Politics on the Hudson

Most of the money raised for charities by professional telemarketers in New York doesn’t make it to the charity, according to a new study released today by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Fundraisers keep an average of 61 cents on the dollar.

   In 2007, fundraisers secured $178.7 million in donations to 442 charities. Of that, $108.2 million paid the telemarketers’ fees and overhead costs.

   “Especially in today’s economy, when New Yorkers give their hard-earned money to charity, they expect the donation to make a difference and to help those in need,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This report arms New Yorkers with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about contributing, and also encourages charities across the state to find more effective ways to raise money.”

   Other findings in the study include:

  —In nearly 80 percent of fundraising campaigns, charities kept less than half of the money donated.

  —In about half of the campaigns, charities received less than 30 percent of the funds raised.

  —Charities actually lost money in 51 of the 553 campaigns analyzed in the report.

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