Does the money you donate really go to the victims?

American Red Cross

I saw a picture on facebook the other day titled "Think before you donate"

and it claimed that the CEO's of some of the biggest charities receive salaries like those of Fortune 500 companies. I immediately started searching google for facts. What I've come across is crazy.
The first charity Im gonna speak on is "The Red Cross". We all know who they are. When a disater happens we've seen the ad "Text #### to donate $10 to the Red Cross". They are one of the worst! In 2001 after the "9/11" attacks, Red Cross(Bernadine Healy was CEO and she was the one who came up with the Liberty Fund idea) raised over $500 million dollars for what they called "The Liberty Fund". When the fund raiser was closed in Oct of 2001 they only dispense 30% to affected familes. On 11/06/01there was a Congressional Hearing, and pretty much the outcome was lame. Red Cross offered to give back donations to anyone who asked, and they still plained on using over $200 million for future disasters.

“…the money would be used for the specific requirements outlined and approved by our board, which were the events related to Sept. 11 and to the aftermath, the healing of America, the preparations for future attacks…”      Bernadine Healy Congressional Testimony

Bernadine Healy made this fund without her boards approval. All she was saw was dollar signs. Not a bad move for someone already making over $500,000 a year in salary.

After the "Oklahoma City Bombing" Red Cross raised over $12 Million. Out of that only $2.6 million was giving to Oklahoma City.

This is a company that that we trust? When I pledged money to them I thought the victims would receive that money. They only receive $1 out of every $10 donated. Its safe to say I wont ever donate another penny to The Red Cross.

The United Nations Children's Fund

The UNICEF is  an organization located in New York that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. Their CEO is paid $500,000 a year (Plus use of a Royles Royce for his personal use where ever he goes) and its rumored that he gets a $150,000 expense account.

Only pennies from the actually donations go to the UNICEF cause.

So next time you decide to make a donation, do a little background check. You might be donation your hard earn money to an over-paid CEO.

As of 2010, Marsha J. Evans, was no longer employed by the American Red Cross. According to United Press International, Gail McGovern took over as CEO of the American Red Cross in 2008 at an annual salary of $500,000 plus a signing bonus of $65,000.

Brian Gallagher is still President and CEO of United Way, and currently earns $1,037,140 a year, according to a December 2010 report from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

W. Todd Bassett is no longer National Commander of the Salvation Army. The current National Commander, Israel L. Gaither, is paid somewhere between $79,389 and $243,248 annually for his services. (Since the Salvation Army, as a religious organization, doesn't report its expenses to the IRS, the only available figures for executive salaries are estimates, which vary greatly from source to source.)

UNICEF's Executive Director, Anthony Lake, earns $201,351 a year, according to a 2010 communique from the organization.

Dave Toycen, the President of World Vision Canada, earns $184,000 per year plus a "moderate vehicle allowance," according to that organization's annual report to the Canada Revenue Agency.