A war vet friend of mine has been anti-WWP for a long time, but today when it was brought up he posted a link to this recounting:
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/12/08/wounded-warriors-project-a-legal-scam/
I post this not to stir up **** or start a fight but rather to get more opinions and ask if anyone has first hand experience with this situation. Is this person being selective about the information revealed, not telling the whole story, or is the person pretty well accurate? I'd like to know, for sure.
I stopped giving any money to the Komen Foundation because of the ******** they pull and the proportion of money that actually goes to helping cancer research. I'm starting to side with my anti-WWP friend.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/12/08/wounded-warriors-project-a-legal-scam/
I post this not to stir up **** or start a fight but rather to get more opinions and ask if anyone has first hand experience with this situation. Is this person being selective about the information revealed, not telling the whole story, or is the person pretty well accurate? I'd like to know, for sure.
I stopped giving any money to the Komen Foundation because of the ******** they pull and the proportion of money that actually goes to helping cancer research. I'm starting to side with my anti-WWP friend.
At a recent meeting of a veterans association with which I am involved, a suggestion was made that we contribute to *The Wounded Warriors Project* (WWP). As an officer of the association, I was asked to do some research and make a recommendation regarding contributing to WWP. As one who fervently believes that our wounded warriors and their care-giving families deserve our unqualified support, I also believe that the public should be informed of the appropriateness and effectiveness of charitable organizations that support veterans.
The results of my research are disappointing, to say the least. To summarize, the WWP collects a fee in the form of generous compensation paid to WWP executives who outsource fund raising, collection and distribution of funds to other 501.c.3 organizations which provide services that directly benefit veterans. The WWP would make Bernie Madoff proud!
My actual report follows for your information.
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 8:01 PM
Subject: Wounded Warrior Project
Pursuant to your request, I have reviewed the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) FY 2011 Form 990 (copy attached). In addition, I have surveyed other available information pertaining to WWP.
I did note the pie chart percentages which you mention (Administrative Expense: 4.4%, Fundraising Exp.: 12.8%). Based on the WWP Form 990, these figures are misleading. Total 2011 revenues were $154.9 MM with total fundraising expenses of $20.5MM and total administrative expenses, including outsourced services, of $95.5MM. Note that the total administrative expense includes fund raising. Therefore, as a percentage of total revenue, administrative expenses amount to 61.63%, including fundraising expenses of 13.2%. This equates to 38.36% of revenues available to benefit wounded warriors.
As far as I can determine, WWP outsources all major functions, including fundraising, legal, donation processing, donation distribution, etc.
Compensation for the top ten WWP employees runs from $150K to $333K per officer annually.
As far as I can determine, WWP does little, if any, direct support of wounded warriors and wounded warrior programs. Rather, WWP makes grants and contributions to other 501.c.3 organizations which operate wounded warrior programs and/or serve veterans directly. Examples of 501.c.3 organizations receiving WWP funds include Fisher House, The American Red Cross, The VFW, Easter Seals, and numerous little known and unheard of local and national organizations.
<snip>
There is no question that WWP does contribute substantial funds for the benefit of wounded warriors. Notwithstanding, it appears that a more effective use of Association funds would be to contribute directly to The Fisher House, Navy-Marine Corps Relief, The Salvation Army, and others.
Attached below is IRS Form 990 revealing the perfidy of their spending (or lack thereof). Please, sir. May I have another parade?
IRS Form 990 (pdf warning)
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