ADA's lack of effort to find a cure...
Posted by JSC  |  November 3, 2009 6:01:22 AM

I spent years in the ADA as a volunteer to raise money to find a cure for diabetes. I committed my time and effort assuming that the organization was true to its mission statement of working to cure diabetes.

After some time, I began asking questions that no one in the ADA could or would answer regarding what percentage of money raised was in fact applied to research to find a cure.

A current example; the Tour de Cure monies raised through the event are not applied to research specifically designed to find a cure for diabetes. It took months of my probing before the ADA finally admitted (via email) they could not account for the distribution of funds to find a cure. Yet, they market the event, Tour de Cure. In general, the association continues to mislead millions of people who are desperate for a cure - the word "cure" should not even be a consideration in their mission statement.

I'd like my donations to be applied somewhere it will truly matter - that's not the ADA.

You get what you contract for
Posted by r_a_b  |  July 19, 2009 6:10:09 PM

I put up with ADA's irritating marketing for several years and just this past year let my membership lapse. They have the "contracted marketing-is-disparate-with-the-organization's-image syndrome." I communicated this to the administration to no avail. I must say my campaign to get them to publish pictures of real people in their magazine instead of using stock shots was successful. I wrote many times taking to task some of their so-called expert doctors that characterized their patients as children needing discipline instead of being proactive partners in their control. I also tried to get them to have advertisers include nutrition information, because several products had reallly bad numbers; I concluded the ADA would do anything for money and the influence that corporate sponsors brought to bear. Good riddance.

Nickels
Posted by zepper  |  June 24, 2009 12:36:53 PM

They are actually saving money by using nickels in their campaign mail as they only cost 5 cents to buy, but cost over 10 cents to make. Don't you feel better now? ;-)

.bh.

Nickels
Posted by Disheartened  |  March 26, 2009 6:04:57 AM

I receive about a half dozen coins in the mail of varying denominations each month. ADA has joined the list. I NEVER contribute to charities employing these practices. Fortunately there are usually other charities in the same arenas that don't send coins (or gifts or address labels, etc.)Charities: GET THE MESSAGE PLEASE. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THIS STUFF OR HIRE FUNDRAISING CONTRACTORS WHO DO IT!!!

Telemarketers for ADA
Posted by SamanthaSSJ  |  February 23, 2009 6:40:03 AM

An article in the Sacramento Bee this morning says that telemarketers took in $13 million for ADA in California in 2007 and were paid $17 million for doing so. You can check out the article at: http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1643082.html

ADA vs other similar organizations
Posted by Imagen111  |  February 6, 2009 7:17:35 AM

Yes, it's true…a lot of non-profits have trouble with expenses. It’s an extremely tough field, where you get paid little (most of the staff), are worked a lot, and are expected to move mountains with very limited resources in the face of great demand.

When you look at the American Diabetes Association's administrative costs (under 4%) versus the administrative costs of similar charities such as the Heart Association (8.1%) and the Cancer Society (9.6%), you can see that the ADA is much more effective at controlling that category of expense. The Diabetes Association spends less than half on their admins.

Some people seem to associate salary with whether or not the non-profit employee cares about their cause they are working toward. But, don't forget, everyone needs to make a living! The non-profit sector is no longer dominated by employees who come from wealthy backgrounds...most of them are just normal working-class people. And, contrary to popular belief, staff in the local offices (not including the Execs) don't make that much money. They are truly working for the cause.

When I see the salaries of the CEOs/Presidents of Heart ($732,230) and Cancer ($619,551), yes it does seem like an extreme amount to pay any person in the non-profit sector. Even when you consider how much money the CEO’s of similar-sized for-profit companies are making (millions upon millions). The point of non-profit is community service and working together for the common good, so exorbitant salaries should not be a piece of the pie. The Diabetes Association ($150,785) is no longer making that mistake, so hopefully the other large health non-profits will follow suit.

Excessive fundraising solicitations
Posted by Van  |  February 4, 2009 12:33:45 PM

As a diabetic and a member of this association, I am constantly dismayed by the constant and excessive solicitations and requests to renew membership which arrive on a weekly basis. I'm sure your soliciation efforts cost more than my annual contributions.

Salaries
Posted by albee  |  February 4, 2009 10:42:17 AM

Amazing that a former executive thinks she is worth the same as the President of the US.

Fundraising Expenses
Posted by Shocked  |  December 29, 2008 6:29:05 AM

As a diabetic and member, I find your fundraising frequency and expenses are excessive! ADA needs to focus on fundraising efficiency immediately or risk losing donors and members.

Automobile Donations
Posted by Andy  |  December 23, 2008 2:44:44 PM

Very poor value received for auto donated compared to Kelly Blue Book Value. They don't seem to attempt to get higher values and accept whatever their intermediary agent is willing to give them. The company is really benefiting from the donation; not the donor or the non-profit agency! I will never donate another automobile again!

free nickels
Posted by wesley/sadie  |  December 18, 2008 7:28:31 AM

they can't need money that uch they give away nickels