Two Audubon groups cited among worst charities

Earlier this month, an article titled "The 20 Worst Charities in America" listed nonprofit organizations by the percentage of their income that goes to administrative expenses, based on research by Charity Navigator. The independent charity evaluator describes its methodology here; it uses "charities’ disclosure statements to the IRS to provide donors with an assessment of how well charities run themselves," according to the MainStreet.com article.

The article aimed to highlight charities with the highest administrative expenses and to point out which groups could use donations more efficiently. Donors want to see their money go to the programs that pull their heartstrings - not to pay for rent, paper for the copier and executives' salaries.

20. Tucson Audubon Society

Administrative expenses: 42.8%

Well-known for its many programs focused on the protection of biodiversity and the environment, the National Audubon Society, based in Washington, D.C., has chapters across the country, run independently of the main office. Its affiliate in Tuscon, Arizona, which fosters interest in and conservation of the bird population of southern Arizona, has seen its administrative costs skyrocket as the recession has eaten into its incoming donations. Partially due to Executive Director Paul Green’s inflated salary of $78,800, which accounts for more than 7% of the group’s expenses, the Tucson Audubon Society spends almost as much for its office as it does on the birds it aims to protect.

19. New Hampshire Audubon

Administrative expenses: 42.8%

Like the Tucson Audubon Society, the New Hampshire chapter of the bird-friendly conservation group [Actually, New Hampshire Audubon is independent of NAS. -akh] has also struggled to maximize the amount of donations that go toward its environmental programs. Much of the administrative costs can be traced to the group’s seven visitor centers that it runs throughout the state, where staff organize classes, summer camps, and activities for children and adults. These fixed costs mean that in lean years for donations, it is hard for the New Hampshire Audubon Society to trim down their considerable administrative expenses.

Wildlife rehab clinic benefits from photographer

Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, located on Florida's Sanibel Island, recently received $24,000 following an auction and book-signing party by Key West photographer Alan S. Maltz. The nonprofit veterinary hospital, known as CROW, began operating in 1968 and cares for more than 4000 injured, sick and orphaned wildlife patients each year, such as this Swallow-tailed Kite.


The donation resulted from the auction of 10 limited-edition artist proofs on canvas of various sizes -- with 100 percent of the proceeds going to CROW -- as well as the sales of Maltz's new book, "Visions of Beauty - Fort Myers, Sanibel & Beyond."

Recycle plastic bottles for an avian charity?

Have you heard of TerraCycle's Bottle Brigade program? I learned of it this week because of an Orchard Supply Hardware effort to collect 20-oz. plastic bottles with proceeds to benefit the California State Parks Foundation.

The Bottle Brigade program could be a good fundraiser for bird conservation groups, no?

Details:

Who can sign up for the Bottle Brigade program?
We welcome anyone from almost any organization to join in our recycling efforts! There are some practical considerations your organizations should keep in mind. For example, our program is not designed to accommodate recycling centers or individual residential households. We currently only collect 20oz. soda bottles with their labels removed.

What do I need to sign up for the Bottle Brigade program?
Signing up for TerraCycle's Bottle Brigade program is easy! All you need is a 501c3 charity (and their Tax ID #) to donate to, and of course, 20oz. soda bottles! We have a list of many noble organizations to donate to if you do not currently have one in mind, including the option to save 10 square feet of rainforest through the Nature Conservancy. You will also need a valid email address and a non-residential address for us to mail boxes to you.