Each year, the SC Secretary of State's Office releases its "Scrooges and Angels" list. The office names the ten best and ten worst charities in South Carolina based on the percentage of program expenses that go toward activities.
The scrooges and angels are not ranked, but are listed below in alphabetical order.
SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond released the list at a news conference in Columbia Wednesday morning.
ANGELS LIST
- Angel Flight Soars, Inc., Atlanta, GA 87.3%
- Cheer for Children, Rock Hill, SC 98.2%
- Family Promise of Beaufort County, Inc., Beaufort, SC 99.9%
- Fields to Families, Ladson, SC 98.5%
- Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Jacksonville, FL 85.8%
- Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC, Greenville, SC 92.8%
- Horry County Museum Foundation, Conway, SC 99.6%
- House of Hope of the Pee Dee, Florence, SC 83.6%
- Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy, Kiawah Island, SC 80.8%
- Pets, Inc. of the Midlands, West Columbia, SC 98.7%
According to a release by the Secretary of State's Office, the Angels were selected by review of financial reports submitted annually. The following criteria were considered: the charity must have been established for at least three years; has collected revenue greater than $20,000; 80 percent or more of the revenue must go toward the charities' program goals; makes good use of volunteer labor; and receives minimal funding in grants. The panel also sought to showcase charities with different missions and chose charities across South Carolina and outside the state.
The designation of Scrooge is based upon the charitable organization's failure to spend a high percentage of their collections on stated program activities and/or use of a high percentage of collections to pay professional solicitors. The Scrooges chosen, with the percentage of their program expenses that went toward the program activities, are listed below.
SCROOGES
- A Leg to Stand On, New York, NY 34.2%
- American Assoc. of State Troopers Scholarship Foundation, Tallahassee, FL 34.4%
- American Association of the Deaf-Blind, Silver Spring, MD 20.3%
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, Inc., Schererville, IN 35.8%
- Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Washington, DC 37.0%
- Firefighters Support Foundation, Inc., Greenfield, MA 7.5%
- National Cancer Assistance Foundation, Sarasota, FL 11.7%
- National Veterans Service Fund, Inc., Darien, CT 17.5%
- Parkinson Research Foundation, Inc., Sarasota, FL 25.3%
- Project Cure, Inc., Bradenton, FL 22.7%
The Scrooges were selected by review of financial reports submitted annually to the Secretary of State's Office. The following criteria were considered: the charity had given 40 percent or less of the revenue to the charities' program goals; collected revenue greater than $20,000; and spent a large amount of donations on the use of professional fundraisers.
Secretary Hammond issued the following statement: "As Secretary of State, I have the duty of enforcing the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, and of protecting the public against "Scrooge" organizations that want to take advantage of our giving spirit. Charitable solicitations across the state have increased in the last three years because more and more people are in need of assistance. Even though times are tough, South Carolinians continue to be some of the most generous people in the nation and always answer the call when it comes to defending and helping the less fortunate. However, there are those who would take advantage of our generosity. So I ask that you check out any organization before you contribute your hard-earned money."
To check out a charity, click here. You can learn about a charity's total revenue, program expenses, total expenses, net assets, and fundraiser costs. You can also call the Secretary of State's charities division at 1-888-CHARITI (242-7484).
