A Rightfully Outraged Mom

I got such an amazing response last time I posted a letter from an outraged donor (including the charity's response), I thought I'd do it again, especially given that this organization purports to help sick kids and is making their solicitations during the day (aimed at stay-at-home moms), right around Mother's Day. NCLF is the National Children's Leukemia Foundation and I have withheld the name of the woman who was shocked by their practices, as I didn't obtain her permission to publish it yet. Otherwise, it's printed verbatim.

"To whom it may concern at NCLF:

Due to my own health concerns, I was home today and received a telephone call from someone I assume was seeking donations for your 501(c)(3) organization. I say assume, because as I do with anyone who is fundraising over the phone, I asked the caller how much of a donation goes to the charity. I ask this because this has a bearing on my decision, as I am aware of many organizations I can give funds to who utilize a very high percentage of the amount received. The person who called told me she needed to look up the information (I'm not sure about my state, but I think that in some places this info might have to be given up front). When she found the info, she told me that NCLF is guaranteed at least 15% of the funds received, I repeated the number to make sure I heard correctly - 15, not 50, as I had hoped. No, it was 15%, and when asked what was done with the remaining 85%, the caller said that she did not know.

Frankly, I almost called your office to inquire about this issue because I was so terribly disappointed that your foundation would utilize a fundraising vendor (yes, I am an educated person who is aware of how this works, and the cost of raising funds internally, rather than using an outside vendor). But 15%...it makes me sad to think that a well-meaning person - often likely a parent whose heart weeps at the thought of the pain they would feel if their own child had this horrible disease - would send $ in your foundation's name, and be totally unaware that only 15 cents of each dollar actually went to accomplish the work they intended to support.

I realize that this email will probably have no impact on the way you do business. But for the sake of the children, in whose name you operate, please consider using a fundraising vendor who offers a better return than 15 cents on the dollar. Just think of all the outreach opportunities on behalf of sick children and beleagured families that you could expand with even a modest increase in the percentage received. If I have totally missed the mark on my perception of the situation, I apologize to you. If I haven't, then please consider what I have written.

from a concerned and grateful mom of two teenage boys,"

name withheld by Trent Stamp