Sponsoring a Child
You have often seen the advertisements on television, with photos of childen in dire poverty, requesting you to sponsor a child. The truth is that there are many children around the world that need urgent help and there are many excellent organizations that provide much needed assistance.
But do you realize that the executives of these organizations earn, in many cases 5 or 10 times more than what you earn?
It seems contradictory that charity advertisements pleed for funds while charity executives enjoy large paychecks.
The president of the organization that I had been contributing to wrote a letter to sponsors announcing a 22% increase in monthly contributions saying "We have struggeled to keep up with rapidly rising costs without reducing the services and benefits we provide to the children under our care. Cutting back is something we just dont want to do." Cutting back his salary or his staff's salary is something else he didnt want to do. This letter was from an executive whose pay package is approximately $400,000 per year.
I wrote to the Child Sponsorship Organization that I was donating to and asked how they justified the high salaries. I received a detailed response, which included this:
"We feel that looking just at the salary of one individual or a handful of individuals is to miss the big picture and to get a mistaken impression. We could pay less and require less of our employees in terms of skills, experience and performance, but we feel the resulting inefficiencies would end up costing us more in the aggregate and benefiting the children less."
Two follow-up emails went unanswered.
I contacted several journalists to try to interest them in writing an expose, but I was told that there was little interest in the story. I was told that it was a well known fact that many charity CEOs are making huge bucks at the expense of the children. It simply was not news.
While I believe that many of these organizations fullfill a vital need and deserve your support, I STRONGLY suggest that you research the organization that you contribute to to make sure that its objectives match your requirements. I also ask your help to get journalists to start writing about this topic. To that end, please see the petition at the bottom of this page.
Chief Executive's Salaries
CEO Salaries
World Vision
www.worldvision.org
Richard Stearns, President: $407,799
Children International
www.Children.org
Jim Cook CEO: $365,700
Save The Children
www.savethechildren.org
Charles MacCormack, President: $336,335
Christian's Children's Fund
www.ChristianChildrensFund.org
John Shultz President: $290,799
Compassion International
www.compassion.com
Wess Stafford, CEO: $205,939
Pearl S Buck
www.pearlsbuck.org
Janet L. Mintzer, President: $135,200
Christian Foundation for Children and Aging
www.cfcausa.org
Robert Hentzen, President: $105,378
Children, Incorporated
www.children-inc.org
Marian G. Cummins, President: $90,904
Sources and Resources that monitor charities
http://www.charitywatch.org/
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Children Incorporated
Children Incorporated does not seem to be denominational. At least, their site does not appear to be affilated with a particular religion or philosophy other than to help children in need.
So far, what I see, I like. But at the moment, I am keeping an open mind.
Resources
What kinds of questions should you ask before you donate your money?
In some cases, the services are minimal. Nothing more than school books and an annual check up. Is that worth it?
In some cases, your money goes to a 'general fund' which the charity uses as it sees fit. It does not go directly to your child. Personally, I prefer that my child receive services, but this is up to you.
Do not contribute unless at least 80% goes to the fund. No more than 20% should go to administrative costs.
Personally, I believe that the head should receive a reasonable salary, but should not be getting rich. What is reasonable? In my opinion $100,000 is a reasonable salary. I think it is disgusting that some charity heads feel that salaries of $300,000+ are justified. I would NOT recommend donating to any charity where the executives are making such salaries.
Some charities allow you to send emails to your child, which are then translated locally. You will receive your response by regular snail mail. Others require that you send your letters by regular post.
Many charities began as missionary work for a particular religion. While there is nothing wrong with this, they may be using the charity to develop their religion abroad. Just be aware of the goal of the organization. Is it to help children? Or is it to convert new members? I want to support an organization whose primary goal is to help children, NOT to create new members for their religion. I want my charity to use my donations to feed and educate poor children, not to build churches.
Click the link for Give and see. However, amazing as it seems, many charity watchdogs like Give will approve a charity, even when the chief executive makes $0.5 million annually. Give's evaluation should be just one criteria. Do not base your final judgement on the opinion of the charity watchdogs.
How To Change This?
The ONLY way to change this is to bring this issue to the public attention. The only way that is going to happen is if not ONE but many journalists write about it, until donors understand what is happening and the situation changes.If donors start to realize how their money is being used, they will direct their donations to organizations which use their funds more responsibly. Charity Board Members will fire execs who insist upon earning megabucks and hire people who really want to help the children.
Let journalist KNOW we are interested in this subject. Let them know it IS news. Let journalist know that we want them to investigate and publish this story until the situation has significantly improved.
If you know a journalist, forward this page to them and ask them to write about it. If you do not know a journalist, sign the petition below.
Petition: Sign Below.
Forward this Page To Your Friends And Ask Them To Sign.
Please Write:
1 Your Name
2 Your City, State
3 Contact Info (GeorgeSmith AT Hotmail.com)
4 Your comments about salaries at Childrens Sponsorship Organizations
Children Foundation for Children and Aging just received the highest rating of four stars for the seventh counsecutive years by the Charity Navigator- and a A rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy. I've sponsored a child for 6 years and have been to Guatemala and met Bob Hentzen. He is the most compassionate, amazing and humble man I've ever met-a former missionary, but is married and has 6 children and 9 grandchildren. He has lived in Gutemala nearly all of his adult life. Last year his salary was 92,409 and with that he travels to the CFCA projects in the 25 countries where there are sponsored children. I've seen where he lives-- he lives among the people that he loves, and I've seen for myself how the Guatemalan people love him. By the way, in 1996 he walked 4,000 miles from the headquaters in Kansas to San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala in a pilgrimage of faith to show his love towards the poor and to call attention to their difficult situation.
Posted May 18, 2008
I'm not sure, afterall to attract good CEO's you have to compete with other types of organizations for the talent, that means a salary that is closer to that of others. My guess is few CEO's are worth their salary and particularly when their companies are failing...the good ones are worth it, the other 95% aren't. The market for CEO's overall is probably the problem.
Posted April 20, 2008
I dont know if I was more shcoked or more bumed out that people will manipulate those who choose to give. Though with many greedy people there are good, those kind of people give many more a reason to fight to change the name of mission work and charity.
But anyone who wants to give should really reseach it before sending their money out
Posted March 22, 2008
WOW! That is ridiculous!!!! Teachers, who are in charge of children's lives, are paid crap compared to those CEO's!!! This world is soooo screwed up!! Rappers, sports players, actors & these CEO's make so much money! This makes me so angry!! I am going to be a teacher because I love children & I want to make a difference in their lives. It is just really unfortunate to read about someone who is supossed to be making a difference in childrens' lives , making $100,00-$400,00 a year!! These children are still in poverty & are still hungry! They live shitty lives while these SELFISH CEO's are sitting pretty!! PLEASE SOMEONE DO A STORY ABOUT THEM SO THINGS CAN CHANGE!!! I'm sure if more people knew that when they donated money it went into some CEO's pocket, they would further investigate the company before sending money!! I wish these CEO's could spend just a day living the life of these children & maybe they wouldn't be so fucking selfish & heartless!!!!!!!
Posted March 12, 2008
I just watched a tv presentation of "Feed The Chilkdren". Any idea about how their CEOs are paid?
The former President of Red Cross was paid half a million a year. That really destried public trust for charity organizations in US.
Can a CEO grab a billion a year, and still claim non-profit?
Posted March 09, 2008
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