Though many may consider this the season of giving, do you ever wonder exactly how much of what you give actually gets used for its intended purpose?
Missouri Attorney GeneralChris Koster released today a list of "Missouri's 15 Worst Charities." The list is based upon the percentage of the charity's total expenditures actually used for charitable purposes.
The release from Koster's office explains that charities are required to file periodic financial reports with the Attorney General's office and the IRS explaining how they spend donations. Under guidelines developed by theBetter Business Bureau, at least 65 percent of funds collected by charities should go to charitable programs. The list developed by the Attorney General’s Office represents the 15 charities that fell farthest from those guidelines.
To see for yourself just how much money each charity uses for its stated purpose, you can also "Check a Charity" on the Attorney General's website.
Here's the full list of charities and the data behind their financial purposes.