Before I turned 65, I went to the Brooks Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. for medical care, and I would see these young soldiers who had been wounded in Iran and Afghanistan. Some were badly wounded but some were really, really bad. On any of them, it brought some serious tears to my eyes. I saw them holding up their heads in pride, even with their wounds but I knew they had a long row to hoe ahead of them.

Go ahead several years and I found the Wounded Warriors Project. There went my money.

These Wounded Warriors need our help, both with day to day adjustments and the associated costs of medical expenses.

Pony up guys and gals, Please. Its the right thing to do.

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

Bring it back up for another look

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

Or maybe not. Some of my military nets have been ablaze on this subject.
Here is one post: I got more if you need more.
Wounded Warriors Project A Legal Scam. by Alex Graham
Wounded Vets are big money… Just when we thought it was safe to come out of the woods after the last news of the Big Six VSOs padding their bank accounts on the backs of all our disabled, along comes this article and investigation revealing nothing is sacred among thieves.
Sad to say, the Wounded Warrior Project is bled dry by a top heavy, greedy executive structure and the remaining funds are disbursed to multi-tier distribution organizations with similar management structures. By the time the money actually goes to direct benefits for veterans, there is probably less than 10% that reaches them.

Below are results of an investigation by a retired USMC Colonel:

· Compensation for the top ten WWP employees runs from $150K to $333K per officer annually.
· WWP was the center of controversy involving their anti-Second Amendment position…

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I guess I will need to do some personal research. WWP is one of the only charities that I have continued to support after my retirement and with my much reduced income. Being a vet myself, and grateful that I served 24 years without a scratch, supporting the WWP was a way of paying back just a bit to those in need. I truly hope that I do not discover that this charity is not what it purports to be.

It took me all of five minutes to find that the Better Business Bureau gives WWP a positive rating, saying it meets ALL of its 20 criteria as a legitimate charity. The website charitynavigator.org gives WWP a 3 out of 4 star rating, showing it gives 58% of its revenue to its program activities, and most of the rest is spent on fundraising (with only a small percentage to administrative costs). I don't begrudge them the fundraising expenses since that is the only way to get the word out and get new members to sign up as donors.

The claim by the retired Marine officer (if legitimate) stated in the OP of this thread is found in several places, identically worded, on the internet but I have not found any corroboration or additional criticisms. Possibly this is valid and possibly this is a false or exaggerated claim or something by a single disgruntled individual.

I would hope no one stops supporting WWP based upon this one allegation.

I ll find the source that provides WWP operating budget. You wont like what you see. WWP spends more a year on overhead than they give out.


I stand either corrected. Or they have greatly improved over the last few years.

Charity Navigator Rating - Wounded Warrior Project

At one time they were giving out around 30% of what they took in. And their CEO was making $300k a year. They are doing better I'll give them that.

Is fund raising part of overhead? If so, that would not be a negative necessarily.

I contribute to "local" WWP activities, such as hunting and fishing. I never give to a National, as that's where the $$$ drain always is.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

It may not be perfect, but it's the best at what it does. I donate.

In FY 2012 WWP reported an income of $154,958,901. A review of their expenses as noted in their 2012 IRS 990 tax return required of non-profits reflects $4,657,084 in Grants to organizations and $871,194 in Grants to individuals. This equates to about 3.5% of total income being expended in directly helping wounded warriors or (through grants) to other organizations with similar goals.
3.5 percent actually spent on wounded veterans?
You got to be kidding me!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Vito, Thanks. That should clear things up.

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Slim, U.S. Army, Ret.

Why do private charities have to provide support to our wounded veterans? Why doesn't the US government, the VA, or the DOD take care of veteran health, emotional, and rehabilitation issues? I am honestly confused by today's ads for help for wounded veterans.

I have given my money to several assistance organizations and am wondering why these organizations exist. I am not attacking any organization or group, just simply asking, "Why?" . Also, I am not denying the need for this assistance.

Thank you

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S&WHF 366

That's what I was looking for.

Comment - The US government doesn't do anything really well, does it? The military fights well, but that's NOT the government.....

Question - rumor has it that the WWP has an anti-gun position, publicly stated, etc. Anyone know anything about that?

I do support the WWP in a small way - I await answers on the anti-gun thing.

***GRJ***

I think its because they are too interested in giving billions away to Countries that will and do--stab us in the back at every turn--like afghanistan.

Well I for one donate to the WWP and am proud to do so. If only a portion of my dollar helps even one brave soldier then I am fine with that. Could it be better organized, probably so but what couldn't. The WWP and the Salvation Army and the NRA are about all I donate to but I think they are worthwhile causes. I surely hope to not find out any of these are a scam.

I contribute monthly. I would even if there was some truth to the allegation they are anti-gun, which I doubt.

Someone has to give a hand to these vets and their families. They've given an awful lot to serve this country, sometimes very nearly giving it all. I'll help if I can, until a better way presents itself.

The Better Business Bureau says WWP meets their standards for a legitimate charity. Speaking just for me, I can't see myself testing for doctrinal purity every time I see a chance to help someone in real, agonizing need. I may be had from time to time, but I'll chance it.

YMMV.

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Oh well, what the hell.

This was beaten to death a couple months ago-I'll take a wounded veteran out to shoot-buy them a meal- volunteer at the USO-I'd do some research-

I did some research on WWP, and we have decided to re-channel the funds we were sending to them to a different entity we have confidence in. As a disabled veteran, I had questioned about the need for this charity, given what is available at VA, and the various service organizations: VFW, DAV, etc. I had deferred to my wife in regard to our contributions to WWP, because she felt strongly about it; not any more. The data they are required to publish regarding their finances tells the tale for us. Beyond that, the supposed involvement of highly placed VA officials is really repugnant, if true. "As a man sows, so shall he reap, and only that which he sows." Flapjack.

This might be what they are talking about when they say WWp is anti-gun.

Wounded Warrior Project In Not So Many Words Admits It Is Anti Gun

As I recall, the anti-gun stuff came from firearms manufacturers offering to sponsor events and fund raisers. The WWP program turned them down, saying they didn't want to be associated with firearms companies.

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Dick Burg

Most of what I read called WWP a "legal scam" or words to that effect. What they are doing may be legal, but that does not make it right, or moral.

Actually they retracted that, saying that the staff member who issued the turn-down didn't have the authority to do so.

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Oh well, what the hell.

My wife and I are members of the "Advance Guard" our credit card is hit for a $19 a month contribution. That being said, We have Wounded Warrior Project stickers on our vehicles and wear T shirts sometimes, hoping to elicit a "What's that all about"? that we can bring another doner into the fold. WE CANNOT DO ENOUGH FOR THESE MEN/WOMEN !!!!

The question for me, as a disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, was, "am I doing anything for veterans by contributing to the "Wounded Warrior Project?" Our decision was that our finances and prayers would be better used by someone else than WWP.

I just returned from an internet search of WWP. Charity Navigator reports that WWP spends 57.9% of their income on programs and services, 5.6% on administration, 36.3% on fundraising. Sounds good to me. Oh, and they have a 4 star out of 5 star rating for transparency. I won't stop my monthly.

I just found an audit by The LBA group of accountants, consultants and wealth advisors of the WWP for 2012.

All contributions, incomes, dividends $200,609,204

All programs and services $140,728,895

To Blackpowder30: If your numbers are accurate, that would be 70% of their total income going out in program and services, which is a very respectable number. I recently retired from a not-for-profit Catholic health care organization, and I recall that our VP of Development said that the very best of charities achieves 85% or better, but that anything over 60% was not unreasonable. Unless I see some more definitive information that convinces me that WWP is a scam I will continue my monthly support to them. And maybe I am being naïve, but LTC Oliver North (Retired) is a man I respect, and he was a spokesman for them a number of years ago (now most of the ads seem to have Mark Walberg, who while anti-gun has been openly pro-veteran).

All of WWP's financial information is listed here > Wounded Warrior Project - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia .

I don't donate to much of anything these days due mainly to increasing personal health issues and decreasing monthly income but it seems to me, as in most all large companies, organizations and charity groups, executive management is always overloaded. Take a look on the Wikipedia link above at all the directors, presidents and vice presidents within the organization. That's what irritates me the most. Otherwise, I feel the organization has good intentions and deserves donations. What I actually mean by that is our veterans and their families deserve the help that this organization at least tries to provide.

I pulled up an old thread on this topic to add some very recent information. CBS News is now running a fairly scathing expose of WWP's business practices. There was a lengthy feature about it on tonight's CBS News program, and apparently there will be more episodes this week. In summary, only about 60% of donations to WWP are now going to programs for vets, with the other 40% being used for fund raising and living the high life for WWP staff and executives. In contrast, DAV puts about 96% of its donations into programs for aiding disabled vets.

DAV's been around a lot longer. They do a lot for vets. They just aren't as high profile as WWP. No high dollar celebrity spokesman, no glitzy TV ads, etc. My little bit of money goes to DAV.

I have a friend who lost both his legs in Iraq in 2005. He lives in a home built by Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), which provides specially-adapted, mortgage-free housing to our most severely injured service members.

There are many organizations out there helping veterans, some long-established, some relatively new. Some of these organizations spend a lot of their money on fundraising and executive compensation, and some make sure that most of your money actually goes to deserving veterans.

My friend can't say enough good things about HFOT...and that's good enough for me. I make donations to all the veterans' organizations, but the bulk of what I donate goes to HFOT...

Official Website of Homes for Our Troops - Homes for Our Troops Inc.

I don't want to get into a internet measuring match. But I though 60% return was considered decent.My wife and I do wear the shirts and make irregular contributions to them.What they do best is keep people seeing and thinking about wounded veterans.Saying all that my wife and I prefer giving to the Fisher House.But having A young disabled vet in the family.Anything any organization does to help our injured vets is alright with me.

Personal Opinion nothing more nothing less.... My AVATAR and signature sez it all.

Everyone needs to do what they believe is best.

Since 1920

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

What bothered me was when Trace Adkins sang "from the fields of Vietnam, to the mountains of Afghanistan" knowing that Vietnam vets are ineligible.

Bad form.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

If you want to help the organizations who help veterans the most, you need look no further than Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). Most of the membership of these entities are made up of veterans, who know what it is like to have served and need help. The majority of monies raised by these two go to the benefit of the veteran and not to some self-serving administration. Put your money where it does the most good and ignore the ads on TV where you get a blanket for your donation. Nothing but thieves there.

I only give to Charities where I know 100% of the Money goes to where it's supposed to go.
I used to give to the United Way until I found out the President was paid around $100.000.00 a year as a Professional beggar.
The Disabled American Veterans(DAV) is about the most worthy place to donate to for Our Disabled Veterans.

United Way is not in itself a charity. Rather it is an organization that shares contributions among a large number of qualifying charities from which a donor can select which he wants to get the money, and how much. It is usually a method used by businesses and government agencies to allow their employees to make charitible donations, and contributions are withdrawn from the employees' salaries. It does charge an administrative fee for its services. I don't know how much - but not very much.

I doubt that any charity puts 100% of contributions into programs. That is because there would be nothing left to cover its administrative expenses. It's generally considered that 90% or more of contributions going to programs is indicative of an efficiently-operated charitable organization, and anything less than around 75-80% is top heavy with expenses. That's why it is a good idea to check the expense ratio of any charities you are interested in contributing to prior to giving.

My girlfriend and I only donate to 3 causes: Vets, animals, and the NRA.

One of the charities we donate to trains therapy Pit Bulls to be issued to Vets.

That's it! My future contributions will NOT GO to WWP.

I think ENGINEER1911 in post #12 brought up the point we all should be asking. Go back and read his post. Why indeed!

The DAV is my #! vets organization. I donate to others and have contributed to the Wounded Warriors in the past.

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I like Ike.

Many of them still need our support. The last I heard on the WWP was that they 'wasted' money that should have gone to improving the lives of veterans. Let's not treat our vets like homeless pets where we give money to dubious organizations that play on our sympathy. Our vets need and deserve the real charitable giving thingl

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

let those that broke 'em, fix 'em...............and use/break NO more.....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

If CBS (or NBC or ABC) told me the sun would rise tomorrow morning, I'd still make sure I had fresh batteries for my flashlight!

I guess no one knows for sure but the record keepers and they probably won't talk. Here a little article from Militarydot com. Could be a disgruntled ex or a real whistle blower.

Wounded Warrior Project Accused of Wasting Donor Money | Military.com

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Psalm 23:4

The second part pf the WWP expose was on CBS news tonight. I heard part of it, but was busy doing something else, and couldn't watch it. Maybe someone else did and can report. I heard something mentioned about the IRS getting involved in an investigation of WWP, don't know what that was about.

I did not know that Vietnam Vets are ineligible.
Why is that? Doesn't seem quite "charitable."
Another reason for my money to go to DAV.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

War Dogs Making it Home provides service dogs to Vets with PTSD and TBI.

Please have a look:


War Dogs Making It Home

You've got the right idea. Giving as close as you can "directly" to your intended receiver is ALWAYS the best way to avoid the corruption and waste.

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Stay protected my friends.