It seems that every nonprofit is working hard to raise funds, and I applaud them for the work they do. How does one know what percentage is actually used for the specific function claimed? For instance, we see so many people walking to raise funds for a cure for cancer. Is each individual program donating 100 percent toward research or does a percentage go to the administration of the agency. Who determines who gets the research funds? Trying to get the information from their Web sites is not an easy task. Can you tell us what the American Cancer Society raised for a cure in the past few years and where did the funds go? — Do-Gooder, El Centro
We imagine it’s going to be a different breakdown for individual agencies raising funds, so thankfully the letter writer asked specifically about the American Cancer Society at the end of the question.
Every organization has administrative costs, and the American Cancer Society is no different.
Last year, the Imperial County office of ACS, through its primary fundraiser, Relay for Life, earned about $200,000, said Jose Landeros, local director for Relay for Life.
Of that total, which was earned among the El Centro, Calexico and Brawley relays, 6 percent goes to the administrative cost associated with running the local office.
The remaining 94 percent is broken down a bit more loosely, with the exception of the national organization’s stated mission and goal of contributing 40 percent to cancer research, Landeros said.
We’ll get back to the who and how of where that research funding goes. But with that 46 percent accounted for, the remaining 54 percent is split among three areas — education, programs and services, and advocacy.
Landeros said those areas borrow from one another depending on the need of the local office. Also, not all of that money stays locally, as some is sent for legislative advocacy, for example. That said, the El Centro office also borrows from outside Imperial County to fund programs.
Truth be told, we felt like we left the conversation without a clear-cut answer as to how and when the money is used locally and when it goes elsewhere. We imagine that can be a problem with a national organization.
But, the American Cancer Society and its volunteers do great work, and part of that research money that does go national, well, Landeros said some of it is coming back to the Valley in a $1 million study of Hispanic women locally.
Those national research dollars are all decided on by volunteers at state and national levels. David West of El Centro is the local volunteer, and he will regularly get together with other volunteers from across the state and country, go over grant proposals from doctors and vote on those he and the other volunteers feel are most worthy of funding.
We imagine it’s going to be a different breakdown for individual agencies raising funds, so thankfully the letter writer asked specifically about the American Cancer Society at the end of the question.
Every organization has administrative costs, and the American Cancer Society is no different.
Last year, the Imperial County office of ACS, through its primary fundraiser, Relay for Life, earned about $200,000, said Jose Landeros, local director for Relay for Life.
Of that total, which was earned among the El Centro, Calexico and Brawley relays, 6 percent goes to the administrative cost associated with running the local office.
The remaining 94 percent is broken down a bit more loosely, with the exception of the national organization’s stated mission and goal of contributing 40 percent to cancer research, Landeros said.
We’ll get back to the who and how of where that research funding goes. But with that 46 percent accounted for, the remaining 54 percent is split among three areas — education, programs and services, and advocacy.
Landeros said those areas borrow from one another depending on the need of the local office. Also, not all of that money stays locally, as some is sent for legislative advocacy, for example. That said, the El Centro office also borrows from outside Imperial County to fund programs.
Truth be told, we felt like we left the conversation without a clear-cut answer as to how and when the money is used locally and when it goes elsewhere. We imagine that can be a problem with a national organization.
But, the American Cancer Society and its volunteers do great work, and part of that research money that does go national, well, Landeros said some of it is coming back to the Valley in a $1 million study of Hispanic women locally.
Those national research dollars are all decided on by volunteers at state and national levels. David West of El Centro is the local volunteer, and he will regularly get together with other volunteers from across the state and country, go over grant proposals from doctors and vote on those he and the other volunteers feel are most worthy of funding.
