Where Does Donations to the Center for Consumer Freedom Go?
The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) was established in 2002 but changed its name to the Center for Organizational Research and Education (CORE) in 2014, but still uses both names.
Founded by Richard Berman, founder, principal and president of Berman and Company, a Washington, DC-based firm “specializing in research, communications, and creative advertising” reportedly for the fast food, soft drink, alcohol, restaurant and meat industries, CCF/CORE is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) who runs media campaigns against organizations whose doctors, scientists, environmentalists, health activists, animal activists, and employees who report and advocate information to the consumer. Although CCF/CORE reports the organization is leading the charge to protect personal freedoms, a closer look at the finances of CCF/CORE reveals that the primary person that benefits from donations to this organization is, in fact, Richard Berman. Read more 
Where Does $100 to Samaritan’s Purse Go (2018)?
Samaritan’s Purse – based out of Boone, North Carolina – is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) established in 1970 by Bob Pierce who died in 1978. W. Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) became Chairman, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse in 1979 and has held the position since although he is also an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” Read more
Executive Compensation at Samaritan’s Purse (2018)
Samaritan’s Purse is an evangelical Christian organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid” to people around the world. Governed by 18 board members (16 males and 2 females), Samaritan’s Purse is well known for their shoe box gifts (a shoe box filled with toys, school supplies, crafts, hygiene products) which accounts for the majority of “grants” ($225 million out of $294 million in 2018) to children in foreign countries. To deliver these gifts and perform evangelism and other relief programs, Samaritan’s Purse provides charter travel via the use of ministry owned aircraft (15) in North Carolina, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Kenya, and Liberia, and private charters. Read more
How Membership Dues are Spent at the American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (6) whose purpose is to serve the members of the legal profession in a variety of ways including education. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the ABA has more than 400,000 members who pay $75-$450 in dues annually (depending on their years as a lawyer and type of practice which equates to about $67 million annually (in 2018). To put this number in perspective, the ABA reported total revenue of $149 million in 2018, so about 45% of revenue was from dues. The remaining revenue was from meeting fees ($27 million), gains on the sale of assets ($20 million), royalties ($9 million), publication revenue ($8 million), contributions, gifts, and grants ($8 million), accreditation fees ($5 million), and advertising and other program revenue ($5 million). Read more
Executive Compensation at the American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a Chicago-based non-profit 501 (c) (6) that serves the members of the legal profession. Established in 1878, the ABA has grown to more than 400,000 members, raises about $150 million annually (membership dues, meeting fees, gains on the sale of assets, royalties, publications, accreditation fees, contributions, advertising, etc), and has more than $150 million in net fund assets (which some people refer to as an endowment).
The most recent IRS Form 990 (2017 for the year ending August 31, 2018) reports the organization employed 751 individuals who were compensated nearly $79 million (about 53% of total revenue), which equates to an average compensation of $105,200. However, only 114 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation which means there were some very highly compensated employees. Specifically, the 16 most highly compensated employees were reported to be: Read more
Executive Compensation at the American Bankers Association
The American Bankers Association is a non-profit 501 (c) (6) organization – “a business league that pushes advocacy, provides education, products, and solutions to its membership and the financial services industry.” In other words, the ABA is a non-profit association for banks, savings and loans, and trust companies. Based in Washington, DC the ABA engages in lobbying, works to establish banking standards, and educates the public and its members.
While some people think of non-profits as almost an afterthought, the ABA is anything but insignificant. The ABA raises more than $100 annually, typically spends less than it brings in, and has accumulated more than $40 million in net assets. But, what is particularly startling is the compensation of executives.
In 2017, 398 employees were compensated $66 million, which equates to an average compensation of $166,300. However, only 173 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation which means there were some very highly compensated people in the organization. Read more
Executive Compensation at Compassion International (2018)
Compassion International, Inc. (CI) is a Colorado Springs, Colorado based 501 (c) (3) engaged in Christian ministry to “release children from their economic, social, physical, and spiritual poverty.” Although CI is one of the largest US charities based in Colorado, the organization primarily operates internationally having raised $953 million in 2018 and spent $635 million ($67 out of every $100 in revenue) on grants to foreign organizations, individuals, and governments. Read more
Executive Compensation at Intermountain Healthcare
Intermountain Healthcare refers to a large healthcare system (22 hospitals and nearly 200 clinics) based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Although there are numerous non-profits under the Intermountain Healthcare system, the primary entities include IHC Health Services, Inc. and the Intermountain Healthcare Foundation, Inc. – both of whom operate out of the same office.
IHC Health Services, Inc. reported $5.6 billion in revenue in 2016. Expenses were $5.1 billion (including $263 million in depreciation) which helped the organization (along with net unrealized gains on investments) to increase the general fund (or net fund assets) by $600 million in 2016 from $5.1 billion to $5.6 billion. The increase would have been more had IHC Health Services,Inc. not transferred $150 million to an affiliate and fund $63 million in post retirement benefits.
In 2016, IHC Health Services, Inc. employed 43,453 individuals who were compensated nearly $2.7 billion, which equates to an average compensation of $62,100. 3,836 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the most highly compensated employees listed below. Read more
Where Does $100 to St. Jude’s Go (2018)?
St. Jude’s is one of the most popular non-profit organizations in the country because the charity’s mission appeals to donors: they treat and help children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. But, before making donations, donors should understand where revenue is spent and that St. Jude’s is actually two organizations:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Inc. (St. Jude)
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC)
ALSAC “exists for the sole purpose of raising funds and building awareness to support the current and future needs of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Inc” while St. Jude engages in research and provides care and services to sick children and their families. St. Jude has a beneficial interest in the assets of ALSAC but the organizations are separate non-profit 501 (c)(3) entities with specific functions: ALSAC raises funds while St. Jude does the research and provides the treatment. Read more
Executive Compensation at St. Jude’s (2018)
When people think of St. Jude’s, they often associate the organization with the children’s research hospital but St Jude’s is actually two organizations:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (St Jude’s): the children’s hospital that provides research and medical care; and
- American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC): the fundraising arm; an organization that exists to raise funds for St. Jude’s
Although most non-profits do not separate fundraising from services, St. Jude’s does, so both organizations need to be analyzed because St. Jude’s relies on ALSAC for the majority of it’s revenue and has a beneficial interest in the organization.
The following information is based on the most recent Form 990’s (2017 for the year ending June 30, 2018) submitted by ALSAC and St. Jude’s to the IRS. Read more
