I just got off the phone with a fundraiser from the Veteran's Assistance Council. I already forgot the guy's name. He was belligerent. He questioned my patriotism because I asked him what percentage of the funds went to the cause (helping veterans and their families). He caught me at my computer, so I googled and found their Web site. That didn't help me learn anything about them, anyway. He tried to justify himself by saying they were registered with the Better Business Bureau. So what? There are too many "charities" who give less than 90% of what they raise to their cause. I will have none of that. If a charity can't keep its fundraising to 10% or less of gross costs, then I don't consider it to be worthy of my support. I have never hung up on a fundraiser. Until tonight.

Now that I have a little more time to do research, I see that the VAC isn't listed at either Charity Watch or Charity Navigator. At least next time someone googles this organization they'll find my warning: I for one don't give to rude, high pressure fundraisers reprsenting organizations about which nothing useful shows up in a Google search.

If anyone else has more information, feel free to comment here.

Technorati tags: charity, veterans.