Laurie Styron's Links:

• For Charities — Styron Consulting

  Laurie Styron links to web sites of interest to charities.

• 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.

• 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.

• Ditka Charity Folds - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

  "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 of the American Institute of Philanthropy. 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."

• 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.

• Fox News | Where to Give As Veterans Get Shortchanged By Charities

  The problem is even more significant because some 200,000 veterans — or about a third of the entire adult homeless population — are living on the streets. "A huge percentage of our homeless are veterans," said AIP analyst Laurie Styron. "There's a lot of need for veterans out there." "The biggest concern is just how highly inefficient many of the veterans' groups tend to be," Styron said. "It’s a highly popular cause. It’s a cause that’s easy to raise money for because it tugs at the heartstrings. It’s easy to guilt people into giving."

• 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.

• 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."

• 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."

• 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.”

• 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 ...

• Cleveland Plain Dealer | Man accused of running fake U.S. Navy veterans charity ...

  Laurie Styron, an analyst with CharityWatch of Chicago, which evaluates and rates charities, said fake charities relying on emotional appeals and limited government scrutiny are common. But she said Thompson "took charity scams to another level. . . ."" He appears to be someone who crossed the line fairly early on." She was cheered by Thompson's arrest. "Millions of charitable dollars that could have helped veterans were wasted," she said. "People should take this as a lesson to be more vigilant." U.S. Navy Veterans Association

• Giving With Purpose & A Pickled Pod – Jill Blakeway
• 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.”

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• 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

• 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."

• 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"

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• Laurie Styron | LinkedIn

  Laurie Styron, Accountant & Non-Profit Financial Analyst. Charities, charitable giving, accounting services for charities, advice for donors

• 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 | Facebook

  Styron Consulting, LLC, Chicago, Illinois. 109 likes. Financial analyst, accounting consultant, & CPA candidate dedicated to improving charity governance, financial reporting, & accountability.

• ‘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

• For Donors — Styron Consulting

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

• 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.

• 10 News Investigators: Veterans Support Organization (VSO ...

  Dec 19, 2011 - "The charity is reporting zero fundraising expenses," noted the AIP's Laurie Styron. "The charity is claiming that expenses like $151,300 in ...

• Laurie Styron
• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• 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 ...

• 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,...

• 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.”

• 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."

• 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

• Lowell Sun | Sun Santa sets new record, tops $200G - Lowell Sun Online

  Laurie Styron, an analyst at the American Institute of Philanthropy, said that even during recessions, the end of the year is typically a time when donations to charities spike. "The holidays always inspire people to give over the last few months of year," she said.

• 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."

• 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.”

• 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."

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• San Francisco Weekly – September 28, 2011 : Gross Profit

  "We can come up with theoretical ways of how the system can be changed, but I don't know in practice if it will ever happen. I suspect that it won't," she said. Styron, from the American Institute of Philanthropy, isn't so sure a more accurate answer will get the results the charity wants. Donors, she said, want to know their money is going to, as she put it, help the dolphins - not pay overhead costs. "Unfortunately, if you said to a donor, point-blank, 'Hey, we're raising money for this important cause. Please give me $50. By the way, none of it will actually go to the charity, because I need to be paid my hourly rate to be soliciting you.' ... Donors aren't going to be enthusiastic to donate under those circumstances," she said.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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."

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

• 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.

• 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."

• 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."

• Has CERF+‘s fundraising kept pace with its expanding mission? — Hot Sheet — Glass Quarterly — UrbanGlass

  “If you were looking at the website, you would get the impression that your money is going to go to these artists,” said Laurie Styron, an analyst at the charity watchdog American Institute of Philanthropy. “They’re clearly spending way more on other things, programmatically, than on direct assistance. If it’s their key fundraising point, then they aren’t being clear with people that it’s not really what their primary program is as an organization.”

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• FOX - VIDEO - Do fast cars mean fast cash for charity? - FOX 13 News

  "Celebrities typically align themselves with a specific cause and a noble cause, like helping sick and dying children. However they often don't take the next step of making sure that charity they are working with is operating efficiently and effectively," Styron continued. "The charity gives too much to fundraisers and not enough to kids." VIDEO

• 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.

• 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

• The Chronicle of Philanthropy - June 28, 2012

  Next to Mr. Borochoff, the most visible CharityWatch employee is Laurie Styron, an analyst who has been with the group for nine years and helps her boss decipher financial documents and handles some news-media interviews. Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• Fox Tampa | Fundraisers getting much of the cash from charity for troopers? - FOX 13 News

  "This organization conducted a telemarketing campaign in which the fundraiser kept 80 percent of the donations it raised, that leaves 20 percent of the organization funds to use to help troopers," explained Laurie Styron, an analyst for the American Institute of Philanthropy, a charity watchdog group. "Our telemarketers or fundraisers, as I like to call them, they collect money for us and they get to keep most of it," said Howes. Subtract operating expenses and that 20 percent going to help troopers and their families drops to just 16 percent. That's why AIP, Styron's watchdog group, gave the American Association of State Troopers a failing grade.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

• 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.

• 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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  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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  "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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  “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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  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.

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  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.

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  "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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  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.”

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  Laurie Styron was appointed Executive Director of CharityWatch in 2020 after more than sixteen years of commitment to the organization.Read more

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  "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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  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. Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors

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  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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  Experts agree that although giving during the holiday season is a significant step in the right direction, you may want to think about giving as a long-term commitment. “It’s great that people are in the spirit to give during the holidays, but don’t forget to keep giving throughout the year,” Styron stresses. “Because the homeless aren’t just cold and hungry in December.” Charities, charitable giving, advice for donors

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