Consumer Team Alert: Be Cautious When Giving to Charities

Cynthia Rojas

November 2, 2013

(DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX)    As Americans prepare to make end-of-year contributions to charities, The Consumer Team radio program is warning consumers to thoroughly check out non-profits before giving.   According to Consumer Team program host Pete Thomson, generous consumers are often unaware of issues that impact a non-profit’s ability to serve people in need.  Thomson stated, “On the surface charities tell a story of helping people in significant ways.  Sadly, many charities don’t live up to the promises they make.  From out of control overhead to high CEO salaries to fraud, many high profile charities have serious issues which prevent them from helping people in need.  Because of these issues, consumers have to be very discriminating before they give a financial gift.”

The Consumer Team Urges Caution When Giving to Charities

The Consumer Team Urges Caution When Giving to Charities

According to Thomson, The Consumer Team radio program will air a series of special segments focusing charitable giving.  Thomson added, “The Consumer Team will investigate charitable giving from several perspectives.  First, we’ll educate our listeners regarding the metrics that are used to measure charity effectiveness.  Concepts like percentage of overhead and CEO compensation need to be understood in order to measure a charity’s effectiveness.   Secondly, we’ll be educating listeners regarding tools that they can use to research non-profits.”

Sandra Miniutti, VP/CFO of Charity Navigator, will be joining Thomson for several of The Consumer Team special segments.   Charity Navigator is a New Jersey based non-profit that offers ratings and research regarding the fiscal performance of non-profit organizations.   Commenting on Charity Navigator, Thomson said, “Charity Navigator is to non-profits as Consumer Reports is to consumer products.   We’ll be including their input throughout our series on effective giving to charities.”    Thomson credited Charity Navigator with successfully establishing metrics of measurement for the non-profit world.   Thomson added, “Before Charity Navigator, there wasn’t a reliable and objective database of information on charity performance.   And, several high profile non-profits were unchallenged when it came to serious financial issues within their organizations.   Charity Navigators has brought this critical information to the forefront of consumer awareness.   Non-profits are now accountable because of Charity Navigator.”

The Consumer Team is broadcast Saturdays from 5-7 PM on 1080 KRLD Radio, Dallas, Texas.   The Consumer Team talk radio program is one of the most listened to local programs dealing with consumer news, research and trends.   Thomson says that his passion for consumer advocacy started during his childhood growing up in the Midwest.   Both of his parents were business owners in Charles City, Iowa.  According to Thomson, seeing successful business and customer relationships fueled his interest in helping connect consumers with reputable business owners.  He said, “Growing up in Charles City, I saw the special relationship that can exist between business and the customer.  Our goal on The Consumer Team is to first educate our listeners regarding the issues that can impact their success as a consumer.  Beyond that, we strive to connect our listeners with great businesses who truly understand what it means to serve the customer.”

For more information on The Consumer Team or to listen live, to to http://www.myconsumerteam.com.   The Consumer Team is produced by McQ Media, Dallas, Texas.

 

 

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