Charity blows cash for vets on M&M's and hand sanitizer

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If you've donated money to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, sleep easy knowing that your hard-earned cash most likely went to pay for hand sanitizer, coconut M&M's, a needlepoint-design pillowcase and other junk. Wait, what? That's according to a CNN investigation into the organization's IRS filings, which disturbingly show that generous folks like yourselves have donated $55.9 million to the charity since 2007, yet almost no cash has gone to help the veterans. DVNF's frivolous expenses include an outrageous $61 million to a direct-mail company tasked with shilling for further donations.

Not surprisingly, independent nonprofit CharityWatch has given DVNF an "F," and so do we.*

If you ask me - The "F" stands for fraud that deserves jail time -

IRS forms show charity's money isn't going to disabled vets - CNN.com

*Please use independent watchdogs like this to help when choosing a charity - don't just donate because "the name sounds good"...make sure your donations will go to help the cause you so generously give to.
  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    That is beyond awful. It is why I check, in most cases, to see how much of the funds raised actually go to the cause. There are a few "charities" that aren't very charitable.

    Thanks for bring this to everyone's attention.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    The two I advocated and fundraised for got an A+ and a B+.
    American Kidney Fund got an A+. They helped cover my insurance premiums before I got a transplant.

    National Kidney Foundation got a B+.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    I always give to DAV - Disabled American Veterans

    Different than the one cited here although I can't find the article at that link -

    So be sure not to get the two mixed up and withhold your contributions from our needy disabled American Veterans because of one sham organization.

    Incredibly disabled vets have to fight another fight just to get decent benefits. So please do whatever you can to help them.
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  • Profile picture of the author AnnaMolly
    This is basically what all big charities do. The same with he Kony 2012, and a bunch of others. It's a testament to he warped society we live in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Hand santizer AND M&Ms is the give-away that something is wrong here...Everyone knows M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hands.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    The IRS does NOT require any special forms, like those mentioned, unless it is a tax registered charity. In such a case, this place has broken SEVERAL federal laws that, if any of US did them, would have us pay HUGE fines and likely end up in jail! Ths company is no different than madoffs!

    TAX FRAUD, for one! They are so registered and not doing what they claim.
    Regular fraud because they are acting more like a ponzi than a charity.

    It makes you wonder, because many VALID registered charities provide a card, and I think they are supposed to display it, that says they ARE so registered. Some people rely on THAT to say the charity is "legit".

    How did such a report get so detailed anyway? I believe they are generally summarized. Were they audited by the IRS?

    Steve
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