Abusing the generosity of Americans

The next time you consider answering some telemarketer's tear-inducing sales pitch on behalf of missing children or three-legged puppies, consider this.

The Los Angeles Times ran a revealing exposé on the professional fundraising industry.

In more than 5,800 campaigns on behalf of charities that were registered with the [California] state attorney general from 1997 to 2006, the fundraisers reported taking in $2.6 billion. They kept nearly $1.4 billion -- about 54 cents of every dollar raised.

Take Citizens Against Government Waste, which bills itself as '#1 taxpayer watchdog.' The Times reported that fundraisers kept 94 cents of every dollar it raised 'on behalf' of the organization.

Most gallingly to many donors is likely the revelation that Groups with strong emotional or patriotic appeal -- those supporting animals, children, veterans and public safety workers, for instance -- often fared worst. Missing-children charities received less than 15% of more than $28 million raised on their behalf.

But many non-profits are not enitrely blameless. The paper noted that many charities apparently entered into contracts that limited their share of donations to 20% or less, no matter how successful the campaign.

If the telemarketer's pitch truly compels you, it's probably better to go directly to the charity's website and make an online donation or send them a check directly.