Have you noticed the influx of fundraising commercials now that we’re nearing the holiday season? I struggle watching them — not gonna lie. The sick kids at St. Jude, the starving dogs, pathetic elephants, and wounded warriors… they all grab my heart… and it’s just 19.00 a month… less than 63 cents a day.
But how much of that $19/month goes directly to your charity?
- Of the $19/month, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gets $11.02 of that for patient care, research, and future needs. That’s how much of your monthly donation reaches the hospital — 30% goes to fundraising expenses, and 12% is allocated to ALSAC’s savings (which is currently at around $9.8 BILLION).
- Wounded Warrior Project reports that $13.32 of you $19/m goes to programs and services for wounded veterans, families, and caregivers. They too have around a $9.8 BILLION reserve.
Thing is, both of these organizations have a 4/4 star rating on Charity Navigator indicating strong accountability — these are good ones in comparison. It seems to me if prioritizing maximum direct impact, you should also consider smaller charities with lower overhead.
The $19/month is deliberate.
The $19-a-month figure in donation commercials is a deliberate choice rooted in psychology, marketing, and fundraising strategy. It’s less than $20 bucks so people focus on the first digit. Anything less than $19/month doesn’t ensure the charity will receive a meaningful net amount — especially when many donation campaigns use third-party fundraising firms which take a cut of 30-50%.
Always verify a charity’s financials to make sure they align with your giving goals.
Now you know: There are no longer any people alive who were born in the 1800s. The final verified person from that century was Emma Morano of Italy, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 117.