Charity Watchdog Group Continues Giving Veteran and Troops Causes an “F.”

In a report published by the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), efficiency ratings of a few well known and not so well known Veterans and Troops charities and causes reflects very little change since testimony given to Congress by AIP in 2007.   AIP’s latest Charity Rating Guide and Watchdog Report for April-May 2010 shows ratings for Vet and Troop efforts and causes from a Top “A” to low poor rating of “F.”

It is not important if the Veteran, Troop, or Military Family community seeks out or even believes the ratings given by such watchdog organizations as AIP, Charity Watchdog, or Guidestar. Several Veterans Service Organizations including younger ones from the current wars have expressed concern that shining a light on the incompetency or inefficiency of a few efforts  shines a negative light on all, but we at Veterans Today do not embrace this view because of the Veteran and Troops groups who rate an “A” regardless of UNRELATED political stands or affiliations.

We as a community of Vets, troops, and families are prone to give and take care of one another regardless how efficient our fund raisers and accountants are, because we EXPECT them to be accountable. If we are members of the Army, Air Force or other service, we are apt to donate to that services charity fund or Aid Society. A portion of my Air Force Retirement pay goes to Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), and Air Force Village, in fact my family has benefited from the AFAS. If we are members of Disabled American Veterans, the VFW, VVA, or whatever, we are prone to donate to the organization we belong to, are loyal to, or believe in regardless if more money goes to advertisement and admin overhead or not, such reactions of loyalty to an organization, cause or effort is only natural. Maybe we should but we do not question the competence of those running the Air Force Aid Society for example, especially since my family benefited from it.

However, readers it is the IMAGE put forward on how effective, inefficient, incompetent, or accountable Veteran and Troop charities and causes are in the public donor’s eyes that is most important. Why?

Well out of the 22 million or so Vets (as of U.S. Census data 2006), a small fraction of us either join a Veterans organization or use the VA for example. Even if we are able to donate to charities or Veteran and Troop causes during economic hard times, a feat in itself, donating to ourselves is like well preaching to the choir of a church congregation the vast majority of our national community does not belong to or are members of a different church, religion, or no affiliation what so ever.

Less than one percent of the U.S. population goes into the military today, thus the overall Veterans community is only destined to SHRINK. Simply put, it is more important that our Veteran and Troop support fund raisers and managers promote a positive image to the vast majority of Americans who ARE NOT VETERANS, who ARE NOT TROOPS and who, ARE NOT MILITARY FAMILIES.

I hope that the vast majority of donations to our Vet and Troop causes are coming from outside our community, because we just do not have the number of people within, especially people with money to spare, to sustain such gallant efforts alone. With that I give you the AIP ratings for those Veteran and Troop related causes.

Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, Veterans Today News

Section 33, Pages 18 and 19 of AIP’s Charity Rating Guide and Watchdog Report for April-May 2010

Organizations rated F – for POOR accountability

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American Veterans Center a program of the American Studies Center

American Veterans Coalition

American Veterans Relief Foundation

AMVETS National Headquarters

AMVETS National Service Foundation

Armed Force Aid Campaign/U.S. Armed Force Iraq Causality Appeal/TREA Memorial Foundation

Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Disabled Veterans Association – not to be confused with the DAV.

Help Hospitalized Veterans

Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation

National Veterans Service Fund

National Vietnam Veterans Committee

NCOA National Defense Fund

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Veterans Fund

Veterans of the Vietnam War & The Veterans Coalition

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

Vietnow National Headquarters

World War II Veterans Committee another program of the American Studies Center

Organizations rated A – for EXCELLENT Accountability

Armed Services YMCA of the USA

Fisher House Foundation

Homes for Our Troops

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

National Military Families Association

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Veterans for America

Organizations rated B – for GOOD Accountability

Operation Home Front

Organizations rated C – for SATISFACTORY Accountability

Disabled American Veterans

Freedom Alliance

Soldiers Angels

USO

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US and Foundation

Wounded Warrior Project

Organizations rated D – for UNSATISFACTORY Accountability

Blinded Veterans Association

United Spinal Association/Vets First

Veterans Today Editorial Comment: The American Legion National Headquarters and other major VSOs not mentioned either has not been in operation long enough to be rated or are exempt. The Legion is exempt from oversight. Meaning some Veterans or Fraternal organizations may not be legally required to publicly disclose how they are spending your donations among their program, management, and fund-raising activities. If a Veterans/Fraternal organization declines request for information and is not required to disclose this information with the IRS or state regulators, it may receive a “?” rating proceeded by Vets/Frat Exemption, such is the case with the American Legion. However, a “?” rating really means not enough information to rate the effort and donors would keep that in mind. For more detailed information on how AIP rates Support Our Veterans and Support Our Troops charities, efforts, or causes go to their website at http://www.charitywatch.org/criteria.html

Related Stories:

Veterans Charities Protest Their F’s http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/Vets_Charities_Protest_Fs.html

Inefficient, Tax-Delinquent, and Even Fake Charities Pass Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Screens http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/combinedfederalcampaign.html

F Rated Charities Awarded Best in America Seal http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/fratedbestinamerica.html

Our Veterans Deserve Better from America’s Charities http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/veterans.html

Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation Whistle-Blower Booted From Board http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/Whistle_Blower_Booted.html

Help Hospitalized Veterans – Two Layers of F’s http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/TwoLayers.html

Not Enough Charity: IRS Takes Away Tax Exempt Status http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/IRS_Pulls_Status.html

Now Is The Time To Reform Veterans Charities http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/Now_Is_The_Time.html

American Veterans Coalition: All-in-the-Family Charities Receive F’s http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/AllintheFamily.html

AIP President Daniel Borochoff’s Testimony Before the House Oversight Committee Regarding Veterans Charities (With AIP Ratings)

Soldiers Angels Lose Their Halos  http://www.charitywatch.org/articles/soldiersangels.html

AIP notes that “After publication of AIP’s article “Soldiers Angels Lose Their Halos,” Soldiers Angels (SA) improved the portions of its website mentioned in our article. These changes better reflect the additional goods, comfort, and conveniences SA offers to soldiers beyond what the military already provides in fulfilling soldiers’ basic needs.

We at Veterans Today remain skeptical [as AIP notes] that if it were not for charities, soldiers would not have their basic needs, such as boots, clothing, and hygienic products provided for them by the Department of Defense (DoD). Those of us who have served in the Armed Forces during Peacetime or Wartime know for a fact that although the equipment, supplies, and yes our basic needs may not be prefect or what we want or even need such as Body Armor, if anything the Pentagon provides more today than anytime in past history or wars. Like AIP, we find it disturbing that any Veteran or Troops effort would continue to solicit donations with claims that our troops are not getting their basic needs from an Armed Forces community that takes care of its own. Soldiers, Sailor, Marines, Airmen, and the Veterans they will become are professionals, who have EARNED benefits, honor, and recognition, NOT CHARITY CASES, and ought to be treated with respect. It is fine for a charity to send tokens of appreciation to Our Troops, but it is wrong to mislead donors by implying that the basic needs of Our Troops are not already being met by the military. That is why Our Troops have the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the Defense Commissary System, Air Force Aid Society, Army Relief, and so on.

This is why more than anything the claims, efficiency, and more so the ACCOUNTABILITY of Veteran and Troop charities, efforts, and causes must be scrutinized. It also should be noted that some of the Vet and Troop causes mentioned in the AIP articles above have taken steps toward improvement and accountability as a result of such scrutiny, but many still have not.

Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired