These fake "charities" make me see red.

[Archae]

I seldom get charity pitches, but my Mom gets tons of them.

She very quickly decided years ago what to do, she throws them in the garbage.

Massive "bad charity" report published.

The Tampa Bay Times has published the results of a year-long investigation of charities that use most of their funds to pay commercial solicitors and their own executives. [Hundley K, Taggert K. America's worst charities rake in nearly $1 billion for corporate fundraisers. Tampa Bay Times, June 8, 2013] The Center for Investigative Reporting helped with the investigation. Among the findings:

The 50 worst charities (defined as those thy spent the most on fundraising) in America devoted less than 4% of donations raised to direct cash aid. Some charities gave even less. Over a decade, one diabetes charity raised nearly $14 million and gave about $10,000 to patients. Six that promised to help patients spent nothing at all on direct cash aid.
Collectively the 50 worst charities raised more than $1.3 billion over the past decade and paid nearly $1 billion of that directly to the companies that raised their donations.
Operators at many of these charities have lied to donors about where their money goes, taken multiple salaries, secretly paid themselves consulting fees or arranged fundraising contracts with family or friends.
Some nonprofits are little more than fronts for fundraising companies that bankroll their startup costs.

http://www.tampabay.com/topics/specials/worst-charities1.page

CNN aired a special report during which operators of several funds refused to be interviewed and excerpts were played from taped solicitors in action. [Above the law: America's worst charities. CNN.com, June 13, 2013]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/worst-charities

Another reporter followed up with an investigation of Project Cure (Florida), which solicits money for research into prostate cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. The reporter found that its "headquarters" address is a storage unit. [Schelle C. East Manatee's Project Cure ranks as No. 15 worst U.S. charity. Bradenton Herald, June 12, 2013]

http://www.bradenton.com/2013/06/12/4564541/bradenton-project-cure-ranks.html

[L0oniX]

1. This will hurt legit charities like Meals On Wheels.

I am directly involved with a group that sponsors the Good Ol Boat yearly event on Tampabay. We offer a prize to the captain and crew that donates the most ($1400 in 2013). All funds after expenses go directly to Meals on Wheels. Last year as in every year the local head of Meals On Wheels accepted the money at the awards banquet ...she actually had tears. I struggle to make sure that as much money as possible goes to this cause so when the other so called charities do this it really hurts my efforts directly. I am pissed!

[DonCoquixote]

2. Good Old tampa Bay

Then again, if any of these Charities are religious, expect cries of bigotry. On the other hand,for all it;s Faws, The Tampa Bay Times is one of a few holdout papers not afraid to be left-leaning.

[hunter]

3. Choose a name and a cause similar to a well regarded charity...

... PROFIT!