Charity Drops ‘Misleading’
Spending Claim
Assertion that 83.6% of donations spent on programs taken off MADD website
Toronto, Canada. April 11 — MADD Canada has dropped its claim that 83.6 per cent of donor dollars is spent directly on its programs.
The claim – part of the charity’s pitch that annually raises $12 million – recently disappeared from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving website.
The move follows complaints from key members of the anti-drunk driving charity, and a Star probe that revealed the majority of donor money stays with paid telemarketers, door-knockers and a direct mail company.
Top volunteers have accused MADD of deceptive fundraising practices.
MADD chief executive officer Andrew Murie would not be interviewed by the Star but said in an email that the charity had updated the information as part of “our ongoing dialogue with our donors and supporters.”
For many years, MADD has been saying it spends donor money well. Fundraising pitches typically stated, “83.6 per cent of your donation is spent directly on MADD Canada programs.”
Last fall, as part of an investigation into
