While we are on the subject of public employee telemarketing... in the last
year or so, I have gotten on the fundraising list for the MPD Federation and
the MFD union (IAFF). I did a little research and found out that when
police and fire unions hire telemarketing firms to do their fundraising,
usually only 10-15% of contributions actually go to the unions.
The reason they do it, apparently, is that because the 85-90% fees cover all
costs and there is no union member time involved, it's free money to the
union and supplements dues.
This was confirmed last week when I got my quarterly call from a
telemarketer raising funds for the MFD union (IAFF). "A full 15% goes to
the membership!" he said, as if this was a great thing.
"15%?" I said, "as in 1-5, not 5-0?"
"That's right. 1-5 ..."
I hung up.
The non-profit I work for has an admin cost of under 9%. That includes
fundraising.
As a side note, The MPD Federation telemarketers called me the same day the
Federation blindsided Natalie Johnson-Lee over the Schmidt shooting. I
suspect that was on purpose.
I hung up.
They haven't called back.
If you want to contribute to these organizations, you should send a check
directly to them. Then you know where the money goes.
Eric Oines
Lind-Bohanon
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