Laurie Styron's Links:

• 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.

• FBI tackling rising number of relief scams | The Salt Lake Tribune

  "Choose the charity you want to [support] before you're asked," says Laurie Styron, an analyst.

• 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."

• Check Your Charities - Natural Health

  “People frequently make a donation to a charity because they like the cause, but without fully understanding the types of programs they are supporting, or how much of their donation will actually go to the cause itself,” notes Laurie Styron. You can further narrow your search by deciding where you want your money to go. “Some cancer charities will spend most of your donation on research, others on direct assistance to patients and still others on pamphlets, TV ads and other types of awareness,” says Styron. “Don’t assume that just because a charity has a cause you believe in that it operates the types of programs you are interested in supporting.” Do your due diligence and donate from there.

• 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

• Donor Beware: Hate Group Non-Profits Often Have Innocuous Sounding Names — Styron Consulting

  The lesson for donors is to never judge a charity based on its name alone. In this way you can avoid making a donation to a charity that is highly inefficient or whose mission and programs are not in line with your values. Just because a charity has the word "veterans," or "children" or "cancer" in its name does not guarantee that even one penny of your donation will actually be used to help veterans, children, or people with cancer.

• 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.

• Feed the Pig: Financial Literacy for All from the AICPA — Styron Consulting

  In recent years the AICPA has expanded its knowledge base to include tips and advice on financial management for the general public. Its web site, Feed the Pig, offers a wide range of general advice to help get people started on a good financial path. Intuitive apps will walk you through the basics of home buying, retirement savings, education planning, and more.

• 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.”

• 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.”

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• The Christian Post | Harold Camping Oct. 21 Rapture: Is Family Radio a Trusted ...

  "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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• Fox Dallas Fort Worth | Court records detail Kelleys' financial troubles | myFOXdfw.com

  We asked CharityWatch to review the documents, and here is what analyst Laurie Styron concluded: "Based on the very limited information in the charity's 2007 tax form, it is not clear that the Kelleys were doing anything illegal. What is clear is that none of the money raised was spent on cancer research grants. The charity did not report that any of the travel, meals, or other expenses were related to granting wishes to terminally ill adult cancer patients, as was its mission. With only three people on the charity's board, two of them husband and wife, there was not enough independent oversight in place to ensure proper or efficient use of funds."

• Lancaster Online | Who's Who in Donation Bins

  But Styron said other charities consider collection costs a fundraising expense. If Planet Aid did not collect clothing, it would not end up in landfills, she said. Other charities would happily accept it for use in their programs. "There is a ready market for used clothing, and many charities compete for clothing donations, so these items have value," Styron said.

• 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,...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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.Read more

• Huffington Post | American Institute of Philanthropy Gives Charities Failing Grades

  "A lot of donors assume that if a charity files with the IRS then that means the charity is legitimate," said AIP analyst Laurie Styron. "But that doesn't mean someone has rigorously checked out the charity and determined your donation will be spent the way you intend." Most charities are regulated at the state level. There are no minimums on what they must spend on programs nor legal limits on how much they may spend to raise money.But some groups that claim to spend a hefty chunk on "programs" may use a different definition than donors. Those pre-printed address labels and note cards that regularly come in the mail to play on your guilt to send back a check? If the fundraising pitch contains a reminder to get a breast exam or gives a statistic about homeless veterans, the group could call that part of its "educational program," Styron noted. "Most donors would be shocked if they knew that the same charity telling you we spend 90 percent on programs was really using most of your money just to send more direct mail to you," she said.

• 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.

• 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.

• In this season of giving, open the checkbook, but give it some thought - SFGate

  "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.

• Charitable Giving: How Is Your Money Being Spent?

  If you determine that a charity you donated money to has made poor use of financial contributions, do you have any recourse? It’s not likely you will get your money back. "Charities are rarely under any legal obligation to return your donation to you in the event you later become dissatisfied with your giving decision," says Styron.

• Styron Consulting, LLC

  "Laurie Styron is a financial analyst and accounting consultant with thirteen years experience in the nonprofit sector. Laurie has dedicated her career to helping charities improve their governance, financial reporting, and public accountability, and to helping funders make better-informed donating decisions.Laurie has worked with a wide range of media outlets on investigative pieces involving non-profits, conducting research and financial analysis and providing interviews for both television and radio as well as print/online publications."

• 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.”

• 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."

• 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.”

• 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."

• 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.

• New York Magazine - How to Find Charities That Will Do the Most With Your Money

  Analyst Laurie Styron talks about how to give to charitis that will do the most with your money.Groups for veterans, lost children, or firefighters and police. A lot of times, someone who wants to set up a sham charity will think, Oh, everyone wants to donate to a wounded soldier, a lost child, or the burn unit at the hospital.

• Mike Ditka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  Ultimately, however, in December 2007, Ditka folded his "Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund" charity amidst revelations that, "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", according to Laurie Styron of the American Institute of Philanthropy.

• For Corporate Donors — Styron Consulting

  "Retain Laurie Styron for general consulting about your company's ongoing charitable giving decisions or engage her for one-time consulting about a specific organization you are considering supporting."

• San Diego Uptown News Premier culinary event benefits Mama’s Kitchen

  Laurie Styron, an analyst with charitywatch.org, said organizations across the country such as Mama’s Kitchen have been seeing an increase in volunteers during the down economy. “Some of it is certainly altruism, but another aspect of it is people are just available when previously they haven’t been,” Styron said. “People who’ve been unable to find work are using volunteering as an opportunity to gain valuable experience to improve their resume or, in some cases, they’re looking for networking opportunities. It’s definitely better than sitting at home waiting for a job to come to you.”

• 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."

• Newsweek - Polish Edition | Kto pomoże Mikołajom? - ŚWIAT - Newsweek.pl

  Laurie Styron discusses the long tradition of community organizing in the United States with Newsweek, Polish Edition. Charities & charitable giving.

• Canada | Western Standard - Save the anti-sealers

  "If people think that all this money is actually going to help these seals, when it actually may be going into producing more literature to send out more fundraising materials, we definitely feel that charities should be forthcoming about that," says Laurie Styron, an analyst with AIP.

• 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."

• 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.”

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• VIDEO: CBS Miami: I-Team: Veterans Charity Questioned

  “From a governance perspective this charity is a one man operation. The president of this charity gave himself voting rights for the entire board of directors,” Styron said. “This is unheard of in the charity world.” The 990 [of Disabled Veterans Foundation] shows that director and president Jean Luc Veraguas “has voting rights for all directors.” “Nobody other than the president has any real power,” said Styron of DVF and Veraguas. “You are putting your trust in this one person. And how much do you know about this person?” “Whenever you hand cash over to someone on the street there is absolutely no way of tracking how your donation is used,” said Laurie Styron, based in Chicago. “What should be a very big red flag for donors is that if there are some discrepancies with what the charity reports on its website and what the charity’s financial reporting tells us,” said Styron. “There are troubling discrepancies between how the charity (DVF) is portraying itself on it’s website versus what the tax form it files with the IRS reveals.”

• 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.

• CharityWatch Hot Topics Concerning Your Favorite Charities

  Laurie Styron, AIP Analyst In this interview CharityWatch Analyst Laurie Styron explains that Defeat Diabetes Foundation receives an F rating ...

• 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.

• 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."

• Komen defends its 'for the cure' trademark protection - Peoria Star Journal

  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."

• Fox Memphis - Court records detail Kelleys' financial troubles - FOX13 News, WHBQ FOX 13

  We asked CharityWatch to review the documents, and here is what analyst Laurie Styron concluded: "Based on the very limited information in the charity's 2007 tax form, it is not clear that the Kelleys were doing anything illegal. What is clear is that none of the money raised was spent on cancer research grants. The charity did not report that any of the travel, meals, or other expenses were related to granting wishes to terminally ill adult cancer patients, as was its mission. With only three people on the charity's board, two of them husband and wife, there was not enough independent oversight in place to ensure proper or efficient use of funds."

• Laurie Styron (LaurieStyron) on Twitter

  The latest from Laurie Styron (@LaurieStyron). Accountant & Non-Profit Financial Analyst. Chicago. Donor advice, accounting services for charities, charitable giving

• Weird Al Schools Us on Synergy in his song

  A friend who also works in the non-profit sector sent me a link today of a Weird Al song/video called "Mission Statement," that pokes fun at this overuse of corporate speak. It's all about achieving "Synergy." I for one think achieving synergy is a worthy goal. But...I can also take a joke. I hope you have a laugh watching this video.

• Charitable Giving: How to Check Up on Charities - CUNA

  If you contribute to a charitable organization, do you know how your dollars are being put to work? 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 allocation of its donations.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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 ...

• 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

• 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.

• Cashathon: The Rise of Charity Races - WSJ

  True, says Laurie Styron, an analyst at the philanthropy institute. But she adds that awareness may not be a donor's first priority, especially ...

• 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."

• 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.

• Do some charities become too good for their own good? — Styron Consulting

  "Punishing charities that prove themselves to be highly efficient and effective by pulling their funding amounts to promoting mediocrity in the best case, and failure in the worst case. It communicates the message, "We will reward you with more funding if you do a bad job because we like to feel needed, and punish you and the beneficiaries of your work if you do a good job." This is absurd."

• 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.

• The Denver Post | Players' foundations make, miss attempts

  But even as celebrity involvement can bring fame 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 former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, whose foundation closed in 1996 after criticism over administrative costs and the hiring of his sister as executive director. L.A. Lakers Kobe Bryant has dissolved at least one charity as well.

• 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.

• 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 ...

• Variety Magazine | ‘Tis the season to save lives | Variety

  THE VERITY OF CHARITY It’s the season to give, but before you do, make sure the org you donate to puts its money where its mouth is. Laurie Styron, an analyst for CharityWatch.org, warns, “Any organization that fills out the proper tax forms can call itself a charity even if only 1% of donations go to active programs.” Styron advises taking the following measures before you donate. Make sure the org has both online and bricks-and-mortar addresses. Request written literature and a copy of the charity’s annual report. Don’t give cash. Keep paper copies of all of your transactions. Make sure they have a secure website. Find out where your money is going.

• 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.

• VIDEO - How much cash goes to help veterans? - FOX 13 News

  VIDEO: "This is a charity that is essentially a one-man operation from a governance perspective," says Laurie Styron, an analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy." What should be a very big red flag for donors is that there are some discrepancies with what the charity reports on its website and what the charities financial reporting tells us," she said.

• 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.

• Shawnee Dispatch | Questions arise over leader of Tonganoxie-based charity

  Laurie Styron, a nonprofit analyst with the American Institute of Philanthropy, advised donors to focus on well-established nonprofits, and she recommended avoiding donating to groups soliciting in front of stores, especially if they’re an unknown group. “Don’t give on the spot,” she said.

• Rating Charities and Regulating Non-Profits | All Sides with Ann Fisher

  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

• Some Treasure Coast professionals find it pays to work for a ...

  Laurie Styron, an analyst at CharityWatch, said she often hears would-be contributors say they want their money to go to the program, not to overhead.And it isn't necessarily in a nonprofit's best interest to keep salaries low, Styron said. "If paying more for better-qualified people makes a nonprofit operate more efficiently and provide more and better services," she said, "it's money well spent.""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.""Hospitals are a different animal than most nonprofits," said Styron. "Most typical nonprofits, such as a homeless shelter or a group that collects money and provides services for local veterans, get most of their income from contributions. Hospitals usually get a tiny percentage of their income from (contributions)." Most of a nonprofit hospital's income is program service revenue, Styron said, money paid for services provided, either by individuals or private insurance or government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. "So in this way, they're not that different from a for-profit hospital," she added.

• Measuring a Non-Profit's Profitability — Styron Consulting

  Before you can measure the financial performance of any type of organization you have to determine and define what it is you are trying to achieve. A for-profit company's goal is to maximize profit for its owners. A non-profit's goal is to achieve its charitable mission. These are vastly different goals, so it stands to reason that a financial measurement that is used to measure the performance of a for-profit company cannot be applied to a non-profit organization in exactly the same way. The math is often similar. The interpretation and application of the outcome data is different.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Fab over Fifty | Fashion Flash - 2011

  We spoke to Laurie Styron an analyst at The American Institute of Philanthropy, a national charity watchdog group that rates charities from A to F in order to help consumers make the best decisions about where to send their money. Laurie says there are several troubling aspects to this “pink product” craze. “There’s no way to find out exactly how much a company is giving to the charity,” she says. “They don’t have to tell the consumer and they can be very vague, as in ‘a portion of the proceeds go to fighting breast cancer.’” There’s no definition of what “proceeds” means. “So, for example, if Walmart is advertising a $20 pink water bottle made by ABC company, and saying that ABC company is giving 10 percent of the proceeds to charity, most people assume that means 10 percent of $20.” But, says, Laurie, that’s rarely the case. “Proceeds” likely refers to the manufacturer’s price, which the consumer has no way of knowing. And it may be referring to “net profit” rather than revenue. So, ABC company can end up giving a tiny percentage. Or even worse, they can give zero percent, and the entire promotion can slip by under the guide of “breast cancer awareness”– another issue that drives Laurie crazy. “A lot of money is wasted each year on expensive ‘awareness’ campaigns that are no longer necessary for a cause that people are so broadly aware of, like breast cancer. I will donate $50 to any charity that can find me 10 people who aren’t ‘aware’ of breast cancer.” Also, Laurie points out, the donation is often capped. So a company might say, “$30,000 of the profits of this pink item go to charity. But what if they sell 8 million dollars worth?” So what’s an FOF to do, if, in Laurie’s words “your deep motivation is to channel as much money as you possibly can to researching and finding a cure?” Find a breast cancer charity that spends a high percentage of its expenses on funding research and give to them directly.

• Laurie Styron
• For Charities — Styron Consulting

  "It is satisfying for me to see a non-profit succeed and to know that I played a role, however small, in facilitating that success. You are invested in the mission of your nonprofit and want to dedicate as much of your time as possible directly to the cause of your organization.You are looking for the right consultant and I am looking for the right clients. While every nonprofit has accounting and management needs, not every arrangement is a good fit. Let's chat so I can understand your needs and discuss whether or not I am the best person to help you achieve your goals."

• 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

• SEIU faces allegations it spent nothing on the charity it created - Environment - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

  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.

• 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.”

• Norton - Safe Volunteerism and Charity Online | Your Security ...

  Then, says Laurie Styron, an analyst with a watchdog group, take these steps to better know your charity: 1. Research.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• For Donors — Styron Consulting

  Laurie Styron links to web sites of interest to donors seeking information about charities.

• 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.”