Beware Deceptive Fundraising

Telemarketers at InfoCision

The Chronicle of Philanthropy today shared a must read Bloomberg Markets story on deceptive fundraising by InfoCision, a telemarketing company that reaps far more money for itself than the charities with which it contracts. By example, they cite an American Cancer Society campaign in which donors were told that 70 percent of their gifts would go to the charity when, in fact, not one percent of the $5.3 million raised actually did. Greg Donaldson, a senior vice president at the cancer society, told Bloomberg that charities consider telemarketing arrangements to be long-term investments, “loss-leader strategies, to engage people in long-term meaningful relationships,” he says. Inform and arm yourself against misleading fundraising, and give with confidence by giving directly to the charities of your choice.