Is the "Feed the Children" organization legitimate?

Question

I mean, is the money that we send really getting used for the children or is it a rip off like everything else?

Answer 1

Feed the Children
Feed the Children April 2005

333 North Meridian Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-0036

405-942-0228
800-627-4556
www.feedthechildren.org Expiration Date: April 2007


Year, State Incorporated: 1964, Oklahoma

Affiliates: FTC Transportation

Stated Purpose: "to deliver food, clothing, medical supplies and equipment, education materials and other necessities to people lacking such essentials."

Evaluation Conclusions

Feed the Children (FC) meets the Standards for Charity Accountability. Please note that as of the date of this report one of the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability is not currently effective. As a result, this standard has not been applied to this evaluation.




Programs

FC receives donations of food, clothing, blankets, and medical supplies and services, and distributes these items to children and their families in the United States and 45 countries worldwide. In the wake of natural and man made disasters around the world, FC delivers food, shelter and other necessities. FC provides training and development programs to communities to generate food and income. As part of its education program, FC distributes books and educational materials to impoverished areas of the United States and around the world.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, FC's program expenses were:


Childcare, food, and medical $680,397,414
Education and community development $156,921,186
Disaster relief $8,393,250
Total Program Expenses: $845,711,850



Governance

Chief Executive Officer: Larry Jones
Compensation*: $155,786

Chair of the Board: Dwight Powers

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Automobile Dealer, Oklahoma City, OK

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 162


*July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004; compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.



Fund Raising

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), television, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $946,056,575, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)




Tax Status

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.



Financial

The following information is based on FC's audited consolidated (with FC Transportation) financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004.

Source of Funds
Gifts-in-kind 856,376,156
Contributions 87,821,026
Other revenues 6,749,969
Investment income 5,272,537
Government grants 1,635,293
Donated Services 224,100
Total Income $958,079,081





Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Use your mouse to place the cursor over the the Pie Chart to see each value
Programs: 91% Fund Raising: 7% Administrative: 2%


Total income $958,079,081
Program expenses $845,711,850
Fund raising expenses 60,877,165
Administrative expenses 17,860,270


Total expenses $924,449,285

Income in Excess of Expenses 33,629,796
Beginning net assets 98,090,226

Ending net assets 140,720,022
Total liabilities 10,992,159

Total assets $151,712,181



Note 1: For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 approximately 64% of FC's donated materials were from three corporate donors.

Note 2: FC Transportation, FC's affiliate, is a whollyowned, for-profit subsidiary of FC.

Note 3: FC solicits corporations and others for donated goods and services. FC distributes these gifts-in-kind to further its program service activities.

Medicine 426,006,982
Food 124,964,604
Medical supplies/equipment 83,080,870
Books 40,622,867
Seeds 24,645,848
Eyeglasses 23,345,997
Miscellaneous 20,546,518
School supplies 19,838,923
Clothing 18,428,832
Furniture/appliances 18,107,984
Hygiene 16,602,978
Building supplies 7,932,476
Toys 3,859,205
Disaster relief items 237,090

Total $828,221,175



An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report reflects the results of an evaluation of informational materials provided voluntarily by the organization. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgement. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is the "Feed the Children" organization legitimate?
I mean, is the money that we send really getting used for the children or is it a rip off like everything else?

Answer 3

It is legitimate. Unfortunately, they will not weed out the problems with fraud and expenses. Even after being exposed, ,they will not fix it. I think that it is being only concerned with doing good and not having good management.
Rip off is not the right word but... well you get the idea.

Answer 4

It's real. I live near it.

Answer 5

Yes very real

Answer 6

wow enough said clg do you do this for a living?