1 person found this review helpful
American National Red Cross
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December 12, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
Charity Navigator has lost any semblance of credibility for rating the American Red Cross with 4 stars! I have had 3 first-hand experiences in disaster areas and in each occasion the Red Cross was abysmal in their performance of duties. In one case they stood by while the Salvation Army was working hard in providing for the needs of survivors. In another case, they were noticeably late in responding and then tried to "take over" from an already efficient volunteer network. We try to give annually to several charities but will NEVER donate again to the American Red Cross!!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
No
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
None
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Badly
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
1997
December 5, 2011
I make $50,000 a year.....let the million dollar CEO donate for me.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
1 person found this review helpful
November 27, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
There are many lies and untruths in the reviews here. I beg you to think for yourself - and be smart enough to search the truths.
Charity Navigator gives it 4 out of 4 starts. The highest rating possible. Judge for yourself: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277
The Red Cross has a budget of $3B and only spends $124 million on administration. As for the CEO's pay - if a non-profit didn't pay a high salary it would not be able to get and keep quality. This is true for any non-profit.
I have spend many hours volunteering over the years. I have helped in many areas doing different jobs - but no other organization can come close to the work the Red Cross does. It may not be perfect, but there isn't an organization that does better. It truly is run by volunteers.
There is absolutely no truth that the American Red Cross would/could ever charge for a cot nor water. When the Red Cross helps someone in the military, they do so with the Department of Defense. If they provide money it must be approved by the DoD and they set the terms... and it must be paid paid.
All disaster assistance is free.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
helping people effected by disasters and needing blood.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Listen to the voice of the volunteers more often.
1 person found this review helpful
November 15, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
I have worked for the ARC for over 11 years now as both a volunteer and a paid staff member. The organization is very top heavy with mostly overpaid executives at the National Headquarters in Washington DC. Generally the volunteers and staff "in the field" are the ones who go to great lengths to serve clients. Many positions in the field have been eliminated in recent years as the executives in the "ivory tower" protect their own salaries and positions. Our Service Members and their families are now served mostly by call centers empoyees who are inexperienced instead of caring employees working alongside our military throughout the world.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
As a client, I have been treated very unprofessionally and had to call several times to find a worker that was knowledgeable, professional and helpful.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Hire, train and pay appropriate salaries to experienced staff in the field. Reduce executive salaries and staff. Decentralize to understand and service individual communities better.
November 11, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
The CEO of a charity organization should NOT be earning close to a million dollars a year, no matter how big the charity. If you want to get rich, go work for a corporation. SHAME ON YOU, RED CROSS!!! I have donated in the past, naively believing that such a well-known organization would use my donation properly. I won't be donating again.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
N/A
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
lower the salary of the CEO
November 8, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
After having survived Hurricane Carla as a teen, the Red Cross charged for water and rented cots while the NOT RATED Salvation Army handed out water and loaned cots. Heard the exact same story from survivors of the Texas City Disaster. Again I experienced the lack of compassion of the Red Cross when flooding occurred in Houston 2001 June 9th, however, i still have a smile over this one... the Red Cross was standing out side a local Grocery chain trying to dole out the guilt to donate money and talking about how we have so much and should be giving to others --when an 80 yr old lady told them Her home still had water in the back, her home was in chaos , she here buying paper towels and bleach and although the 'disaster' had been over a week had NEVER seen a Red Cross person on her block even to hand out a bottle of water.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
a 'catastrophe' After having survived Hurricane Carla as a teen, the Red Cross charged for water and rented cots while the NOT RATED Salvation Army handed out water and loaned cots. These cots meant that my parents were able to house 15 or so people during a catastrophe. Same story here with the Texas City Disaster. And with Hurricane Ike in 2008, I heard the same story again about the Red Cross.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Kind and Helpful instead of a grasping, guilt provider.
My Role: Professional with expertise in this field & I have responded to every type of disaster event from a single family home fire to the largest and most complex hurricane efforts. I personally have done everything from work in a shelter or do individual client casework to, as my experience and skills g.
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2 people found this review helpful
October 18, 2011
2 people found this review helpful
I have spent over 25 years with the American Red Cross (both volunteer and paid staff) and much of that time has been spent working to ensure that our local chapters are trained, prepared and ready to respond to disasters, both large and small. ARC is an often misunderstood entity because the organization is so large and so active that the "behind the scenes" activities and negotiations may not be obvious to the general public or to all observers. As an example, someone wrote that ARC took people on buses, during Katrina, and then "just left them" when, in reality, Red Cross is not a transporting entity. ARC volunteers may have been on the buses that either FEMA or local governments utilized to evacuate or transport, but ARC was not in charge of those operations, only there to support the clients. Also noted that someone felt that ARC "spent thousands of dollars on thank you parties for their staff" after Katrina when, in reality, those types of celebrations are usually sponsored by grateful corporate entities or municipalities who want to thank the volunteer who left their homes for weeks to come and help. I was a volunteer for over 11 years before becoming a paid staff person for 15 years. I am now retired, but still (after 67 + disaster operation responses) am proud of the work of the organization and of its dedicated paid and volunteer staff. The paid staff of the organization could take those same skills into the open market and make far larger salaries with far fewer challenges. But they don't be cause, like me, they believe in the mission of the Red Cross. Are we always perfect? Goodness, no! But then, is any entity always able to be perfect in time of disaster? No, disaster is, by its very nature, chaotic and your best hope is to have a good plan and to execute it with skill and expertise. Even then, there will be variables that keep things from being perfect but, please know, the paid and volunteer staff of the Red Cross working on disaster relief operations are focused on success...and that means serving the disaster related / disaster caused needs of the community and its people. Yes, we do ask for funds because, as you can only imagine, everything from putting gas in the vehicles to purchasing food for feeding sites and support items for sheltering still costs money, even when disaster strikes. in fact, often, in the face of disaster, those costs mount unbelievably! I am always sad when I see someone put something out that is negative about the organizations disaster relief efforts because I know it is out of a lack of the "big picture" knowledge that they have made judgement.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
From 1986 until 2010, I was a volunteer or a paid staff member, and was a part of chapter, regional, and national activities so I saw all sides of the efforts
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
our mission is a strong and solid mission. If I had to change something about the organization I would remind the senior leaders to not be so reactive when criticized. Again, not everyone has all the facts and because of that we have sometimes "apologized" when, in reality, we should have stood up straight, shoulders back, and said 'we did everything we could humanly do and did it with honesty and compassion"
September 26, 2011
I used to donate yearly to the American Red Cross. However, after finding out through Charity Navigator that the CEO makes close to a MILLION dollars annually, I have decided to donate elsewhere. Any charity organization that pays its CEO that much does not need my contribution.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
No experience
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Reduce the CEO compensation.
September 8, 2011
2 people found this review helpful
I've donated in the past but will no more after reviewing their tax forms. Most of the relief they provide goes overseas. With all the disasters in the U.S. I'm sure we needed more than what they provided in the states. Don't get me started on the salaries. I realize to get the best people to run the organization they demand high salaries but almost a million a year is ridiculous. I think anything over 200,000 a year is excessive. I'm searching for another organization to keep my money in this country. How many countries are providing help to the U.S.?
An employee of the ARC commented on my review. Read "comments" below my original review. She should review the form 990 because she is either misinformed or outright lying about the amount of relief provided overseas 183,894,000 vs US relief 67,110,753 published in part IX lines 2&3. Also, part VII shows the CEO salary and other compensation at over 1 million not 500k as she stated. Key employees salaries were reported as74.7 mil. read it yourself.She should also read some of the other personal experiences of former volunteers and recipients of "relief". They may provide a lot of help to disaster victims but imagine how much more they could do. Way too much waste and administrative costs.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
none
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give back more to the victims of disasters in the U.S.
July 27, 2011
The American Red Cross. This is horrible! How is it that an employee of a charity can be making such a huge amount?
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have not
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
If I could make a change to this charity, I would have more of the money that's donated serve the purpose it was given and meant to serve. I would not pay anyone, including myself, salaries close to a million!
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