Supporting Diabetes Charities

While AIP doesn't make its ratings free online, I have at hand its May 2008 report. Based on the composite score of the diabetes organizations that it evaluated, it gives an "A" grade to the JDRF and an "A-" to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

But I don't trust AIP's reports, since they give a grade of "F" to one organization that another evaluating site, Charity Navigator, gives top marks to. AIP seems confused about the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation's cost of fund raising. It says that it is 21 to 71 percent. That is just too large a range to be believable.

But Charity Navigator has the detail we need to help us evaluate these groups. Of funds that the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation raises, in fact 92.2 percent goes to program services and only 6.5 percent for fund raising. Its highest paid officer earned $93,221 in the most recent year for which data are available.

What does Charity Navigator have on the other top diabetes organizations?

The ADA by comparison puts 76.2 percent of the funds that it raises into programs, spending 20.2 percent of its income on fund raising. The ADA rewarded its CEO with a salary of $383,843 in the most recent year for which data are available.

The JDRF comes close to the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation in the percentage that goes to program services, 86.1 percent and in the small amount for fund raising, 6.7 percent. However, its CEO is certainly well compensated, taking home $616,875 in the most recent year for which data are available.

The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation has good fund-raising numbers too. Of the funds that it raises 83.2 percent goes to program services and only 11.1 percent to fund raising. Its CEO did earn a handsome $446,373 in the most recent year for which data are available.

The Joslin Diabetes Center used 80.2 percent of the funds raised for program services and only 4.9 percent for fund raising. Great numbers. But it also paid its top people awfully well, one of them taking home $660,569 in the most recent year for which data are available.

By far the worst of these organizations in terms of these numbers is the Defeat Diabetes Foundation. On this, the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity Navigator agree. Only 28.8 percent of what it raises goes for program services. A whopping 62.7 percent goes for fund raising! The president pulls down a relatively modest $75,600. However, the treasurer, who has the same last name, pulls down exactly the same amount.

These are the main diabetes organizations. But not the only ones. When any of them come calling, you can tell them that you will look them up and make a rational decision.