Law Enforcement telemarketers keep most of the money they raise

[Ryan]

Police Charity Telemarketers Keep Majority Of Donations - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville


I donate to the FOP yearly via these people, or at least I used to, and they keep at least half and sometimes 99%.

[Retdetsgt]

I never donate through any telemarket charities. My dept has its own charity fund that donates to charities we pick. That was started after United Fund started giving to the ACLU in the 70's.

[Five-0]

Ryan, if you like you can make future donations to me directly. I will most likely donate it directly to Baumshoe.

[Ryan]

I would rather skip the middleman altogether...

[Jenna]

I never donate to or buy anything from any organization represented by telemarketers. I don't want to encourage telemarketing, and also I don't want my donations going toward more telemarketers rather than the people I want to help. I also do a lot of research about a charity before donating to it--I wouldn't want to end up like those people who donated to what they thought were Islamic orphanages and ending up on terrorist watchlists.

[Retdetsgt]

Most of my charity money goes to my church, the Salvation Army and the local humane society. Although I started giving money to the Altzheimer's Assn after my mother in law came down with it. Horrible disease....

[2 Blue 4 U]

One call back was registered to a suite, no renters name. Most of the telemarketers are not the charity itself, just hired to do the calls. Whenever they call I usually mess with them, I asked them questions, like give your call back, what is your location, when they do not answer I ask for a supervisor. You will find they either refuse to give you an answer or the answer is not something you want hear. There are plenty of legite FOP lodges around, if you want to donate do it directly, better yet just join and pay dues, that in itself will help.

By the way Retdetsgt, Altzheimer's Assn is an excellent organization, when my dad was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they were extremely helpful and informative. I went to a 3 day seminar they sponsored, they covered everything from what to expect, the different phases of the disease, to Caretaking and even covered legal matters. And yes, you are absolutely right, it is a horrible disease.

[Xiphos]

We try very hard to tithe 10% to several different charities. I hate the United Way and will never give them a penny, despite the Gestapo tactics my employer uses to squeeze money out of me for them.

I've had those police telemarketers call me in the past (on the Do Not Call now and it is working.) I tried to get off the phone and the guy imlplored me by telling me, "These guys work really hard to keep us safe!" I replied, "I know," and hung up.

[Retdetsgt]

By the way Retdetsgt, Altzheimer's Assn is an excellent organization, when my dad was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they were extremely helpful and informative. I went to a 3 day seminar they sponsored, they covered everything from what to expect, the different phases of the disease, to Caretaking and even covered legal matters. And yes, you are absolutely right, it is a horrible disease.

I agree, they've been real helpful. My mother in law went into hospice last week. Sorry to hear about your Dad. That HAS to be tough.

[TXCharlie]

The Texas Sheriff's Association put out a bulletin recently advising people to call them if they get telephone solicitations in their name or one that is similar to it that implies a connection with any Sheriff's Department - they NEVER use telephone solicitations. They will prosecute the telemarkerter's asses if they can show the slightest amount of misreprestation.

[Retdetsgt]

We really don't have anyone representing themselves as raising money for LE, but there used to be some group who claimed to be raising money for volunteer firemen. As I recall, the state AG shut them down after only a couple of years.

There is an organization called The Law Enforcement Defense Fund that's kinda shady. The last time they reported, they showed 18 cents of every dollar raised actually went to the cop. Up from 7.5 cents a few years earlier. They refuse to give any info to the BBB.

[Willowdared]

We try very hard to tithe 10% to several different charities. I hate the United Way and will never give them a penny, despite the Gestapo tactics my employer uses to squeeze money out of me for them.

I've had those police telemarketers call me in the past (on the Do Not Call now and it is working.) I tried to get off the phone and the guy imlplored me by telling me, "These guys work really hard to keep us safe!" I replied, "I know," and hung up.

I used to work for a company that "required" the United Way donation. You can specify who gets your donation though, so I always directed my donation to specific associations.

We have a couple groups that present themselves as tied to law enforcement, but I call them out if they call me. Then I remind them I'm on the "do not call" list.

There are a lot of charities/fund-raising groups that spend a big percentage of their donations on administrative costs.

[Bob Loblaw]

When I get those calls, I always say "Oh, I'll donate at work. You see, I'm a police officer and the FOP Lodge secretary, and I'll make sure I bring up a motion at our next meeting....hello? Hello? Are you still there?"

[Retdetsgt]

The only time I ever gave money to the United Way was in the Army. They could make my life miserable so I gave them the least I could get by with.

As I said earlier, in the 70's when we found they were giving money to the ACLU, we formed a committee to handle charity donations. The committee sends out a list of charities to all contributors every year and the ten that get the most votes get the money divided between them. No strong arm tactics at all, but just about everyone contributes. All the committee members are volunteers. It works out best for everybody.

[Wolven]

I had a call from the telemarketers a few months back trying to get me to donate to the Florida Troopers Fund or some such nonsense. I kept saying no to the guy who then reiterated where the money would go, how I could pay less since money was tight and he didnt want to take food off my table..and blah, blha, blah. Finally, he said, Ms Wolven...can we count on you to give money to the families of Troopers who have lost loved ones and to those that are still on the road? And I said, "sir, I provide professional, armed back-up to those officers every day so that they do not need your organization. That is how I give to them" He said Oh...and hung up.