In a Community Voice piece published Wednesday, I wrote about what some charities spend for a CEO, financial advice, or the salaries and benefits for employees.

And on March 10, the Wounded Warriors charity over excessive overhead expenses.

But what about the professional fundraisers used by our charities. How efficient are the money-raising systems?

The state Attorney General’s office for its professional fundraiser registration. 

The Tax & Charities Division of the Hawaii Attorney General鈥檚 office teamed with some other AGs who recently shut down three organizations:

鈥 The Cancer Fund of America only got $11 million of the $85 million raised; $75.4 million went to the fundraisers; and 1 percent went to cash aid.

鈥 The Children鈥檚 Cancer Foundation only got $9 million of the $44 million raised; $34 million went to the fundraisers; and about 5 percent went to cash aid.

鈥 The Children鈥檚 Cancer Recovery Fund only got $9 million of the $38 million raised; $29 million went to the fundraisers; and less than 1 percent went to cash aid.

Twelve fundraisers list a Hawaii address or do business here. I pulled a sampling of how much money they鈥檝e raised for local charities, how much went to the charity, and the expense terms.

Outreach Calling of Missouri and Nevada fundraised locally last year for:

1) The American Association for Cancer Support. Raised $20,283. Its expenses were $19,224. AACP got only $1,558.

2) Breast Cancer Survivors. Raised $16,442. Expenses $14,779. BCS got only $1,642.

LJM Productions of Waipahu fundraised for Amvets Hawaii. Raised $19,692. Expenses $14,769. Amvets only got $4,923.

Exclusive Promotions of Honolulu fundraised for Hawaii Jaycees, Elks and United Care. Its United Care filing shows $31,023 raised, $17,330 in expenses, and UC only got $6,457.

Kaimana Hila of Kailua has a contract this year to raise money for Move Oahu Forward, a pro-rail group. It will be paid all expenses and $5,000 a month plus the excise tax on that.

Solid Concepts of Honolulu is raising money for the Waimanalo Health Center. It will be paid at a rate not exceeding $125,000 over 18 months plus all out-of-pocket expenses.

Creative Fundraising Solutions of Honolulu is working for the Blood Bank. Its contract is silent on expenses and commissions. Just a flat $3,500 a month fee plus the 4.712 percent excise tax.

Teschner Grant/Writing of Anahola is fundraising for the Kauai Food Bank. Its contract calls for a $65-an-hour fee for some services and $75 for others. No excise tax payments and nothing about expenses.

Philanthropy Planning of Honolulu raised money for the Palolo Chinese Home. That contract called for a $1,500 a month consulting fee plus the excise tax.

The Tampa Bay Times last month about the Kids Wish Network:

鈥淓very year, it spends less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.

鈥淢ost of the rest gets diverted to enrich the charity’s operators and the for-profit companies Kids Wish hires to drum up donations.

鈥淚n the past decade alone, Kids Wish has channeled nearly $110 million donated for sick children to its corporate solicitors. An additional $4.8 million has gone to pay the charity’s founder and his own consulting firms.鈥

My advice: Before you give to a charity or fundraising company, go the Tax & Charities Division and to its聽.

Know where your money is going.

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