Check with state attorneys general to get more info on charities
The Jewish Daily Forward found that Kars4Kids spent just $6 million of its $29 million in gifts on programs, such as this Jewish summer camp.
Josh Nathan-Kazis of The Jewish Daily Forward looked into two charities, Kars4Kids and Oorah Inc., and found that less than 25 percent of the $29 million they collected in 2010 was spent on providing programs. The organizations collect donated cars for their mission to support Orthodox outreach to non-Orthodox Jews. Josh also found that Kars4Kids spent $8.3 million on advertising in 2010.
Today’s Tip: Check with your state attorney general for information on charities.
“Charities are required to register with the offices of attorneys general in states where they raise more than a certain amount of money, and they file 990s and other documents with those offices,” Josh says. Here’s a list of the attorneys general by state.
Josh Nathan-Kazis
Charity registries maintained by the state attorneys general offer more information than reporters can get from IRS tax Form 990 filings, which are available online through GuideStar, he says. (Another source for 990s online is Foundation Center.) In New York, the website of the attorney general includes 990s and independent auditor’s reports, which interpret the 990s and lay out any financial problems organizations have. IRS determination letters, which grant an organization tax-exempt status, and certificates of incorporation are also often available, he says.
If you’d like to know more about nonprofits, check out the self-guided training on Investigating Private Companies and Nonprofits that will be available next week on BusinessJournalism.org. Can’t wait? Here’s a recording from yesterday’s Webinar with Chris Roush, business journalism professor at the University of North Carolina, on finding public information on nonprofits.
