Fact Check: Think Before You Donate (2024)

Fact Check: Think Before You Donate (1)

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From the Grand Strand down to the Lowcountry, people are setting aside their newspapers and picking up their smart phones. According to a recent report from Forbes, 55% of American adults receive their news from social media either “often” or “sometimes” – an 8% increase from just one year ago. In fact, chances are you ended up on this blog post, because you followed a link from Facebook, Twitter or maybe even LinkedIn. Social media platforms have become a powerful tool that gives any user the capability to share stories, opinions, advice and much more.

Unfortunately, social media’s strengths are also its weaknesses. Misleading, deceptive, confusing or even flat out false rumors circulate on social media. These rumors are targeted at individuals and businesses alike – Goodwill being no exception. Of course, we couldn’t properly address these rumors in 240 characters or less, so we decided to write this blog in order to clarify any misconceptions around our organization and the impact that we have throughout the 18 counties we serve. We’re going to dispel some of this Facebook fiction, because we agree that everyone should “think before you donate.” When you do, you may rest assured that your generous donations provide individuals in our community the resources they need to find meaningful employment.

Fiction: Mark Curran is the CEO and owner of Goodwill and makes $2.3 million per year.

Fact: Goodwill is not owned by a single individual. In fact, there are over 156 community-based, local Goodwill organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Locally, Palmetto Goodwill serves 18 counties across South Carolina and is governed by a board of directors made up of a diverse group of volunteers from our local community. Furthermore, no individual named Mark Curran has ever led a Goodwill organization. The local board of directors determines the CEO’s compensation and, in doing so, considers the complexities of the job. The hiring of Palmetto Goodwill’s new CEO, Brian Itzkowitz, signals a new era for Palmetto Goodwill, where the focus will be on expanding community partnerships, growing resources and mission services, and continuing financial sustainability.

Fiction: Goodwill is a for-profit organization and doesn’t use its resources to assist the community.

Fact: More than 90 cents from every dollar generated by Palmetto Goodwill is used to help achieve our mission through job trainings, veteran services, and disability employment. In 2020, Palmetto Goodwill helped 16,142 individuals across 18 counties in South Carolina, helped place 2,565 people into new jobs, served 1,296 U.S. veterans, diverted more than 14 million lbs. of waste from local landfills, and provided 85,925 services.

Additional misinformation can be traced to a Facebook post from 2017, in which the author details an incident whereby a disabled individual attempted to use vouchers to purchase certain items at a Goodwill retail store and was denied. The incident did not occur at one of Palmetto Goodwill’s 31 locations or anywhere in South Carolina. In fact, Palmetto Goodwill utilizes an entirely different voucher system than the one described in this Facebook post. Palmetto Goodwill is proud to offer a voucher program to meet the immediate needs of individuals whose lives have been negatively impacted by disaster. In most cases, clothing and furniture is given to those displaced from their home due to flood or fire. In 2019, we distributed 3,125 vouchers to individuals in need. In total, these vouchers equated to more than $105,000 in value that could be used for clothing, shoes & other necessities found in one of our retail store locations. To learn more about the original Facebook post, please click here.

Fiction: Goodwill treats disabled workers unfairly.

Fact: We are 100% committed to our mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work, and we have a proven track record of providing people with disabilities employment and training services since our inception in 1979. We currently employ more than 440 individuals with disabilities, making us one of the largest employers of individuals with disabilities in South Carolina. The vast majority of these employees participate in the AbilityOne program, which is a job training and employment program that enables individuals with disabilities to enjoy full participation in their community and market their skills in public and private sector jobs. Currently, Palmetto Goodwill operates 14 AbilityOne contracts with all four branches of the military in the communities we serve. Our employees perform high-volume food service, secure mailroom operations, janitorial and aseptic cleaning, grounds maintenance, and more. Palmetto Goodwill does not utilize the controversial 14(c) special wage certificate.

Now that we’ve addressed these rumors, it’s your turn to act. We encourage our donors and shoppers to share this post with friends, family, and co-workers to help further educate our community on our efforts and support our mission. If you have any questions about our services or voucher program, please let us know.

Fact Check: Think Before You Donate (2)

Matt

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Comments

  • Fact Check: Think Before You Donate (6)

    Frances Rouse

    This blog is wonderful, my son is an Ability employee. He is treated with respect, has dignity and made close friends. Keep up the good work.

Fact Check: Think Before You Donate (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of donations actually go to charity? ›

How much of your donations actually go to charity? Some charities allocate 60% of donations to their cause, preserving a large portion of funds to pay staff high salaries, while others allocate 95% of their goods and funds to people in need.

Which charities are rip-offs? ›

Here are some of the worst offenders:
  • Kids Wish Network.
  • Cancer Fund of America.
  • Children's Wish Foundation International.
  • American Breast Cancer Foundation.
  • Firefighters Charitable Foundation.
  • Breast Cancer Relief Foundation.
  • International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO.
  • National Veterans Service Fund.
May 6, 2024

What are 3 things you should look for when researching a charity? ›

Evaluating Charities Not Currently Rated by Charity Navigator
  • Examine the charity's financial health.
  • Check for evidence of the charity's commitment to accountability and transparency.
  • Investigate the charity's results.

Does Goodwill CEO make millions? ›

The bottom line: The CEO's of the 12 largest Goodwill organizations received $370,000-$900,000 annually in compensation with the average being $650,000. If the 155 Goodwill organizations paid the CEO the average compensation, then Goodwill spent more than $100 million on CEO compensation in 2022.

What percentage of donations actually go to St. Jude's? ›

Jude emphasizes responsible use of donations, with 82 cents of every dollar received directed towards patient care, research, and future needs. Here's a breakdown of funding allocation: 82% supports treatment, research, and future needs. 13% funds fundraising efforts like the St.

Which charity has the highest administrative costs? ›

Charities With the Highest Admin Costs
  • Tucson Audubon Society. ...
  • New Hampshire Audubon. ...
  • Gospel to the Unreached Millions (GUM) ...
  • American Psychiatric Foundation. ...
  • Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) ...
  • Please Touch Museum. ...
  • American Friends of the Open University of Israel (AFOUI) ...
  • Peter G.
Jun 1, 2010

What is the most trustworthy charity? ›

International Relief & Development Charities
CharityRating
FINCA InternationalA
Fistula FoundationA
GiveDirectlyA+
Global CommunitiesA
45 more rows

What should you not donate to charity? ›

Here are some common items that drastically add to disposal costs and should not be donated:
  • Broken or damaged items. ...
  • Incomplete sets or missing parts. ...
  • Food or drink. ...
  • Electricals that can't be PAT tested or are without the mains charger. ...
  • Bedding such as duvets and pillows. ...
  • VHS tapes. ...
  • Poor quality books. ...
  • Towels.

How is Goodwill rated as a charity? ›

Rating Information

This charity's score is 87%, earning it a Three-Star rating.

How to check if charities are legitimate? ›

Potential donors should ask the fundraiser for the charity's exact name, website and mailing address so they can independently confirm the information. Use TEOS to verify if an organization is a legitimate tax-exempt charity. Don't give in to pressure.

What are the 4 P's of a charity? ›

Here, the “4 P's” stand for product, price, promotion, and people. These elements, when strategically considered, can make a significant difference in how nonprofits operate, attract support, and achieve their goals. This article explores each of these aspects in detail.

How do you know if a charity is good to donate to? ›

Review the charity's purpose and its financial records, and find out how it spends donations on the Attorney General's website at www.oag.ca.gov/charities. Consider how much the charity spends directly on its charitable cause, and how much goes to overhead and employee compensation.

How much money does the CEO of St. Jude's make? ›

Name & TitleCharityCompensation
James R. Downing President/CEOSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital$1,546,372
Brian Gallagher Past CEOUnited Way Worldwide$1,538,953
Harry Johns Past President/CEOAlzheimer's Association$1,468,134
Deborah W. Brooks Co-Founder/CEOMichael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research$1,423,665
45 more rows
Oct 2, 2023

How much does the CEO of the Salvation Army make a year? ›

How much does a Salvation Army Ceo make in California? As of Aug 2, 2024, the average annual pay for a Salvation Army Ceo in California is $73,981 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $35.57 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,422/week or $6,165/month.

Who is the highest paid CEO of charities? ›

In 2022, the nonprofit organization in the U.S. with the highest paid CEO was Sentara Health, with an estimated salary of 33.22 million U.S. dollars.

What charities give the highest percentage to their cause? ›

25 Nonprofits With Over 95% of Donations Going to the Cause
  • Patient Access Network Foundation (97%) ...
  • Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (96%) ...
  • Mayo Clinic (96%) ...
  • The Assistance Fund (96%) ...
  • Cross International (95%) ...
  • Food for the Poor (95%) ...
  • Scholarship America (95%) ...
  • St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance (95%)
Nov 18, 2021

How much money do you save by donating to charity? ›

You may deduct charitable contributions of money or property made to qualified organizations if you itemize your deductions. Generally, you may deduct up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income, but 20 percent and 30 percent limitations apply in some cases.

Do the rich donate more to charity? ›

A new report from Altrata finds that ultra-high-net-worth individuals (those worth $30 million or more) now account for 38% of all individual giving in the world. Put another way, 400,000 people account for more than one-third of the world's charity. It's even more extreme when you look at billionaires.

What percentage of Red Cross donations go to charity? ›

The Red Cross is proud that an average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need. Each year, the generous support of donors like you enables our disaster workforce— 90% volunteers—to help millions of people in the U.S.

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