NEW YORK — The New York State Attorney General's Office annual report shows professional fundraisers kept $372 million of charitable donations collected after raising more than $1.18 billion in the state last year.
According to the Attorney General's report titled "Pennies for Charity: Where Your Money Goes; Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers," close to one-third of donations made to charities in 2017 "ended up in the pockets of professional fundraisers." Online crowdfunding was included in the percentage of funds given to charities, the Attorney General's Office said.
“New Yorkers are generous in their charitable giving – and they should know how their dollars are being spent,” New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood said in a statement. “Too often, a large percentage of charitable dollars are pocketed by outside fundraisers rather than going to the cause itself. I urge all New Yorkers to be careful, and to report suspicious entities to my office.”
Also according to the report, of the more than $1.18 billion raised with professional fundraising charity campaigns, $812 million (69 percent) was netted by the charities. Professional fundraisers received $372 million in fees and expenses, the Attorney General's Office said.
A full copy of the charity fundraising report as well as other charity data can be found at www. charitiesnys.com