Bleep it, they're back AGAIN in MD--July 09
Posted by samira_catlover  |  July 7, 2009 5:46:19 AM

ANOTHER call from Courtesy Call fundraisers on behalf of this group---my husband took the call and said "not interested" before I could grab hold and get more info.

DON'T these clowns ever give up?

Just hit up for funding--MD
Posted by samira_catlover  |  June 25, 2009 5:49:18 AM

"Charity Call" contacted us here in MD---got a supervisor on the line after I indicated that "breakdown info" (how much for fundraising, for admin, and for direct support) was required to be made available per Federal law.

The fundraisers would not identify how much of a donation WOULD stay in my region, how much/what percentage their agency took off, or even do more than refer me to a website. (Like, I'm going to spend a lot of my time checking up on whether a "cold caller" with no on-phone data is WORTH my funds.)

Charity Navigator---y'all ROCK!

Expensive Commercal Fundraisers
Posted by Massman  |  December 15, 2008 6:59:43 AM

Regardless, of what you think of this non-profit you should consider the for-profit Commercial Fundraisers. Commercial Fundraisers are the businesses that contact you actively asking for donations. Listing only the active fundraisers, and how much they give to the charity off the top. <example 13% of a $20 dollar donation is 2 dollars and 60 cents.>

Community Support, Inc. 13% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s).

Courtesy Call, Inc. 15% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s)

Courtesy Health Watch, Inc. 20% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s)

LAS, LLC 10% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s)

Newport Creative Communications, Inc. Unknown

Xentel, Inc. 16% of the contributions raised by this organization were returned to or retained by the charity client(s)

Information gathered from the Secretary of State of Washington State’s website: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/charities/search_detail_cfr.aspx?cfr_id=264

If you do not like these calls
Posted by Massman  |  December 11, 2008 6:51:25 AM

The Secretary of State of Washington State has a website of info on this "non-profit." http://www.secstate.wa.gov/charities/search_detail.aspx?charity_id=6983

If you do not enjoy these phone calls, I suggest you contact your local Attorney General's Office, Charitable Division. Have the name of the charity, address, and phone number. Also collect same info if a Commercial Fundraiser is calling you.

Very few charities call you themselves. Most likely the AG will send a letter on your behalf to the charity/fundraiser requesting to remove your name, phone number, and address from their lists, and to not contact you again.

Use of Funds
Posted by Just a mother  |  December 3, 2008 6:46:27 AM

I believe that the pursuit of recovery of missing children is a worthy endeavor. My experience with this organization, is not as a donor, but rather, ironically, as a "pursued parent". I returned to the U.S. from Germany under tragic circumstances, which included my child and I having been placed in a woman's shelter by foreign authorities after continued domestic violence. My child's father, a German attorney, was the beneficiary of this organization's funds. My child was ordered returned under the Hague Convention to her "home state" for disposition of custody issues there. Because of the abuse issues, I adamantly wanted to pursue appeal, so that she could remain in the U.S. However, the Committee for Missing Children purchased tickets the day of the hearing at great expense, so that the father, a German attorney with a lucrative practice, could leave with leave immediately after the court hearing with our child. I therefore had no opportunity to appeal. I was told by the father that this was done quite purposefully. Shortly thereafter, this "success" was posted on the German office website of the organization. Since then, I myself have had virtually no contact with my small child for two years. In fact, she had to witness more physical violence against her mother when I attempted visit her in Germany and he refused (charges pending).

While this organization could not have contemplated that outcome, I firmly believe it is unethical to use charitable contributions in a way which circumvents the remedies available at law to any individual, especially as against a fellow citizen, irrespective of our differences. As a disabled mother of limited means, I can only wonder about the outcome if I'd just had a chance to appeal.I attempted to discuss this matter with the CEO, to no avail. I can only hope that greater care is exercised in the future. The stakes, a child's future, demand nothing less.