MSN has recently published the top 10 "charities" in America, based on "Charity Navigator" ratings. The ratings are based on how efficiently the organizations spend the donations entrusted to them. Simply put, the higher the percentage of donated dollars that go directly towards the mission statement of the organization, the higher the rating. Not surprisingly, the top rated Pro-Troop Non-Profits do not spend as large a percentage on advertising. Four of the top 10 overall were Pro-Troop Non-Profits, and their ratings are very close with less than 2 rating points separating them.
Number 10 on their list with a rating of 67.96 is the Injured Marine & Sailor Semper Fi Fund. War On Terror News readers are more likely than others to have heard of it, because we have supported the efforts of Jon Whitein support of it, for 4 years. This year, Jon is running the Marine Corp Marathon for the 5th time, and has done so with a team of runners each year. Some of them have run every year. Others have started their own teams. And some are running for their first year. He has run thousands of miles in training and hundreds of miles competitively in the MCM and other Marathons and half Marathons across multiple countries and continents, in and out of combat zones.
Number 5 on their list, with a rating of 69.12, is one that I have rarely mentioned, but have long known about and that is the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. They provide Scholarships to the children of Fallen Special Operations Forces of all branches, as well as assist the families of Wounded SOF Warriors. Originally, they only gave scholarships to the children of those SOF Warriors killed in action, but expanded that when funds were sufficient to fully support those killed in training. And with the needs of wounded SOF Warriors in support of the War On Terror, they again expanded their mission.
Though very specialized, this is a very worthy organization.
Number 4 on their list, with a rating of 69.21, is actually a surprise to me, Homes for the Troops. I attempted to make contact with them a few years ago, but received no reply. I like their mission statement of assisting Wounded Warriors with the specialized home needs to accommodate their injuries, and am pleased to see that they have been recognized for financial efficiency. I hope they continue to successfully achieve their goals efficiently.
It is the widest mission statement of those in the top 10, as far as Pro-Troop non-profits go.
Number 3 on their list, with a rating of 69.34, is the Navy SEAL Foundation. I know less about this organization than the others, but it is also the most specialized of those on the list.
A perfect score in these ratings is a 70. The Fisher House Foundation, with a score of 68.09, which provides lodging to the families of Wounded Warriors while they are in Military Hospitals, and to Veterans when they must travel to VA Hospitals should also have made the top 10.
And the Intrepid Fund, with a rating of 65.77, is another well-run, broad scope Pro-Troop Non-Profit, that should be included. "Begun in 2000 under the auspices of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, and established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 2003, the Fund has provided more than $65 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. In January 2007, the Fund completed construction of the Center for the Intrepid physical rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas."
The Wounded Warrior Project has seen a downgrade in their rating, to 53.37, most likely due to the expenses associated with their recent television advertising campaign. In prior years, they had higher ratings, but their donations have increased by 29%, while fundraising expenses are now $9.39 Million of their $40.33 Million in contributions.
Stumble It!
