The Non-Profit 1%

[Master Shake]

When music therapist Debbie Moran was notified she was being laid off from her job with the Jewish Guild for the Blind, her first concern was not the money.

"Me being let go is nothing," she wrote in an e-mail. "The salary was minuscule."

Moran's final paycheck was $165.07 for two weeks, and while she noted "it's sometimes a little more," the gig had no benefits and brought in less than $5,000 a year. It was but one of several jobs Moran hustled up to eke out a living as a musician, therapist, and teacher.

Moran had been at the Guild for more than 20 years and worked with mostly elderly blind people, forming various choirs. She was at the Guild nursing home five days a week until it closed; then five days a week at the GuildCare Adult Day Center in Yonkers, and then three days.

Then came word that her program and the GuildCare choir were being axed entirely. "I am in shock but most of all horrified for my people," she says. "They have nothing. They are old, poor, and on top of that, blind. They are totally dependent on Medicaid."

Some had lost their sight entirely. Others with dementia were losing their memories. And now even the day care residents were losing music therapy, which could be, as Moran puts it, "sometimes the one thing that can draw someone out."

[snip]

At the other end of the pay scale at the Guild, it's a different story. In 2008, the Guild was paying its CEO, Alan Morse, J.D., Ph.D., a total compensation package of $843,502. Then came 2009, the first full year after the financial crash, which compromised the Guild's revenue streams.

Instead of going down that year, however, Morse's compensation went up some 82 percent, topping $1.5 million.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-03-...t-one-percent/

[don]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

[BK]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

The explosion in Non-profit is unimaginable. The mis-allocation of resources that support non-profits that are essentially a great way to dodge taxes (Warren Buffets - wifes foundation - holds a 2 Billion in Berkshire Hathaway and no taxes will be collected from the sale of any of these shares - while people close to Warren draw benefits and decent salaries - $500,000 a year for Warren's former son-in-law and father of Buffet grandkids). Take a look at http://www.opportunityfinance.net/ - a Non-profit finance company that distributes Tax Credits to Banks and companies like Starbucks.

How about the CEO of Boy Scouts drawing a salary of $1.2 MILLION and $30 Million in Art work at the headquarters. How about Joe Kennedy is is giving away oil for reduced prices while being paid $500,000 .

We voters are so dumb - sadly the real non-profits that do really good work are hard to identify - they exist....but, very rare I suspect.

[davidstvz]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

The NP in the original post sounds like it is getting good work done... there is just a leech at the top feed off it.

[don]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

Domestically the Think Pink monster seems to have many of the attributes of a non-profit, while succeeding in framing the cancer argument on the cure and not the cause. NGOs, many of which are nonprofits, globally played an altogether different role.

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

There is another little category of corp, the not-for-profits. They do pay taxes, but the management teams don't need to worry about any pressure from owner or shareholders and they get less scrutiny than the non-profit 501 c3's. Many of our national labs are "managed" by not-for -profits that harvest a small percentage right of the top of the entire lab budget.

[Master Shake]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

Seems like everything's a racket these days. We have corrupt government, crony capitalism, and crony charities. You need to do your due diligence before you donate.

This is certainly a song for our times (Jesse at Cafe American has posted it several times in the past).


http://

[doom&gloom]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

Instead of going down that year, however, Morse's compensation went up some 82 percent, topping $1.5 million.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-03-...t-one-percent/

ya gotta understand, it's rough to live in NYC. there are private school costs, country club costs, bribes to get your kids into the "right" pre-school, having to live on the right street in the right building near the right Starbucks and shop at the right stores with the right Black Card while having the right limo for the right chauffer and the right summer home (or rental) and the right friends and winter vacations in the right places and all.

this does not come cheap you know...


*sigh*

[jpatter666]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

The explosion in Non-profit is unimaginable. The mis-allocation of resources that support non-profits that are essentially a great way to dodge taxes (Warren Buffets - wifes foundation - holds a 2 Billion in Berkshire Hathaway and no taxes will be collected from the sale of any of these shares - while people close to Warren draw benefits and decent salaries - $500,000 a year for Warren's former son-in-law and father of Buffet grandkids). Take a look at http://www.opportunityfinance.net/ - a Non-profit finance company that distributes Tax Credits to Banks and companies like Starbucks.

How about the CEO of Boy Scouts drawing a salary of $1.2 MILLION and $30 Million in Art work at the headquarters. How about Joe Kennedy is is giving away oil for reduced prices while being paid $500,000 .

We voters are so dumb - sadly the real non-profits that do really good work are hard to identify - they exist....but, very rare I suspect.

Ouch. Definitely of interest to us since my wife is currently interviewing to become the Executive Director at two non-profits specializing in International Development.

I can tell you that at least for these two, her salary would not be anywhere *near* those levels. But she just sadly nodded at these articles -- overpay in the NGO community at the executive level is very well known within that community. Very much mutual back scratching.

Often many of these execs come in from the business arena and demand the high-salary to support their lifestyle. They get it because of their connections to rich donors/businesses which are the lifeblood of many of these organizations. It's a vicious circle.

My wife rose up through the ranks of NGOs (I joke that my charitable donation is allowing her to do this -- and it's not always in jest) and the difference is IMO highly noticeable.

[DSpencer]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

Seems like everything's a racket these days. We have corrupt government, crony capitalism, and crony charities. You need to do your due diligence before you donate.

Sad but true. The idea of "non-profits" in the US is a joke. The tax system is set up this way on purpose. As I have said a dozen times before, simplifying it should be the first step to fixing it.

[c1ue]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

I had an employee who volunteered 2 or 3 days a week at the San Francisco SPCA.

Several years ago, a new President was brought in. In addition to her large salary, the SF-SPCA also paid for her to buy a house in San Francisco.

One of the first policies this individual enacted was to stop accepting all condemned animals from San Francisco Animal Control. Condemned animals are ones which have been there beyond their grace period, and are thus scheduled to be euthanized.

Her reasoning - correct from a strict economic sense - was that these animals were a drain on SPCA resources because they were difficult or impossible to get adopted. And lest you think these are all old, crippled, and/or ugly animals, many of these at the time were feral kittens from Hunter's Point shipyard. These kittens were cute, but completely unsocialized and thus would as often attack people with claws and teeth as allow themselves to be touched.

Of course theoretically the entire purpose of the SPCA is to care for neglected animals and to prevent abuse and cruelty. I guess euthanasia of the no longer useful doesn't qualify anymore.

The big accomplishment for this President? The building of a truly gigantic animal hospital where people bringing in pets for care are charged pretty significant (but nominally non-profit) sums.

A view of the SPCA's new hospital's page:

http://www.sfspca.org/veterinary-hos...ancing-options

Please note that financial assistance is given on a case-by-case basis. Individuals seeking financial assistance must bring a valid state-issued ID, proof of San Francisco residency, and proof of income. The SF SPCA will then determine if a guardian is eligible for one of our financial assistance programs. Please call us at 415.554.3030 to learn more about any of our programs.
Our programs include:

• CareCredit
• Payment Arrangements
• Pet-a-Care Senior Discount Program
• Emergency Care Grant
• Free First Medical Exam
• Sheltercare Insurance Gift and Post-Adoption Care Discount
• Free and Sliding Scale Spay/Neuter

---

CareCredit

All clients seeking financial assistance are required to apply for CareCredit, a credit card that offers a variety of financing options at some healthcare and veterinary facilities. Only if a pet guardian does not have access to credit through this lending institution can the SF SPCA provide a payment arrangement for urgent veterinary care.

Please visit the CareCredit website to learn more or to apply online. Applications are also available at our hospital front desk. If approved, you will be required to use CareCredit to pay for your pet's treatment if you don't have another way to pay in full.

• CareCredit can be applied toward the cost of any hospital services, including routine and emergency care.
• CareCredit is often the best option for expensive treatments, including dental work.

---

Payment Arrangements

We provide urgent care to acutely ill or seriously injured animals. Financing is available for qualifying San Francisco residents with spayed/neutered pets, or those who agree to spay/neuter their cat or dog during or after treatment. San Francisco pet guardians in need of payment arrangements are required to bring a valid government-issued ID, proof of San Francisco residency, and a form of payment to leave on file for monthly payments.

[flintlock]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

Seems like everything's a racket these days.

Thats my take on it too Shake. What really sours me is when they then try to play off like they are deserving of special praise for doing "charity" work. There's big bucks in the Charity business for sure. Too bad usually the people at the bottom are well meaning. Often donating time or working for peanuts because they want to help. I completely quit giving to all organized charities except one that donates to kids with cancer, because I know its being well used. Instead I try to do my part locally and on an individual basis. At least I know my money is making an impact. But its really not fair to the genuine charities. They are the ones hurt by this.

[charliebrown]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

I have used charity navigator in the past.

It did sniff out the boy scouts and another charity that I was giving to, as having over-paid CEOs. When I found out that the head of one charity I was giving to was making 350K a year,
I sent an e-mail stating that I understand that running the charity is a full time job and needs skilled professional, but some of the pay back is supposed to be that you are doing it as a labor of love. I don't know what the right level of compensation is. Maybe make compensation the same as say a high school teacher.

The charity did move its head quarters from california in an order to reduce expenses. I did see the CEO salary reduced a few years after the move.

[LazyBoy]

Re: The Non-Profit 1%

I have used charity navigator in the past.

++
A good site.