Questionable use of donations to Cancer Fund of America!!

I can virtually assure you that there is no charity anywhere that has 100% of donations go to anything specific, research or otherwise. They all have operating expenses. Soliciting donations isn't free and if they don't use some sort of solicitation they don't get much. Even the 'best' of charities have expenses above and beyond what they use to help people.

I donate a meager amount of money here and there. I also donate some time occasionally. I donate blood (via the Red Cross) and also donate food to the local food pantry.

I help out when I can, as much as I can without doing damage to my own household.

If you're giving money, it definitely behooves you to check into the entity you're giving it to. If you're not willing to do the research, unless you need it for a writeoff, you're better off to donate directly to local charities and donate something other than money.

There are a lot of 'sound alike' organizations out there who prey upon public confusion. Cancer, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, any of those names in the title will cause a lot of well meaning people to pony up.

Here are the 50 Worst Charities based upon data over the past 10 years, ranked by money spent on soliciting costs.

A lot of good intentioned older people out there who hear something like 'pediatric cancer' and a slick solicitor will get hundreds out of them. 'Pay me nothing now, I'll send you the post paid donation envelope.'