, sheriffs, fire-fighters, and paramedics, Time for you (or your unions) to stand up and put an oak stake through the hearts of these two bull#$&% “charities”. Now you need to know that “costs raising money” means a hefty payment to the “chairman” and the “board of directors” (probably family members of the chairman). You will ultimately take the beating for this.
By far the worst is United Way
Only 4% makes it to those who need it
The rest is spent on bloated salaries and extravagant parties at expensive hotels
Very Very useless charity
I’m not sure about that statement. According to CharityNavigator.com, United Way’s Orange County branch has an efficiency of 84.2%, meaning that 84.2% of their raised funds go where it’s needed, the rest goes to pay the staff and to fundraise money. Still, 84.2% is terrible when you look at other charities out there. Personally, I donate to Americares. They have 98.8% efficiency (98.8% of their raised funds go where it’s needed).
That’s because the boobs who run these highly questionable ‘charities’, do it as a career, and NOT a true charity.
THANK YOU POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, BECAUSE I WILL NEVER DONATE TO A CHARITY AGAIN. I WILL NOT BE FOOLED TWICE. WHY SHOULD I DONATE TO THE BOARDS FOR?
This is of no suprise.
That’s why I do my own charity work. I make sure my money goes directly to the people by doing the work myself. I never give money, I spend it on what’s needed & deliver it myself. If it’s a construction job, I get a volunteer group together & we buy the material ourselves. I screen the families & verify their poverty level.
There’s no overhead & no advertising fees. We tax payers have to go back to the “old school” way of doing things. There’s really no other way of getting around wasteful spending than putting in your time not just your money. I highly recommend it, it’s a wonderful fealing.
WASTEDHELP says:
April 20, 2009 at 9:41 amTHANK YOU POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, BECAUSE I WILL NEVER DONATE TO A CHARITY AGAIN. I WILL NOT BE FOOLED TWICE. WHY SHOULD I DONATE TO THE BOARDS FOR?
You don’t get it. These are scammers just using the name of Police, Firefighters, domestic violence, whatever they think is YOUR hot button to get YOUR money. They in No WAY represent actual Sheriff/Police/Firefighters. It is all marketing….just like the propositions we are to vote on in CA that have altruistic sounding names simply to get your vote. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!! And, don’t deny the real groups that do need our help.
Hey Watchdog, maybe you should do your homework and before telling people to register on the National DNC list, maybe you should read the exemptions. Charities are exempt from having to comply with that list.
I noticed at the places where they receive money from charities, like the domestic violence center, to name one, there were some nice cars parked in the employees area, of coarse you have to get to work somehow, but a V12 Mercedes, you bet ya, let the good times roll baby.
While I think it is a good idea to register on the National Do Not Call list, it won’t help for scam artists like these. Charities are specifically exempted from having to obey the Do Not Call list.
I can tell you as an LA City Firefighter, most fire departments have their own charity fund. LA City’s is through the Firemans’ Widows and Orphans Fund. They never solicite for funds by phone or mail. Never give to Police or Fire charities over the phone. Go directly to your fire or police departments. Now when you see them on a street corner in uniform drop something in their boot!
Yes, these are scams…Project 999 is the charity for the OCSD
The worst charity is located in Burbank.
They call your house asking for donations to support their efforts to reduce the tax burden on the California Citizen.
They then use your money to promote Proposition 1A.
They are the Republican Party of California.
Bunch of hypocritical thugs.
First, I support OCFA to the fullest. They’re professionals and they do their jobs well.
Tha said, I got a call from the Assoc for Firefighters & Paramedics. This group of fundraisers were the pushiest, most persistent, and ultimately the rudest I’ve had call me. I refused their guilt tactics (implying that my donation would provide better firefighting) and eventually hung up.
Please question these buffoons (the telemarketers) when they call. Make them mad, then HANG UP. Do NOT donate. Give your money to proven, recognized charities.
Ironic.
The author suggests registering with the National Do Not Call list, which is a good thing to do, but as I understand it, does NOT apply to charitable organizations????????
Folks - you are correct that the Do Not Call list does not apply to charities. It does, however, apply to telemarketers. We suggest this not as a panacea against those out to pick your pocket - just as one more thing you can do to try to protect yourself.
Here we’re copying a portion of the Do Not Call Q&A:
If I register my number on the National Do Not Call Registry, will it stop all telemarketing calls?
No. Placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls, but not all. Because of limitations in the jurisdiction of the FTC and FCC, calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors would still be permitted, as would calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, or those to whom you’ve provided express agreement in writing to receive their calls.
Are calls from political organizations or calls soliciting for charities covered?
Political solicitations are not covered by the TSR at all, since they are not included in its definition of “telemarketing.” Charities are not covered by the requirements of the national registry. However, if a third-party telemarketer is calling on behalf of a charity, a consumer may ask not to receive any more calls from, or on behalf of, that specific charity. If a third-party telemarketer calls again on behalf of that charity, the telemarketer may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000.
What about telephone surveys?
If the call is really for the sole purpose of conducting a survey, it is not covered. Only telemarketing calls are covered — that is, calls that solicit sales of goods or services. Callers purporting to take a survey, but also offering to sell goods or services, must comply with the National Do Not Call Registry.
I like “Fill The Boot” that the firefighters have once a year
I always give about $10
I object to the national do not call list. Typical of govt regulators it is overly broad brush. It doesn’t just affect telemarketers, but it also affects small business people who work by referrals.
But I do get really sick of the lying recorded calls, especially the ones now that say that they know you’ve missed some payments on your mortgage or credit cards, when it isn’t true. And the car warranty ones–I don’t know if that is a total scam or what but I don’t think they cover 11 yr old cars with over 100k on them.
If I get a live person, I will usually ask to be put on their do not call list. With the recorded ones, often if you listen through the message there will be a number you can push, like 9, but they vary it, I guess to force people to listen all the way through unless they hang up.
I’ve even gotten some on my cell phone which I think is illegal and very annoying.
As far as telephone solicitations, I just make it a policy to not give that way. It seems like an inefficient way to raise money and its hard to tell on the phone whether its a legitimate charity or not, or maybe legally one, but like these not very legit.
A good protection against them using a guilt trip on you is to be familiar with good charities and give to them.
Oh, and some of those annoying recorded ones warn this is your last call, but then they give you the option to push a number to be removed from the list. I wonder why if it really were going to be the last one?
OCR reported a story earlier about the ‘code of silence’ that sank a brutality case against a deputy. I also recall how Huntington Beach police shot and killed a teenage girl. a few years back. Oh, let’s not forget the Oakland BART shooting not too long ago. This is why when they call I just laugh and hang up. ‘Protect and Serve’? Who? I’m not going to financially assist rogues. If they want money, let them sell their wife and kids.
To taxpayer re: United Way numbers…
I’m not quite sure where you got your stats -
See our story on United Way #s:
Hard times hit OC United Way, just as more people need help: http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2008/11/17/recession-hits-oc-united-way-just-as-more-people-need-help/3490/
and see what Charity Navigator says about OC United Way (84% spent on programs):
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4649
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The way I get around charitable organizations calling me is with my answering machine set at 1 ring and a cutoff after 10 seconds - People that I know who need to contact me, e-mail or come by. I am also on the DNC- works great !
I used to feel guilty and give money now I just smile and walk away. Screw them all.
Thank you Teri Sforza and Brian Joseph for safeguarding our communities and our funds. With little funds to spare these days it is important not to waste them on the wrong charities that are self rather than community serving. We need our Watch Dog and really appreciate the way you always tell it like it is rather than skirting the issues or giving them a political slant. You do such a great job for the community, we depend on you, so keep going!!
The article mentions a group named “The Association for Firefighters and Paramedics”. This group, whose address is in Santa Ana reportedly, solicits money for the assistance to the victims of fires. This group is in no way affiliated with the Santa Ana Fire Department or the Santa Ana Firemen’s Benevolent Association. Additionally, the Santa Ana Firemen’s Benevolent Association is a not for profit labor organization that has no affiliation to this or any other group claiming to represent, Firefighters, Paramedics, Burn Victims, or Disabled Firefighters. The Santa Ana Firemen’s Benevolent Association does no active solicitation of moneys from the public.
notice there still isn’t one transitional shelter for physically or multiply disabled and almost no accessible housing.. many non profits get govt and charitable $ and are failures to the clients in the oc.
one boasts i person got 5 people in housing in one year.. why doesn’t orange county have resources like seasons of sharing and many others that actually accomplish something san francisco? Ok granted socsil services do their best to screw that up too but…
THESE CHARITIES AND GOVT SOCSIL SERVICES NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT AND MONITORED. Programs can be broke but not broken if all the cogs are working ,these programs are all broken! - so they fail the donors taxpayers and those in need all at great expense.
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The Association for Police & Sheriffs are not in Orange County anymore. As Manager of the building they were in, I can assure you they are no longer here and haven’t been for several months
Another local organization that just contacted me is the National Police Rodeo Association. I checked with the Attorney General and only 7.35% of their donations actually go to a charity.
To make matters worse their pitch is that if you give them $20 they can send 2 children from CHOC HOSPITAL to their rodeo.
I think it gets no more dispicable than to use sick children as a guise to fill your pockets. Shame on them.