Only 41 percent of money raised by professional charity solicitors returned to the charities, according to an annual report released Monday by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office.
Each year the AG’s office assesses how much professional charity solicitors collect and how much is returned to charities. Professional solicitors are hired by charities to solicit donations from the public and are registered with the state.
Professional solicitors raised almost $292 million in 2008, according to the report. But, only $120 million went back to the charity. So, only 41 cents of every dollar collected by solicitors is returned to the charity, according to the report.
Coakley said donors should ask solicitors or charities what percentage of the donation goes directly to the charity. Donors can also give directly to charities instead of through solicitors to increase the percentage of the donation going to the charity’s cause.
