Does Anyone Give to St. Joseph Indian School?

[AnAmericanInDisney]

I always thought there was something fishy about this charity. They send out mailers with sob stories from these native american kids who live horrible lives on reservations, being abused by their families. Guess what? They are all made up. They even sent out an urgent request for money to keep their heat turned on when they had over $60 million in the bank. I'm disappointed in my religious officials for letting this deception go on.

Link to the CNN article. Note, it includes sound, so mute if necessary.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/17/us/so...undraising-investigation/index.html?hpt=us_c2

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Never heard of it.

 

[Minnesota!]

I donated a very small amount - $10 maybe? - a few years back and it was like I unleashed the beast. WEEKLY gifts would arrive - dreamcatchers, tote bags, calendars, etc. I was trying to figure out - how, if they are so broke - could they afford to send so much?

I never donated again.

 

[LukenDC]

Disappointing. Misguided tactics like this give charities a bad name. All charities should operate with transparency and honesty.

I work for a nonprofit charity and I sponsor several kids through Children International (totally legit---I've visited some of their sites and met my sponsored kids and their families). I used to regularly receive solicitations from St. Joseph Indian School, but never donated because I already have a selection of charities to which I give. Like the CNN article says, their direct mail solicitations are over the top with multiple small gifts and souvenirs. I still have some of the notepads in my desk drawer! Given the expense of each mailing, I asked St. Joseph's to take me off their list and they did.

 

[LBIJim]

I donated a very small amount - $10 maybe? - a few years back and it was like I unleashed the beast. WEEKLY gifts would arrive - dreamcatchers, tote bags, calendars, etc. I was trying to figure out - how, if they are so broke - could they afford to send so much?

I never donated again.

DW's step-mother received something just this week from some Native American charity. I don't know if it's the one in question. But the stepmother has been dead for 9 years. After she died, we discovered totes and boxes full of mailings from these various charities. The stepmother apparently gave a donation once, and then started getting stuff from every conceivable similar charity. I don't know why she saved all of it. Most was unopened.

About 20 years ago I donated about $25 to CARE. Immediately after, there were at least two solicitations for more arriving each week. At least two a week for several years. Their mailing costs far exceeded my donation. I still occasionally receive a letter from them.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Thanks for this info! We did donate and got a monogrammed cheap-o grocery bag, dream catcher, stickers, cards...sooo many things that in the end far outweighed anything that we donated. I never understand how that works. Some charities even send out nickels and we got a dollar once!

 

[Meriweather]

Same as some above.....gave once and keep getting things all the time.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

Thanks for this info! We did donate and got a monogrammed cheap-o grocery bag, dream catcher, stickers, cards...sooo many things that in the end far outweighed anything that we donated. I never understand how that works. Some charities even send out nickels and we got a dollar once!

You're welcome. I know someone who used to give to them and remember reading their literature. I guess the rule of thumb is to give locally.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I never heard of them either. When my mother in law passed away we realized how many so called charities she got suckered into donating to on a monthly basis. Her own children could be starving ( they weren't ) and strangers came first, ridiculous.

We give regularly to certain well known, not always only locally, fully documented causes but never because something came in the mail unsolicited. If I want to care I reach out to them.

 

[Jedana]

DW's step-mother received something just this week from some Native American charity. I don't know if it's the one in question. But the stepmother has been dead for 9 years. After she died, we discovered totes and boxes full of mailings from these various charities. The stepmother apparently gave a donation once, and then started getting stuff from every conceivable similar charity. I don't know why she saved all of it. Most was unopened.

About 20 years ago I donated about $25 to CARE. Immediately after, there were at least two solicitations for more arriving each week. At least two a week for several years. Their mailing costs far exceeded my donation. I still occasionally receive a letter from them.

Same thing happened to us when we donated to the Red Cross after some disaster. Ten+ years later, and I still get phone calls or mail every month.

We also get stuff from some Jewish alliance group, asking for donations from fellow Jewish people. Not Jewish here (last name is a color, so not even a last name issue).

We do donate to charities that we feel need our assistance. National Kidney Foundation (via Amazon Smile) is one of those. Also, Make a Wish, Wolfson Children's Hospital, Shriners, and St Jude's. Oh, and when we go to Firehouse Subs, we always round up so the change goes to their firefighter charity.