Smile Train, Inc.
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May 10, 2012
I was going to donate, but after looking at the numbers and 194 million dollar profit this company made, I am not making any donation to keep someone lives in a luxury house on my expense ! Do not expect a penny from me, I will be sending reviews to my friends and family, so they can keep away from these creeps !
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Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
April 25, 2012
I am in middle class. I don't see it is a big issue if SmileTrain CEO being paid $640,000 as other reviewers said. I used to work at few major high tech companies. As I know most major high tech companies paid new college grad from $43000 to $47000 in Texas and Colorado at 10 years ago, in order to get someone is trainable, detail, and got good GPA with computer engineer degree (no need from top 10 schools). I don't know where Smile Train CEO live, but I know the living cost is not high in Texas and Colorado if compare with the living cost in East or West. So, if the CEO really being paid $640,000, than I will still keep donate as long as he run this organize as well as other reviewer said.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
2 people found this review helpful
April 5, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
I saw a mini documentary on the plight of people with cleft palates in the Third World and was very moved. I was anxious to donate but like always, I did some investigating. The president of Smile Train makes nearly double the salary of the president of the American Red Cross. This is important because the American Red Cross has revenues many many times more than the Smile Train. I donated my money to UNICEF instead.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
3 people found this review helpful
February 2, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
We must not discontinue our support of this incredible charity because of the CEO'S salary increase. I assure you the way he built up smile train, he deserves it. But think of it this way.....even if we assume (and there always are) that there is greed and waste within the charity, what if you were the next child in line to recieve this surgery and were told "Thats it until next year as all our funds are now allocated." What if because you held back your donation, a child is left in disgerace, deformaty and despair. Look, every charity has questionable things about it. But we KNOW for sure this charity saves lives. I will continue to donate $250 each year even if they were to use 50% of that money in expenses! Why? Because every time a person holds back money, somewhere a child suffers. There will be greed and misuse of funds wherever you donate. I personally would rather be dead than to live in a third world country looking deformed and being kept in the house like an animal. We educated people must help. period! And if you dont trust them financially, find out how you can volunteer one summer and perhaps work in one of their offices or hospitals. I am unemployed and feel if I can change one life with my donation, my life will have truly counted. And no I have no affiliation with Smile train. If you dont like this group, "The Heifers" who give money to starving villagers to buy small animals is the next best IMHO. My only beef with this charity is they dont stop soliciting. Too pushy. I donate via check and leave my address off and request they dont mail me anything. I wonder why they do that? Who benefits? Do they own the marketing agency that does the mailings? Still....we must help these forgotten children of the world. I also do this in memory of my mother who passed recently and she donated only to this charity every year.
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Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Likely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Likely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
13 people found this review helpful
January 3, 2012
13 people found this review helpful
There has been a "shake up" at Smile Train, and their highly paid director is gone. (I don't know what his replacement makes.) In the past, Smile Train has claimed that ALL administrative expenses were paid by wealthy board members, and that NONE of the donated funds went to administrative expense. I assumed that was true. I asked them for a project to fund with my Mom's life savings which I inherited. They came up with a project in India which built an addition to a hospital they use, added a radiology department (including purchasing x-ray machine) outfitted a blood bank and hematology department, and outfitted a pathology department. This was done for $85,000. I thought that was a huge amount to do for that cost. I bet you couldn't buy the x-ray machine here alone for that. Some of the equipment purchased is now the only such equipment in a state of India with 35 million people. I have found their field personnel to be outstanding, and good stewards of funds.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
5 people found this review helpful
December 21, 2011
5 people found this review helpful
I have supported Smile Train at the request of my childern for over 5 years with an annual donation of $250 for one surgery annually in honor of my kids. While I agree that mailings are out of hand and should be reduced, overall the mission is noble and the organzation does a LOT OF GOOD. As a scientist, I concur with an earlier post that indicates that this may be an exercise in futility due to genetics; however, the fact remains that the affected children will lead extremely difficult lives without the corrective surgery. As far as the outrageous salary of the former director - he is the FORMER director. Take a look at the spread of money under the new leadership - 82.2% goes directly to the progam execution, 16.9% to fundraising/advertising (I think this could be reduced if they elimanate the unwanted mailings), and 0.9% to management and overhead. That is actually quite good when compared to other charities - even Heifer International has a fundraising/advertising percentage of over 20.3%. This is once again a solid charitable organization doinf good things worldwide.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Reduce advertising budget and stop the unwanted mailings - it just upsets potential donors.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
Request of my children 5 years ago.
Why did you make your donation at this time?
Christmas gift
What would you tell others about this organization?
Look at the pictures - they a worht a thousand words. Research and make your own decision whether the mission and objectives of Smile Train meet with your intentions.
3 people found this review helpful
September 19, 2011
3 people found this review helpful
Well I dont see the CEO being paid $640,000. But I do question why if they raise over 100 million they can only give away 35 million. Their expeses seem to be way out of line. Thats only my thought.
I do support their mission for these unfortunate kids.
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...
Lower expenses.
7 people found this review helpful
June 18, 2011
7 people found this review helpful
I love kids and I donate to St. Jude and Feed the Children. I was shocked and heartbroken to find out that the co-founder & President takes home over $640,000 per year. I can't donate to pay for his lavish salary. It's too bad that he is so greedy.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
No place
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Lower the CEO's compensation to $200,000 per year.
More feedback...
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
What would you tell others about this organization?
The CEO takes homeover $640,000 per year!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
12 people found this review helpful
June 4, 2011
12 people found this review helpful
I have read the various comments, and a lot of them criticize the large amount of advertising The Smile Train does and also that its executives are highly paid. I also saw comments that the Funding Donors pay all the expenses so that 100 percent of what is raised goes toward performing the operations. That's what the organization says and if indeed this is true, the criticisms of the organization are unwarranted. I agree, however, that Smile Train sends out an awfully lot of mail. I cannot give them something every month so I think they should be grateful for a donation even if it is once or twice a year.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
info they send to donors and prospective donors
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
explain why it has so many high-paid executives
2 people found this review helpful
May 6, 2011
2 people found this review helpful
My granddaughter recently visited my home and watched the "Smile Pinki" video that Smile Train had sent me. She was born with a cleft in her soft palate. She is now almost 8 years old. She was so intrigued with the story, especially how many children had the problem of a cleft lip and palate. She was so happy when Pinki could smile and go to school. Thanks to Smile Train for sending me that video that opened the conversation with my granddaughter about clefts. And thanks to Smile Train for helping the children.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Having a grandchild with only a soft palate cleft makes me really appreciate that children with severe clefts are given new opportunities in their lives.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Make it even more available to children in need.
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