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SCBIZ Daily Staff
CHARLESTON -- S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond has announced the 13th annual list of Scrooges and Angels for the holiday season.
The list is intended to serve as a guide for charitable giving, honoring organizations that direct a high percentage of donations to program goals, and singling out organizations that spend the least on their program goals or use paid solicitors extensively.
Charities from across South Carolina and the United States were named to the lists.
The Angels, which are not ranked, are listed below in alphabetical order with the percentage of money spent on program activities:
Organization, location, percent
Animal Protection League of S.C. Inc., Hopkins, 93.5%
Careteam Inc., Myrtle Beach, 95.8%
Carson Scholars Fund Inc., Baltimore, 88.1%
Country Santa, Pickens, 99.3%
Experience Works Inc., Arlington, Va., 92.5%
Fatherhood & Families Engagement, Florence, 93.3%
Golden Harvest Food Bank Inc., Augusta, Ga., 95.0%
Historic Charleston Foundation, Charleston, 85.6%
NAMI of South Carolina, Columbia, 87.2%
Outreach Farm, Inc., Pawleys Island, 98.8%
Angels were selected by review of financial reports submitted annually to the Secretary of State’s Office. Criteria considered include that the charity:
-Must have been established for at least three years.
-Has collected revenue greater than $20,000.
-80% or more of the revenue must go toward the charities’ program goals.
-Makes good use of volunteer labor.
-Receives minimal funding in grants.
The Angels represent organizations that exemplify charitable giving in South Carolina, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. The office recognized the 10 Angels at a news conference and with a reception and a plaque from Hammond.
The Scrooges and the percentage of revenues that went toward program activities are:
Organization, location, percent
American Police & Sheriff’s Association, Chepachet, R.I., 12.7%
Cancer Assistance Network, Gig Harbor, Wash., 24.0%
Children’s Cancer Fund of America Inc., Powell, Tenn., 14.4%
Committee for Missing Children Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga., 10.2%
Dakota Indian Foundation Inc., Chamberlain, S.Dak., 17.8%
Disabled Police Officers of America Inc., Niceville, Fla., 11.4%
Dogs Against Drugs/Dogs Against Crime, Anderson, Ind., 10.3%
Firefighters Charitable Foundation, Farmingdale, N.Y., 11.1%
Foundation for American Veterans Inc., West Bloomfield, Mich., 7.6%
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation Inc., Alexandria, Va., 11.3%
Criteria for the designation of Scrooge were that the charity:
-Had given 40% or less of the revenue to its program goals.
-Collected revenue greater than $20,000.
-Had many complaints filed against it.
-Spent a large amount of money on the use of professional fundraisers rather than volunteers.
“Due to the slowdown in our economy, charitable solicitations across the state have increased largely because more and more people are in need of assistance,” Hammond said. “South Carolina is one of the most generous states in the nation and always answers the call when it comes to defending and helping the less fortunate.
“But we must be mindful of the fact that there are those who would take advantage of this economy and our generosity. So I ask that you check out any organization before you contribute your hard-earned money. One of my duties as Secretary of State is to make the public aware of ‘Scrooge’ charities that take advantage of our giving spirit.”
To find out more about charitable organizations, visit the Secretary of State Web site and select the “Charity Search” button, or call the office’s Charities Division at 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484).
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