The Tribune’s special report “The Miracle Merchants” (March 15 and 22) was disturbing and appalling on many levels. While the level of deceit utilized by these child sponsorship agencies in fundraising literature was unsettling, it was even more disturbing to note that the agency executives, especially Children International’s Joseph Gripkey, were driven in their quest to maximize donations–not quality of service to their constituents.
Non-profit foundations must be managed in a businesslike manner and fundraise aggressively to operate effectively and efficiently, yet the driving force must always be the mission of the organization. The four organizations investigated appear to have grown into such bureaucratic monoliths that the quality of their product–services for poor children–has taken a back seat to slick marketing and an endless quest for more dollars. Their donors’ inability to evaluate the quality of the product has enabled these giants to continue to build revenues on the back of an inferior product.
This shocking report provides your readers with yet another reminder that in the charity “business,” donors must be cautious and discerning consumers. Accessing material provided by the National Charity Information Bureau or the American Institute of Philanthropy is a good starting point in assessing integrity. Evaluating the quality of the service they provide is equally critical.
