As I walked out of the grocery store today, I was approached by a couple of guys dressed in camouflage claiming to represent the "Veterans Support Organization," and asking for donations to feed homeless veterans. I generally hate being solicited like that, no matter how good the cause, but I gave these guys a few bucks. I'm not entirely sure they are on the level and that I wasn't scammed, however. Is anyone familiar with this organization, one way or another?
charity question
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Well, sadly it does not take much for an organization to be "legit". They can be such yet only provide a very small percentage of your donated dollars to the actual cause. So, to that extent, the only way to know is attempt to google the information and see what comes up. Other than that, you're really just doing it in good faith. Provided they were at a store gives them a little bit of credibility. Most stores require a license of some sort. That may be a non-profit organization license saying they are recognized. The likelihood of them being an actual scam is scarce given that setting.
Wish I would have met them
Hard to say if it was a scam, the good nature of your action should benefit you as a person much more than the reward they will get if it was a scam. I wouldn't lose sleep over it but you might check with the store to find out if they're legit. If they're not I'm sure they won't be around long enough to do anything about it.
That is a well known and established organization to help Vets, but no way to tell if those guys work for them or if they were just two guys who bought cammos at a thrift store.
There has been several instances of this particular organization being used as a scam front by people NOT associated with the organization, mostly in Florida. The MO is the same, Guys in Cammo in front of a shopping area.
If you want to avoid the possibility (as I always do) of being taken and the money going somewhere else, look up their local chapter and donate direct. Then tell the guys who approach you, "I gave at the office"
There has been several instances of this particular organization being used as a scam front by people NOT associated with the organization, mostly in Florida. The MO is the same, Guys in Cammo in front of a shopping area.
If you want to avoid the possibility (as I always do) of being taken and the money going somewhere else, look up their local chapter and donate direct. Then tell the guys who approach you, "I gave at the office"
That is great advice. I also like to know what percentage of the money I am donating goes to run the charity and how much actually goes to help the people the charity is trying to help.
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- #7
Thanks, and I'm not worked up over it or anything like that. Just a "for future reference" question.
They also had a van with the organization's name on it, and although I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything, if it's generally a legit operation this gives me more confidence that these guys were ok.
That's what I usually do, even if the store (or the bank, or whatever) is doing something for a known organization like the American Cancer Society. I just find it annoying to be solicited in such situations. So, of course, I end up making an exception for the potentially questionable one.
Excellent advice. Even if the people soliciting are associated with the charity they may still be taking a cut of the takings as their fees. This is especially common with telephone solicitors. They are legit in that they do work for the charity, but their contract allows them to keep some (many times well over half) of the money collected.
I wouldn't give anything to people soliciting outside of stories, or buy anything from those portable barbecue stations that pretend to be supporting charities. The Boston Globe ran an article awhile ago that showed that many of these stations are scams that deliver little or no money to the charities they support. Just because the store lets them set up shop outside doesn't mean the organization is legit--the store doesn't have the time or resource to check out the status of every organization coming in.
I think the fact that these guys called themseolves the "Veterans Support Organization" probably suggests that they are a scam. It's such a generic term, impossible to trace. If you ever have any questions about these things, just ask them to provide you with some literature about their organization. If they can't (or won't) do that, they're not legitimate.
In any case, if you want to support veterans, you're better off just giving that money to homeless veterans on the street. At least you know they won't spend the money on administration.
Jeff in Boston
Exactly!
Yup.
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- #13
Ok, ok, I get it - I gave at the office! 
It was a weak moment - I was in an uncharacteristically good mood, which obviously threw me for a loop!
It was a weak moment - I was in an uncharacteristically good mood, which obviously threw me for a loop!
Rather than "I gave at the office" ... which is such a hackneyed phrase for "go away and leave me alone, I'm not actually giving anyone anything" ... I follow a tip from my Great Uncle. He lived on a fixed income, and each year decided what of his income he would give, and to whom. He'd actually do some research and compare charities, considering both the aim of the charity and the $% that actually makes it to front-line delivery (ie how much puts food on the plates of starving Ethiopean compared to how much pays for the Sally Struthers commercial telling you to put food on the plates.) Most of his donations went through his church.
Whenever he'd be approached for a donation, he'd have the same response, "Thank you, but I've already made my charitable donations for the year."
Whenever he'd be approached for a donation, he'd have the same response, "Thank you, but I've already made my charitable donations for the year."
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- #15
But it has the benefit of bringing to mind a scene from "Airplane."
I give to charity directly. I hate being hassled on the street - I just ignore them, I know ive given and I couldnt care less what they think of me. I dont see the need to justify myself to them by saying ive already given etc.
Shirley you don't watch that movie!?
It's bad enough many legitimate charities take well over 50% of the money they collect and use it for their own administrative costs. The Federal Govt publishes a pamphlet detailing all the recognized charities and what percentage of what they collect actually goes for the organization's stated purpose. It's shocking reading.
He does and don't call me Shirley!
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