ALBANY, N.Y. (AP/ 1010 WINS) -- Telemarketers keep an average 60 cents of every dollar they raise for charity in New York state, according to a report issued Tuesday.
Nearly half of the charities received less than 30 percent of the money telemarketers raised, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said. Cuomo introduced a new tool on his Web site so donors can check where their money goes.
LINK: Find Out Where Your Money Goes
The site allows potential donors to easily search charities by name, the general type of charity -- such as "police'' -- and by region of the state.
A report by Cuomo's office showed telemarketers raised nearly $205 million on behalf of 444 New York charities in 2008.
Of that, about $124 million was paid to the telemarketers as profits, fees and other costs of the campaigns.
His office reviewed 584 fundraising campaigns, finding that only 7 percent gave the charity the Better Business Bureau's minimum standard of at least 65 percent of the money raised.
In 42 of the campaigns, charities actually lost money.
"People across New York looking to give this holiday season can make an informed decision before they donate, and hopefully it will encourage giving to those charities which keep and use more of the funds raised,'' Cuomo said in a written statement.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
