Laurie Styron's Links:
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Stop Junk Telemarketing Calls
Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy talking about how so-called "professional fund raisers" keep the lion's share of the money donated from telemarketing campaigns.
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Breast Cancer Fundraising: Where Does All That Money Go? | The Westside Gazette
Researching different charities and products for a breakdown of how funds are allocated is time consuming and most charities and companies don’t make it accessible, according to Laurie Styron, charity analyst for watchdog group, the American Institute of Philanthropy. “Even if you want to do your homework, the public has no way of confirming,” says Styron. “Information isn’t available and companies don’t want to give it to you.” Also, Styron says to remember that most of the money being raised in these events is for awareness, not research. “Part of what they are trying to accomplish is breast cancer awareness. If you are someone participating in these events and think that everything you raise is somehow going to research, you are wrong.”
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Confronting 'a national disgrace' - Archive - Frederick News-Post
"It's important for donors to have confidence in the charities they are donating to," Styron said.
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For Donors — Styron Consulting
Laurie Styron links to web sites of interest to donors seeking information about charities.
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Chicago Tribune | Chicago Reader | Austin Mayor Blog
The Tribune stands by its Farm Aid story, the one Neil Young tore into pieces at a news conference. Or rather reporter Jason George and his editor, Jim Kirk, stand by it. Rock critic Greg Kot holds it at arm's length. Kot wasn't consulted before the story was written, and in his Tribune interview with Young last Sunday he made it clear that Young was angry about "an investigative news story that emanated from a different department in the newspaper." Kot tells me, "Neil's father was a journalist. He knows how papers operate." Miner also "knows how papers operate" and he made a call to Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy in Chicago, who pointed out that the Trib's story "missed the whole point" of the Farm Aid concert. She says the purpose of such extravaganzas -- not just the concert but any other high-profile charity event, including the familiar black-tie auction and ball -- is to raise visibility and drum up donations. These events are expensive, she explains, and on a balance sheet often not particularly profitable.
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For Grantmakers — Styron Consulting
"Retain Laurie Styron for general consulting about your ongoing grantmaking decisions or engage her for one-time consulting about a specific organization you are considering supporting."
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Poor people's advocate may need a little help itself - Las ...
May 1, 2008 — ... flow and high turnover can be hard for a young nonprofit organization, said Laurie Styron, analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy.
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Styron Consulting, LLC | Facebook
Styron Consulting, LLC, Chicago, Illinois. 109 likes. Financial analyst, accounting consultant, & CPA candidate dedicated to improving charity governance, financial reporting, & accountability.
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Home and Familly Finance - Saco Valley Credit Union
Laurie Styron, analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), Chicago, discusses the AIP's charity rating system, which is determined by the charity's ...
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Giving Back | Live Fit and Sore
“As long as direct mail includes some kind of ‘education,’ then they think they can count that as one of their programs,” says Laurie Styron, an analyst who combs through the finances of charities to separate fundraising from programs.
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Las Vegas Sun - Poor people's advocate may need a little help itself
The combination of what O’Rourke called “very tight” cash flow and high turnover can be hard for a young nonprofit organization, said Laurie Styron, analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy. “It would be unusual for a charity to make it with this kind of beginning,” she said. Styron also said the local Urban League affiliate had what appears to be a top-heavy administration, with chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and communications/government affairs positions overseeing a full-time staff of 48. “Why do you need all these top positions?” Styron said. Austin had estimated in October that 40 percent of the organization’s budget went to administration and 60 percent to programs. Styron, whose American Institute of Philanthropy grades nonprofit organizations, said this 40-60 split might earn an organization a C. “Most would be able to spend 75 percent on programs,” she added.
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For Charities — Styron Consulting
Laurie Styron links to web sites of interest to charities.
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Deciding on Donations
However, Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy, Chicago, Ill., says having a tax form is not an endorsement of a charity. The tax form just proves the organization filed a form with the IRS. "There’s a big difference between a legitimate charity and a charity that’s operating efficiently. A charity could be completely legitimate, but they could be spending your money inefficiently," she says. "What’s more important is what the charity is doing in relation to the amount of money you’re giving them."
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Fox Business | Where the Money Goes: How to Donate Safely During Breast Cancer Month
Researching different charities and products for a breakdown of how funds are allocated is time consuming and most charities and companies don’t make it accessible, according to Laurie Styron, charity analyst. "Even if you want to do your homework, the public has no way of confirming," says Styron. "Information isn't available and companies don't want to give it to you."If you are asked by a cashier, telemarketer or someone on the street to donate to a charity, Styron said to be wary. "Generally speaking, only about one-third of what you donate to a telemarketer gets to charity," she says. "Don't respond to telemarketing calls or feel pressured to give on the spot.""People confuse the cause with the specific charity associated with the cause," Styron says. "People say, 'I care about saving the dolphins, or breast cancer, or recycling ,' and hand money over, because they think it's associated with the cause." Also think about direct mail solicitation, which can oftentimes be considered "awareness," as long as there is some type of educational information presented in the message, Styron says. "They are basically calling ‘fundraising’, ‘awareness’.”
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The Sacramento Bee | sacbee.com
"It will be interesting to see if and by how much their revenue goes down in future years as a result of this," said Laurie Styron, an analyst with CharityWatch. "They put themselves in a difficult position and have alienated people on both sides of the abortion issue." KOMEN, cancer charity, charitable giving, donating to charities
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New York Post | Questionable charities in with the bin crowd
“If you really want your clothing to do something charitable, sell them yourself or donate them to a highly efficient charity whose values are in line with your own,” said analyst Laurie Styron.
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Cadillacs for Kids | Youth Today
“People assume that states are monitoring charities, and think, ‘Certainly, a state wouldn’t let them go on doing it if they’re bad,’ ” says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy. “People think there’s this infrastructure in place, when it really isn’t.”“Few, if any, states have the resources or infrastructure in place to analyze all of the financial information a charity provides and act on it accordingly,” says Styron.
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Houston Chronicle | Research Charities Before You Give, Experts Say
"Don't be 'guilted into giving,' " Styron said. "If they pressure you, let the person know that you never give 'on-the-spot' without having time to research the charity. A charity's ability to show you sad photos or rattle off statistics doesn't really tell you anything about how efficiently it is operating, or if any of your donation will really be used for charitable causes."
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Salt Lake Tribune | NBA player charities often a losing game - Utah Local News
President Bush, in fact, saluted Mutombo in his 2007 State of the Union address as an example of ''heroic kindness, courage and self-sacrifice'' for helping to build the first new hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mutombo's homeland, in 40 years. But even as celebrity involvement can bring notoriety and cash to a cause that might otherwise languish, it also can give donors a false sense of security, said Laurie Styron of the American Institute of Philanthropy. Superstars whose charities have stumbled include Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan, whose foundation closed in 1996 after criticism over administrative costs and the hiring of his sister as executive director. L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant has dissolved at least one charity as well.
- Laurie Styron
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CBS MoneyWatch :Charities Fake Their Numbers to Look Good - CBS News
Styron said that inflating the value of in-kind donations is a common way to fudge a charity's numbers, making a non-profit appear efficient on paper, when it's wildly inefficient in practice. Another way that charities can fudge their numbers is to claim their fundraising expenses as "educational" costs, Styron said. Charity regulators allow the cost of mailed solicitations to be classified as "education" (which falls under the "programs" umbrella) as long as there is some "call to action" in the fundraising appeal, she said. What's that? It can be as mundane as saying: "Remember to get your annual breast exam," Styron said. Or "Vote!" In addition, the cost of salaries for staff members must be allocated between "programs," "administration," and "marketing," based on how they spend their time. That, too, is a subjective process, where those with the most aggressive stance about what falls into the "programs" basket look the best.
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San Diego Union Tribune
No law requires fund-raisers to give a specific amount of the money they raise to charity, and unscrupulous ones will keep the lion's share. Next, make sure you get the charity's exact name. "Sometimes when there is an excellently run charity, another one will pop up and name themselves something similar," says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy, a watchdog organization.
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Laurie Styron - Chicago, Illinois, CharityWatch , Northeastern
Laurie Styron was appointed Executive Director of CharityWatch in 2020 after more than sixteen years of commitment to the organization.
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Harold Camping Oct. 21 Rapture: Is Family Radio a Trusted ...
The Christian Post spoke with Laurie Styron, an analyst for American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), a nonprofit charity watchdog and ...
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Greg Mortenson - 60 Minutes Videos - CBS News
Non-Profit Financial Analyst Laurie Styron consulted for 60 Minutes investigation into Greg Mortenson's charity, Central Asia Institute. Steve Kroft investigates Produced by Andy Court, Kevin Livelli and Maria Usman. Daniel Borochoff and Jon Krakauer interviewed. Books: Three Cups of Tea & Stones into Schools.
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Laurie Styron | LinkedIn
Laurie Styron, Accountant & Non-Profit Financial Analyst. Charities, charitable giving, accounting services for charities, advice for donors
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Integrated Healthcare Strategies | Justifying Executive Pay at Non-Profit Healthcare Organizations
The high salaries may not jibe with most peoples' perception of a nonprofit, said Laurie Styron, an analyst with CharityWatch, a Chicago-based nonprofit charity watchdog and information service formerly known as the American Institute of Philanthropy, but they're often necessary for the nonprofits to perform their services. "That's not to say there aren't people who get excessive compensation (from nonprofits)," Styron said. "There definitely are. ... "Nonprofits have to compete with the private sector for employees, so there's no absolute dollar figure you can point to and say, 'Oh, that's too much to pay.' You have to consider all the contexts involved. The amount of money a nonprofit pays someone may seem high, but maybe that's what they need to pay to attract someone who can do the job effectively."
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Personal Statement — Styron Consulting
"Knowing that accounting goes beyond memorizing rules is important when implementing internal controls, choosing and applying accounting methods, and compiling financial statements. However, understanding the language of accounting is absolutely critical when analyzing the financial reporting of others. Things are not always as they appear."
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Do Some Charities Become Too Good for... - Styron Consulting, LLC | Facebook
Do Some Charities Become Too Good for Their Own Good? I read an interesting article in The Huffington Post recently by Kathleen P. Enright, the head of...
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Controversy Surrounds Planet Aid Organization’s Collection Boxes | Pittsburgh News
“They are really playing some accounting tricks here because once you reallocate all their clothing collection costs back into fundraising – where it really belongs – they actually spend a very low percentage of their budget each year on their programs,” Laurie Styron, of Charity Watch, said.
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Sacramento Bee: Amid Komen group controversy, registration drops for Sacramento's Race for the Cure
What the fallout will be in the long term is still to be determined, said one official with a charity watchdog organization. "It will be interesting to see if and by how much their revenue goes down in future years as a result of this," said Laurie Styron, an analyst with CharityWatch. "They put themselves in a difficult position and have alienated people on both sides of the abortion issue."
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Our View: Don't judge a book | Craig Daily Press
"Charity finance can be confusing, and the reporting rules and laws governing it leave a lot to be desired," said Laurie Styron, an analyst.
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VIDEO | 10 News Investigators: Veterans Support Organization (VSO) not helping many veterans | wtsp.com
VIDEO: "The charity is reporting zero fundraising expenses," noted the AIP's Laurie Styron. "The charity is claiming that expenses like $151,300 in 'solicitation location fees,' $1,747,010 in 'solicitor pay and payroll taxes,' and $84,785 in 'solicitors travel' expenses are somehow related to its programs. Veterans Support Organization, charitable giving
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NewsOK | Oklahoma law enforcement charities pay thousands to ...
"When you have these highly inefficient charities siphoning all the resources away from efficient ones, that's not in anyone's best interest,” said Laurie Styron, an analyst.
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Concerns raised about overhead costs of Tonganoxie-based nonprofit Purple Heart Veterans Foundation | TonganoxieMirror.com
Another red flag for Styron was the creation of a second nonprofit that “tugs at the heart strings.” Support the troops? Help kids with cancer? Who wouldn’t want to help out, she said. Styron cited previous cases across the country where individuals have created multiple nonprofits as way to funnel donation money to themselves.The best thing consumers can do to prevent potential shady practices is be educated about where you donate, Styron said. “Never give impulsively,” she said.
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Federal grand jury looking into nonprofit Kilpatrick Civic Fund | wzzm13.com
Laurie Styron, an analyst with the Chicago-based American Institute for Philanthropy, said she could not say if it's illegal for a nonprofit or charity to pay criminal defense attorneys, even if such payments fall outside the fund's stated purpose. But, Styron said, "if they're using the charity to subsidize their own private lifestyle, that's highly unethical."
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MSN Canada: Federal workers aid suspect charities
The use of CFC participation as a badge of honor by participating charities creates a problem for all donors, not just federal workers, since donors may think the government has investigated the groups, says Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy, another watchdog group. That’s no big deal if you’re wealthy enough to hire an investigator, “but if you’re a little old lady giving $100 a year, you think this group has a governmental seal of approval and you think these groups have really been checked out,” Styron said.
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MSNBC - Federal workers aid suspect charities - US news - Giving - msnbc.com
The use of CFC participation as a badge of honor by participating charities creates a problem for all donors, not just federal workers, since donors may think the government has investigated the groups, says Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy, another watchdog group. That’s no big deal if you’re wealthy enough to hire an investigator, “but if you’re a little old lady giving $100 a year, you think this group has a governmental seal of approval and you think these groups have really been checked out,” Styron said.
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Charitable Giving: How Is Your Money Being Spent ...
"If you are in a position to make large donations to charity, it is easier to put restrictions on how the funds may be used by the charity and track the results," says Laurie Styron." For donors making smaller gifts, following up on your donation requires you to look at how efficiently the charity is operating on the whole," says Styron. "Even if the charity happened to use your $100 donation on feeding hungry kids, for example, if it spent the vast majority of its other expenses on fundraising and other overhead that year, clearly this is not a group that is accomplishing what it should relative to the donations it receives."
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Charity Run By NFL Legend Mike Ditka Folds -By NBC News Channel MINNEAPOLIS
"In 2005 the group gave out more money to pay celebrities to play golf than the group in its entire three years of operation gave out to injured players," explained Laurie Styron. She also said it appeared to be unintentional. "It doesn't appear there was ill intent, it appears there was just a lot of mismanagement."
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Reaching out: Companies find that charity is good business - Las Cruces Sun-News
Find out about expenses: Even if the charity is a good one, you might feel cheated if you later find out that most of your gift went to pay the people who called you up and asked for money, or to pay the salaries of the group's top officers. In general, efficient groups will spend at least 65 percent of their funds on the causes they support, says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the Chicago-based American Institute of Philanthropy. LAS CRUCES
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Los Angeles Times | Charities often need middlemen
"National Veterans Foundation spends 19% of their budget on programs, and it costs them $89 to raise $100 in public donations," Laurie Styron, an analyst, told me. Styron asked me a fair question: If I got a phone call or a letter asking me to give $100 to a charity, would I still consider giving if I knew the vast majority of my money would go to a professional fundraising company instead of to the charity? I had to admit, my answer would be no.
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NBC New York | Espada's Nonprofit Clunkers Raise Eyebrows
"An employee and their relatives should not use a charity's resources for personal gain or to offset personal expenses," said Laurie Styron, an analyst.
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Maximize Charitable Donations by Contributing from your IRA — Styron Consulting
Of course, contributing to charity from your IRA is not the only way to make a tax-free donation. Itemizers of any age can also generally deduct up to 50% of adjusted gross income (computed without regard to net operating losses or carrybacks) for contributions made to public charities and certain other non-profits. To take a deduction for the 2014 tax year donations must actually be paid before the close of the tax year. Expressing an intent to donate but not sending funds to the charity until 2015 will generally not qualify for a 2014 tax deduction.
- Giving With Purpose & A Pickled Pod – Jill Blakeway
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Lancaster Online | Check before you chuck: tips on donating clothing - News ...
"Most charity workers are honest, but the anonymity of placing something in a bin without getting a receipt presents an ideal opportunity for theft," Styron said. Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors
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Some wary of football season ticket program - The Michigan Daily
Gifts to the Athletic Department do not benefit the University's academic side because the two have separate budgets. "Most people have limited resources," said Laurie Styron, an analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy. "So when they're making giving decisions, often times they are choosing among many causes that are important to them. It's quite possible that they will view this as their charitable donation for the year."
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MarketWatch | Misdirected philanthropy
Says Laurie Styron, a financial analyst: "There are real consequences to giving to an inefficient charity. You may accomplish less giving $1,000 to an inefficient charity than giving $100 to an efficient one." Put in clearer terms: "If ABC charity feeds five starving children with a $100 donation and XYZ charity can feed 50, if you give to the inefficient one, that's 45 children not being fed," Styron says. "That's why making educated decisions is such a key element to giving." Adds Styron: "People who hustle to get donations in by year-end are more susceptible to highly emotional appeals. Whatever shows up in our mailbox -- a solicitation with photos of starving children -- and voila, I have my charity." Don't let the research involved in responsible giving dissuade you, Styron says. Instead, take advantage of the growing transparency and your ability to give more to your chosen cause with minimal effort. Says Styron: "The most charitable thing anyone can do is to educate themselves on where their money is going, to ensure they accomplish the most good for something that really matters to them."
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‘CHARITIES’ LOOK LIKE PARODIES | New York Post
“If you really want your clothing to do something charitable, sell them yourself or donate them to a highly efficient charity whose values are in line with your own,” said CharityWatch analyst Laurie Styron. Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors
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Styron Consulting
Laurie Styron has worked with a wide range of media outlets on investigative pieces involving nonprofits, conducting research and financial analysis, ...
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New Requirements for Non-Profit Reporting of Net Assets — Styron Consulting
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has proposed changes to how charities must report their net assets and is accepting public comment until August 20, 2015. The changes are intended to improve the usefulness of financial statements for both internal and external stakeholders while reducing the complexities and costs shouldered by charities required to produce financial data about their operations.
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Doomsday Church: Still Open For Business - AllDeaf.com
"At first glance, it looks like they have a lot of assets, but they actually don't have a lot of cash that they're stockpiling," said Laurie Styron." If people donating to this group think the world is ending on Saturday, then I'm not sure that they care," Styron said.
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Chicago Tribune | When you buy or think pink, know where your green is going
"As long as direct mail includes some kind of 'education,' then they think they can count that as one of their programs," said Laurie Styron, an analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy. Styron combs through the finances of charities to separate fundraising from programs.
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Giving season coming up short | SouthCoastToday.com
Laurie Styron, an analyst in Chicago, told The Standard-Times "There have been so many disasters this year. If people are giving their money to national disaster funds, which we've seen happening, then it is going to have an effect on local charities and causes, and could potentially be a big problem." Ms. Styron said donations to human service-type organizations have been in decline for the past three years, and that the year of disasters will probably hurt local organizations even more this season. "If people gave whatever they had to disaster victims, maybe they will say, 'I don't have any more to give.' But there's still a lot of need out there, especially with local groups." Ms. Styron said people might have been more apt to give to "flashy" disaster funds after they saw dramatic photos, video clips or celebrities on TV asking for money -- and might forget about their local neighborhood charities. "For national disasters, there were all kinds of dramatic photos of disaster victims and famous people making pleas, whereas, for a lot of local charities, it's not as flashy. Local charities just rely on people to remember them." She said financial information isn't available yet as to how charities were affected by the year of disasters because a complete fiscal year has not passed.
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Ebola Outbreak - How the Narrative Affects the Need — Styron Consulting
"Much of the success of fundraising for a disaster depends on how the narrative of the disaster is crafted by the governments and charities responding to it, and how the story unfolds in the media. If it's personal-- if the story is told in a way that provides a clear beginning point for the crisis and also allows us to imagine ourselves being in the desperate situation at hand--our empathy gene is activated. If on the other hand the narrative becomes too impersonal--too many statistics; too focused on intellectual public policy discussions; too generalized and focused on the otherness of far off problems in far away places--the story falls flat. We don't feel involved. And when we don't feel involved we don't give."
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Komen defends its 'For the Cure" trademark protection
With more than 2 million charities in the country, there are just so many words and colors that can be used, and legal wrangling about pink and “for the cure” begins to “sound ridiculous,” said Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy. “This could really backfire if Komen takes it too far.”
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Sun Sentinel
"As long as direct mail includes some kind of 'education,' then they think they can count that as one of their programs," said Laurie Styron, an analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy. Styron combs through the finances of charities to separate fundraising from programs.
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Nonprofit Imperative : Too Few Charity Regulators
“In 2008, the Defeat Diabetes Foundation spent only 17 percent of its cash budget on it's programs, with the remainder being spent on fundraising and other overhead, so it received an 'F' rating for financial efficiency from AIP,” said Laurie Styron, an AIP analyst. In 2008, $728,000 went to professional fundraisers and $164,000 went to Defeat Diabetes.
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Neil Young Has a Cow | Media | Chicago Reader
But Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy in Chicago, tells me the Tribune "missed the whole point" of the concert. She says the purpose of such extravaganzas--not just the concert but any other high-profile charity event, including the familiar black-tie auction and ball--is to raise visibility and drum up donations. These events are expensive, she explains, and on a balance sheet often not particularly profitable. But she says that's not how to judge them. Referring to the 2003 Farm Aid tax return George had cited in his article, she wrote him an e-mail saying he "completely ignored the $747,880 which was raised [in donations] above and beyond the retail value of the ticket price, which is reported as Contributions." She went on, "The whole point of a charity throwing such an event is the opportunity for them to raise Contributions."
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NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams - Giving in Haiti
Ms. LAURIE STYRON (American Institute of Philanthropy): "Never give to charity based on emotion or give to a charity that you're not familiar with. There are just too many scams and frauds." NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. VIDEO
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Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Ending one year in negative territory doesn’t necessarily mean the organization is going under, says Laurie Styron. But if the organization comes up short for several years in a row, she says, “that’s an indication it could be winding down. Your contribution could be used to pay legal fees or creditors rather than the programs you are intending to support.”
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Red Cross Accused of Diverting Assets from Storm Victims in Favor of Image Promotion — Styron Consulting
"Donors do need to understand that disaster relief is not an exact science and that it is unrealistic to expect the Red Cross and other relief organizations to perfectly predict where and when aid is most needed, and to distribute that aid with no waste and zero victims falling through the cracks. These organizations rely on a lot of volunteers who may not be adequately skilled or trained to perform all the tasks needed to assist those affected. And by their very nature disasters and their resulting effects on transportation routes, electrical grids, and other infrastructure present frustrating challenges that are not always easily or efficiently overcome. Some slack, issues with resource distribution, and response lag-time is par for the course, within reason."
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ICPAS - Illinois CPA Society
“Follow the cash because including donated goods in this analysis can greatly skew the numbers and make certain charities appear to be operating very efficiently, even when most of its cash donations are being used for fund-raising or management,” says Styron. Be wary of any organization that fails to respond to your inquiries about their finances. Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors
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Mike Ditka: Information from Answers.com
Mike Ditka Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka is one of only two men — the other is Tom Flores — to have won a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Born October 18, 1939, Ditka was drafted to play tight end by the Bears in 1961,...
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Check-a-Charity — Styron Consulting
"Retain Laurie Styron for general consulting about your charitable giving decisions or engage her for one-time consulting about a specific organization you are considering supporting. If you are passionate about certain causes but need assistance identifying specific charities working efficiently and effectively in those causes, Laurie Styron can help"
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Funds for Oklahoma charities go in part to fundraisers | News OK
"It seems so shocking, doesn't it, but that is not unusual,” said Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy. "In the case of these professional fundraisers, if you were to just tell a donor ... people would refuse to give. They'd hang up on you.”Styron said many telemarketing campaigns rely on donors not knowing who is calling, where they are calling from and how much of the donors' money is going to the telemarketing companies.
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How to Choose and Evaluate a Charity Before Giving
Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), adds that many people mistakenly assume all charities are worthwhile, or that they are monitored by the government to ensure they are fulfilling their mission "In truth, under the First Amendment, the government is not allowed to mandate that a charity spend a minimum percentage of your donations on bona fide charitable programs,” says Styron. “Charities just have to show that they are doing something charitable, which in the worst case can mean that only 1 percent of what you donate will be used for charitable programs." Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors
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Dallas News | Troy Aikman Foundation sitting on $1.6 million in unused funds | Dallas Morning News
A financial analyst who reviewed the Aikman Foundation's records said a charity shouldn't keep a rainy day fund unless it is accruing money for a specific project. “To have a charity sitting on many, many times its budget in reserve for an event in the future that may or may not occur. ... If all charities did that, we'd be in big trouble,” said Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy. Aikman's philosophy, Styron said, is similar to a world hunger organization sitting on its money because it doesn't know where the next famine will break out – even though people are starving around the world today. “I'm sure Troy Aikman has other causes he really feels passionate about, and he should really consider donating this money to one of those if he's not able to use it in the near future,” she said.
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Fox Tampa Diabetes charity refutes failing grade - FOX 13 News
“In 2008, the Defeat Diabetes Foundation spent only 17 percent of its cash budget on it's programs, with the remainder being spent on fundraising and other overhead, so it received an 'F' rating for financial efficiency from AIP,” said Laurie Styron, an AIP analyst. “Now why this is of concern to donors is that if you are a donor who is giving money to this charity now, more than likely at least part of your donation will be going to pay some of those past debts versus those programs that you are currently trying to support,” Styron said.
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Commercial real estate firm hired to market Pouch Camp
"On the hierarchy of who they should have their hand out to, the national should be pretty high up on that list," Laurie Styron, an analyst for AIP, said of the financially-struggling Greater New York Councils of Boy Scouts. "Based purely on the numbers, the national has the resources to do it," she added.
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Garden & Gun | Giving Wisely by Caroline McCoy. G&G Holiday 2007 | Garden and Gun
“What you need to know is what a charity is accomplishing in relation to the resources it receives,” she says. “One charity may be able to vaccinate fifty children with your ,000 donation, while another charity may be able to vaccinate a hundred children with the same ,000.”Once you’ve determined the cause or causes you want to support, identify the charities that target them, and research them. Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy, another charity watchdog organization that provides comprehensive information on hundreds of charities, cautions against basing decisions on information provided by the charities themselves.
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Fox Lubbuck - How to Choose and Evaluate a Charity Before Giving
Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), adds that many people mistakenly assume all charities are worthwhile, or that they are monitored by the government to ensure they are fulfilling their mission "In truth, under the First Amendment, the government is not allowed to mandate that a charity spend a minimum percentage of your donations on bona fide charitable programs,” says Styron. “Charities just have to show that they are doing something charitable, which in the worst case can mean that only 1 percent of what you donate will be used for charitable programs."
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Five Ways to Check a Charity - Free Online Library
Beware red ink. Charities must file a Form 990 with the IRS annually (if you can't find the form on the charity's Web site, call and request a copy). Look for the line that indicates whether the charity has positive or negative assets. If the answer is negative, steer clear, says Laurie Styron. "Your donation may go to legal or accounting fees, or to pay past debts relating to the charity winding down, rather than to the programs you're intending to support."Review the charity's annual report. Look for the word "unqualified" in the auditor's note, which indicates that the auditor has signed off on the charity's finances without reservation. If, on the other hand, the audit is "qualified," it means that the auditor may have substantial doubt that the charity can exist for another year, says Styron. Circumstances that trigger such concerns include the loss of a major donor or an overall decline in contributions.
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Giving Guidance — Styron Consulting
Too often we give to charity reactively rather than proactively. We don't seek out the most financially efficient charity with the absolute best, most effective programs, research its mission and and activities to ensure its goals and values are in ...
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Breast Cancer Research: How To Donate | BlackDoctor
Researching different charities and products for a breakdown of how funds are allocated is time consuming and most charities and companies don’t make it accessible, according to Laurie Styron, charity analyst for watchdog group, the American Institute of Philanthropy. “Even if you want to do your homework, the public has no way of confirming,” says Styron. “Information isn’t available and companies don’t want to give it to you.” Also, Styron says to remember that most of the money being raised in these events is for awareness, not research. “Part of what they are trying to accomplish is breast cancer awareness. If you are someone participating in these events and think that everything you raise is somehow going to research, you are wrong.”
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Getting Ahead by Giving Back | Physicians Practice
There’s no question, philanthropy is a win-win for small businesses, says Laurie Styron, an analyst. “Coming together collectively to contribute donations or volunteer time toward a common cause can help to build a sense of camaraderie and common purpose among employees,” she says.You’ll get better employee buy-in, of course, if you look for a cause that your staff can rally around. Better yet, make them part of the process. Styron suggests holding a staff meeting to solicit input. “Be sure to give each employee an equal voice in choosing which cause or charity to support, as people are more likely to participate if they feel they have participated in the decision making process,” she says. “It’s equally important to be considerate of your employees’ privacy, as well as their time or financial limitations by not making public the amount each person contributes. This will help to make the act of giving together a positive experience rather than a stressful or divisive one.” “You need to make sure you go beyond just selecting a cause,” says Styron. “There may be 100 groups working toward cures for cancer, but it doesn’t mean they’re good at it.” Some spend only 10 percent of what they collect on their actual program, she says.
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VIDEO - CBS LOS ANGELES | Charity Watchdog Accuses Planet Aid Of Misleading Its Donors
VIDEO: “They are really playing some accounting tricks here because once you reallocate all their collection costs back into fundraising, where it really belongs, they actually spend a very low percentage of their budget each year on their programs,” Laurie Styron said.
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The Nine Most Mismanaged Charities In America - 24/7 Wall ...
Though most non-profits are run by responsible managements and boards of directors, a select few are not. One way that these organizations get tripped up is because of nepotism. Though having family members working in the same organization is not necessarily a bad thing, it can be a warning sign. “It’s definitely a red flag” says AIP analyst Laurie Styron in an interview. “It crowds out the best available people from landing jobs based on their merits. It promotes a lack of oversight.”
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RADIO INTERVIEW: All Sides with Ann Fisher : 11:00 AM - Rating Charities and ...
RADIO INTERVIEW [stream 3:35 to 33:42] : Laurie Styron interview about Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson and his charity Central Asia Institute. 60 Minutes & CharityWatch Investigation.
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Hawaii Star Bulletin - Checking on Charities
Ten states do not even require charities to register with the state, either electronically or on paper, according to Laurie Styron. She cautioned that donors should remember that being registered does not imply state endorsement, and financial statements should be carefully reviewed. Charities, donor advice, charitable giving
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10 Tips for Choosing a Charity - today > news - TODAY.com
Even if the charity is a good one, you might feel cheated if you later find out that most of your gift went to pay the people who called you up and asked for money, or to pay the salaries of the group's top officers. In general, efficient groups will spend at least 65 percent of their funds on the causes they support, says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the Chicago-based American Institute of Philanthropy, which rates charities for donors.
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Funds for Oklahoma charities go in part to fundraisers
"It seems so shocking, doesn't it, but that is not unusual," said Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy. "In the case of these professional fundraisers, if you were to just tell a donor ... people would refuse to give. They'd hang up on you."
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USA Today | FBI tackling rising number of Haiti scams
“Choose the charity you want to (support) before you’re asked,” says Laurie Styron, a Charitywatch analyst. “If you give in response to someone pressuring you . . . you don’t have time to check out the group. Don’t feel guilty about saying, ‘No,’ “ Styron says.
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Los Angeles Times: How much pink turns into green?
"As long as direct mail includes some kind of 'education,' then they think they can count that as one of their programs," says Laurie Styron, an analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy who combs through the finances of charities to separate fundraising from programs.
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Good Morning America, Tim Tebow, RetailMeNot, and Ford Surprise Youth Basketball Charity with Generous Support — Styron Consulting
I was happy to work with Good Morning America in December 2014 to assist them with screening NewFlex Hoops, aka NewFlex Youth Programs, a New York based charity that focuses on mentoring youth through basketball and other sports programs. This is a small charity primarily run by volunteers that provides important youth programs in an underserved community.
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How to Give to Charity the Right Way - Health.com
Don't let guilt guide your giving You're emerging from Macys, arms bulging with gifts. How could you not give a few dollars to the person soliciting for a good cause outside the door? Heres why not: “You have no idea if its a legitimate charity or representative,” says Laurie Styron, an analyst. “And if you give cash, you have no way to make sure it got to the group.”
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Laurie Styron Archives » All Sides with Ann Fisher
Content tagged with Laurie Styron. ... Archived Programs · Mass Incarceration Series · About All Sides · Contact Us. Archives: Laurie Styron. August 3, 2011 ...
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Project Management — Styron Consulting
"Many nonprofit leaders are already stretched thin and lack the time or mental space to redirect their attention away from their organization's larger goals in order to oversee the details of an important project. Laurie Styron can help you identify the information you need to make wise cost/benefit decisions for your project within the appropriate scope and in consideration of limited resources."
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Lubbock Avalanche Journal | Some 'bad' groups spend more on fundraising than programs
"It's important to make educated decisions and not emotional ones," said Laurie Styron. "Always take the time to check out the charity before you give," Styron said."Even if they are a legitimate charity, that doesn't tell you if it is a good charity or bad charity," Styron said. Since there are many inefficient charities out there, charity watch groups encourage potential givers to look into how an organization spends their money.
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Controversy Surrounds Planet Aid Organization’s Collection Boxes
“They are really playing some accounting tricks here because once you reallocate all their clothing collection costs back into fundraising – where it really belongs – they actually spend a very low percentage of their budget each year on their programs,” Laurie Styron, of Charity Watch, said.
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Students arm selves for charity with silicone bracelets - KentWired.com
To order bracelets, Laurie Styron, analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy, a watch-dog group that monitors charity’s spending, recommends contacting national charities directly. “If you’re going to buy a bracelet online,” Styron said, “the one question to ask is how much of my money is going to go to the cause? Any group that can’t answer that question, I would be wary of.”
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Media — Styron Consulting
Laurie Styron has worked with a wide range of media outlets on investigative pieces involving nonprofits, conducting research and financial analysis, and ...
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Troy Aikman funds sit unused | Dallas Morning News
A financial analyst who reviewed the Aikman foundation’s records said a charity shouldn’t keep a rainy day fund, unless it is accruing money for a specific project. “To have a charity sitting on many, many times its budget in reserve for an event in the future that may or may not occur...if all charities did that we’d be in big trouble,” said Laurie Styron. Aikman’s philosophy, Styron said, is similar to a world hunger organization sitting on its money because it doesn’t know where the next famine will break out — even though people are starving around the world today. “I’m sure Troy Aikman has other causes he really feels passionate about and he should really consider donating this money to one of those if he’s not able to use it in the near future.”
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Los Angeles Times: Union-founded nonprofit spent zero on its charitable purpose in two years
Laurie Styron, vice president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, said the nonprofit should be more forthcoming. "Charities have an ethical obligation to be transparent," she said.
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Fox Tampa | Charity gets 'F' for the way it raises funds - FOX 13 News
“If this charity promised you a couple years ago that it was going to wean itself away from its reliance on professional fundraisers, it certainly hasn't kept its promise,” said Laurie Styron, speaking on behalf of the charity watchdog group which is based in Chicago. “Certainly if a group is only spending 6 percent of it's total expenses in 2007 and 2008 on its programs, you do have to question if the person running the group is really earning their keep,” said Styron who reviewed Children’s Charity Funds latest tax returns from 2008.
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Safe Volunteerism and Charity Online - Norton.com
Then, says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy, a watchdog group, take these steps to better know your charity: 1. Research.
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CBS Pittsburgh | Controversy Surrounds Planet Aid Organization’s Collection Boxes | Stuck in Pittsburgh
“They are really playing some accounting tricks here because once you reallocate all their clothing collection costs back into fundraising – where it really belongs – they actually spend a very low percentage of their budget each year on their programs,” Laurie Styron, of Charity Watch, said.
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Wall Street Journal - How to Check Out a Charity's Financial Health - WSJ
"Charities' financials are just as complicated as those of a corporation, if not more," says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the nonprofit watchdog service CharityWatch, based in Chicago. "Be careful as a layman of reading too much into these." It's important to do financial checks, Ms. Styron says, but when in doubt, she advises donating to a charity that has a good reputation.
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Some wary of football season ticket program - The Michigan ...
"Most people have limited resources," said Laurie Styron, an analyst. "So when they're making giving decisions, often times they are choosing among many causes that are important to them. It's quite possible that they will view this as their charitable donation for the year."
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Proactive charitable giving | Erickson Tribune
In fact, Laurie Styron, an analyst with the Chicago-based American Institute of Philanthropy, says to be wary of charities that claim to spend 90% or more of donations on programming. That could be an indication that the group is bending the rules to include fundraising which has a small educational component such as programming. That is just semantics, Styron says. There is no way to raise money without spending some. Styron also cautions people to watch out for charities that use high-pressure techniques or try to convince you to donate this year by claiming that you gave last year. Perhaps you have written a check in the past, but some unethical groups could be relying on you not remembering whether you ve donated to compel you to give for the first time. If you re not familiar with the group, check your records and do your homework before you make a donation.