is the national police support fund a legitimate organization

What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. SmartAssets This is not an offer to buy or sell any security or interest. If a charity (or indeed, any organization) is forced to move its headquarters to a new state on account of the dodgy dealings and underhand practices its been getting up to in its old home, anyone with any sense should know to keep well away. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. The latest entertainment, news, and information from the iHeartRadio network of live radio stations! The NPTA was created to provide specialized service dedicated to the specific needs of . of the law. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984 by a former New York City Police Department officer, and member of Congress. Contact us: [email protected], SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation, National Police Support Fund Alexandria, VA, Is National Police Association Legitimate, What Does It Take To Get Into The Police Academy, How Much Training Does A Police Officer Need, What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer, Are Police Reports Public Record In Oregon, What To Do If You Are Wanted By The Police, How To File A Police Report For Credit Card Theft. Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo That way, you avoid all of . American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. Location, An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. And be suspicious of callers who offer to come to your home to pick up your contributionlegitimate charities don't do that. A worthy cause, and one well worth a few dollars of your paycheck. I was expecting a call from a friend in that area, so I assumed it was her work number that was not in my phone and I answered. Updated: 05/04/2018 05:00 AM EDT. Its listed activities sound well-intentioned enough (after all, who could question such noble acts as providing scholarships to those interested in a future in healthcare, providing educational kits on mental illness, and providing assisted living facilities to the elderly?). The National Police Association is a nonprofit organization with the simple mission of supporting the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every single day to protect us and preserve the American way of life. IP address, What could possibly go wrong? The 10 Best Selling Rap Albums of All-Time, 10 Things You Didnt Know About Michael Freedman, most philanthropic foundations do exactly what they advertise, The 20 Most Charitable Athletes in the World, The 20 Most Charitable Musicians in the World Today, 20 Cities with The Worst Weather in Europe, How Zac Stacy Achieved a Net Worth of $6 Million. Other names to beware of in association with the IUPA are the Police Officers Support Association and the National Emergency Responders Coalition, but now that Public Integrity has published their report, it would be wise to do extensive research into the organizations that you choose to donate to where claims of supporting law enforcement lie. Upon receiving a form letter with no individual signing the letter, I decided to research this organization. Unless you want your donation to fund the lavish lifestyles of the charitys top execs, do yourself a favor and keep your money in your wallet. By continuing to access this system you acknowledge you are aware of and agree to these terms. So, if your phone rings, and the person on the other end says they are with the National Police Support Fundhang up. Please refresh the page Deceptive fundraising ploys, improper allocation of funds, investigations by state authorities if there was a checklist of what makes a charity less than reputable, the Association for Firefighters and Paramedics would tick every box. The IUPA has several red flags of its own, according to Public Integrity, as well as other sources. For this reason, our methodology applies zero points to both financial metrics in cases where the Program Expense ratio is under 50%. If youre like a lot of people, youve been hearing more and more about this company, but you may not know exactly what theyre all about. An elderly man in Trenton, Mi., received a dire letter that warned of the "greatest threats to our public . They are using other telemarketing firms, such as Residential Programs, Incorporated, who currently sport an F rating from the BBB. They have been contacted by the BBB and have not cooperated. A nonprofit organization's affiliates, regardless of their individual tax-exempt status, generally operate with a similar overall mission. An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference. If you do not have permission, continuing to attempt to access this site and its resources Concerns of Police Survivors was founded in 1984, in Maryland, by Suzanne Sawyer, an advocate for the rights and dignity of law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is part of the IUPA as well, and allegedly provides financial support to families of fallen officers while they wait for their full benefits to kick in. (BMF affiliation code: 3). I say intent as one of the worst charities in the US, its managed to achieve only 2 of the 4 available stars awarded by Charity Navigator, an organization dedicated to informing us about the best and worst charities out there) any evidence that any of the thousands its raised through appeals have made their way to the appropriate services is so thin on the ground as to be non-existent. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. Charity Navigator disagrees vehemently, affording the organization a devastatingly low 0 out of 4 stars. To protect those who protected our families, communities, and our America. The problem with that is the person answering the phone cant or wont answer any questions concerning the political aspect. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by donating through the organizations website. UPDATE 2020-10-29: Another new call from 585-206-3552 with a similar pre-recorded voice auto-responder identifying as 'Jeff Scott' with the National Police Support Fund. A:Please refer all requests for law enforcement assistance to your local agency or department. A:Please complete ourOpt Out Request Formor call (866) 487-4515 to speak to an outreach coordinator. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. Project Cure may sound like just the kind of dynamic, up and at em charity thats getting things done, but in reality, its not doing much beyond making up fictitious stories about raising public awareness about some of the most serious and topical diseases of the day (and paying for a minuscule storage unit in Florida that conveniently provides an address for the company headquarters). The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations. Learn more about our criteria and methodology. They work diligently on a local and national scale to bring awareness to the many sacrifices members of law enforcement make in order to defend the country, its communities, and its people. Here is what they arent telling you. In the case of Mike and Melody Gibson, pretty much everything. A:We engage in activities aimed at supporting our law enforcement officers and standing up for their rights and values throughout the political process. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. Sheriff Sally Hernandez puts illegal aliens above her own deputies. As a result of training its solicitors to discuss how individuals can lessen their chances of a cancer diagnosis, 80% of the charitys annual profits end up in the hands of its solicitors (rather than in the hands of the families its meant to be supporting). Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the National Police Foundation by donating through the organizations website. CNN A secretive political group has been pulling in millions of dollars in recent months amid a growing "Blue Lives Matter" movement, with a cadre of telemarketers urgently telling Americans. Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried). Find out now: How much do I need to save for retirement? The organization also advocates for law enforcement through public campaigns, community outreach services, and educational programs. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The pushy caller didnt want to take no for an answer, so I had to get a little more firm with him. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. . The Bureau found. The rest, funnily enough, somewhere makes it into the likes of director David Thelens pockets. January 11, 2019. In the case of the Youth Development Fund, the majority of its donations end up being siphoned off by executive Rick Bowen, who in turn, siphons the money into his production company. The legitimacy . The National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center says beware of organizations with names that are similar to legitimate groups. He argued for a few minutes why credit card was best for me and them and when I stood firm, he relented and got my address. The music genre was characterized by rhythmic speech and street vernacular. Op/Ed: Employment And Crime. However, a spokesperson with the New Jersey State Police said the department has no relationship with the organization and did not authorize use of the photo of its uniform. Unless you want your money to go toward lawsuits (its already coughed up $200,000 to Iowa, Florida, and Texas), take my advice and find another charity to support although preferably one on another list to this one. We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. This is a scam and the scammers look up the names of actual officers to make it seem more plausible. NPSF paid those four groups $1,863,361 in 2018, to do their fundraising for them. In reality, only 2% of donations go towards the cause. Their mission is to eliminate the criminal justice system. You read that correctly. Its national, its caregiving, its a foundation. Continuously redirected to the toll free number provided which "cut out" each time it was listed. Wrong. What they do: The National Police Foundation strengthens law enforcement agencies by providing funding and support to their technology and innovation programs. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organizations overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned. Remember James Reynolds from the Cancer Fund of America (number 1 on our list, if you need a refresh). 6. platform based on information gathered from users through our online questionnaire. We would like to look into this matter further, but we would need some additional information from you so we can see who called you and when so we can investigate it more in depth. As its name suggests, the charity supports our countrys heroes, given assistance to those in need of homes, mental health care, and educations. But I have no idea what is going on . Given that only 0.7% of the donations distributed over all three trusts have made its way to our deserving officers (the rest having somehow found its way into the bank accounts of Dierks and LeConte, and the shady lawyers willing to defend them) youd be better off keeping your money in the bank. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). For example, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) Our mission is to promote the interests of our nations police officers within our nations political and public policy process. Their 2nd quarter filing showed that they spent $1,014,037 with only $972,145 coming in. As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for National Police Association Inc. is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Legitimate charities with nothing to hide will tell you how you can make your contribution later and hustlers will get annoyed. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The organization also collects funds and donations, oversees adoptions into suitable homes, and raises awareness on the issues many retired law enforcement dogs encounter once they stop working. Project K9 Hero was founded in 2016 by Jason Johnson, a former US military officer and State Department official. Are you starting to see a pattern develop here? You can also get involved by volunteering or participating in the organizations annual fundraising events. What they do: The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund stands as the nations symbol of remembrance for those who have lost their lives while serving in law enforcement. If a fundraiser claims that they're collecting donations on behalf of your local police or fire department, verify that directly with them. Domain age, Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. In this quarter, they contributed $968,951 to themselves. Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure. With millions of good Samaritans regularly donating a portion of their paycheck to good causes, charities are booming unfortunately, not all of the money going into them is coming out the way we think. Go to their website and give there or call the number listed. Donations arent directed to the Trenton Police Department or typically any other police agency, for that matter. (Firstnet.gov), Your phone rings. The VIRGINIA POLICE FUND is a non-profit advocate for Virginia's Law Enforcement formed under section 527 of the IRS Tax Code . Is the United police fund legitimate? These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. That the no-shame Reynolds takes home an annual salary of around $230,000 is bad enough (and properly tells you all you need to know about where your donations are going). Their impact and transparency ratings: The National Police Foundation holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar the highest rank possible. Three days later I got another call from the same area code but a different number. Asking for donations to the "National Police Support Fund. Check it out today. Hes a high-powered executive who has carved a niche in the fintech industry. The charity has also earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, based on its financial reports. The National Police Dog Foundation raises funds for the purchase, training, and veterinary care of law enforcement K-9s. Home Announcements Fraud Alert: Calls Soliciting Donations for the National Policing Institute. Thelen may defend his excessive salary by claiming to spend endless hours counseling the families of the missing children, but we doubt theyll be very thankful when they find out how little practical effort the charity puts into finding their kids. Whether the Breast Cancer Relief Foundation is immoral or just extremely incompetent, were a bit unsure. If you receive such a call, we encourage you to take note of who is calling (by name and number), the date and time. Oh, they also dont mention on the phone that the bulk of their contributions came fromwait for it. On the organizations website, a red, white and blue shield was recently shown with three stars and photographs of a flashing police emergency light. Source code, National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Unfortunately, the United States Deputy Sheriffs Association is well versed enough in manipulation to convince even the most well-meaning of folk that its still a cause worthy of their support. The amount that actually makes its way to where you think its going ends up representing only a tiny fraction of the donation. So close are the two names, anyone with a suspicious mind may be inclined to think the execs over at the Childrens Wish Foundation had either never heard of their almost namesake, or were very craftily and very deviously trying to piggyback on its good name. For example, in 2020, the organization spent nearly 77% of its income on its programming and services. This leaves very little to be spent on political advocacy, which is, after all, the actual purpose of a PAC to begin with. The rest does a grand job of propping up the bank accounts of the foundations sleazy directors. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. Legitimate charities with nothing to hide will tell you how you can make your contribution later and . I had an hour in traffic to kill, so I bit. This overall score is calculated entirely from a single beacon score: 100% Accountability & Finance. Violators can and will be prosecuted to the full extent See the metrics below for more information. Contributions are tax . We do not manage client funds or hold custody of assets, we help users connect with relevant financial The solution, the letter says, is clear: Give our law enforcement officers the crime prevention tools they need. Police officers and their families most definitely need and deserve to be supported when tragedy strikes. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to Project K9 Hero by donating directly through the charitys website. Good financial stewardship goes beyond financial metrics, and includes effectively using funds in pursuit of the declared mission. How much do I need to save for retirement? In fact, they use them for just about everything they need except banking, legal services and travel. The Childrens Cancer Recovery Foundation is one of 8 similarly dubious charities run by Greg Anderson. The organization also has a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. If you want to see barely a cent of your donation go towards an actual good cause, then go right ahead and pop your cheque in the post, Otherwise, save yourself the bother and send it to someone who might do something good with it the Project Cures in Ohio and Colorado (neither of which are associated with their Florida namesake) represent two such possibilities. Eric Friedrichsen is an American businessman recently appointed as the CEO of a new tech company called Emburse. IRS reports show that in 2011 alone, executive director Ken Howles drew an $87000 salary of the little money left over, only around 9-14% made its way into the hands of the troopers. According to Bates, the "Police Officers Support Association" appears to be a facade for a political entity whose actual name is "Law Enforcement for a Safer America, PAC." The organization is widely considered to be a "Scam PAC," with only a fraction of donated funds actually going towards pro-police activity. There is a severe lack of organization on really important (and basic) business operations and because of it, no one is able to be effective long-term or put in place . There are no guarantees that working with an adviser will yield positive returns. Everything I have found on this organization is negative! Msg&data rates may apply. A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. We know because we checked when deciding which non-profits that support law enforcement and survivors that we as an organization support. To advance policing through innovation and science. The police will not call you about a girl who sent you nudes, then revealed she is underaged and her dad is angry. They all require time and patience to learn and implement. The fund is the third in a series of outrageous attempts by founders David Dierks and Phil LeConte to extort money from generous Americans under the pretext of donations to the nations police forces. Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure. For example, in 2020, the organization spent over 75% of its income on peer support, benefits assistance, and its programs. Mitch McKinley is the proud husband of an amazing wife, father to four beautiful kids, a man of faith, a patriot, a U.S. Army veteran, a member of The Federal Task Force on School and Workplace Violence Operation Innocence. Hard to imagine them doing that when they dont spend a penny to do what they say they are going to do. Anyone reading the name of the next charity on our list stands a good chance of confusing it with the far more famous (and far more reputable) charity, The Make-a-Wish Foundation.