opinion of the American Cancer Society

[© tweed]

I'm doing a research paper on them right now.  the more I find out, the more I am troubled.

[tik 🪀✨]

I haven't heard anything bad about them. Please, ruin them for me!

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Curious to hear the dirt.

[© tweed]

...The ACS derives its revenue from multiple sources; private donations play a part, as does government funding.  The ACS also takes money from several corporations, including pharmeceutical giants such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer.  The ACS lists fifteen ‘Corporations Committed to the Cause’ on its website. (3)
   The ACS has not been immune to criticism.  The ties to the aforementioned pharmeceutical corporations is a subject of contention with other anti-cancer organizations, such as the Cancer Prevention Coalition.  Since these companies earn great profits from the sale of cancer medication and drugs, it is argued that a conflict of interest exists between such corporations and the ACS’ stated goal.  The ACS’ increasing wealth and general use of finances has also come under fire.  According to Charity Navigator, a website intended to advise potential donors in “intelligent giving”, the ACS is horribly inefficent, earning just one ‘star’ out of a potential four in their Efficiency Rating. (4)  The Cancer Prevention Coalition also notes this, pointing out that in 1988, the ACS spent just 26% of its budget on “medical research and programs”.  60% of the budget was spent on overhead, including employee salaries. (5)  In light of President Barack Obama recent ‘capping’ of Chief Executive Officer salaries at $500,000 for companies that receive government bailout funds, some have called for non-profit organizations that receive government money, such as the ACS, to also cap executive salaries.  The ACS pays its CEO in excess of $500,000 per year.  (6)

3: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/AA/AA_4_Corporate_Recognition.asp 
4: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6495 
5: http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm
6: http://blog.charitynavigator.org/2009/02/non-profit-ceo-pay-and-government.html

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Huh. That's pretty damning.

[dead0man]

Are there any "clean" organizations left?

[Torie]

Only 26 cents out of one dollar going to actual charity makes them all doomed to going to hell to burn until the sun goes cold. HP.

[GMantis]

Only 26 cents out of one dollar going to actual charity makes them all doomed to going to hell to burn until the sun goes cold. HP.

Actually, it's 70%:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6495
Still too little, of course.