My Nonprofit Reviews
Phil Mann
Review for Partnership With Native Americans, Addison, TX, USA
I made the mistake of donating to this collection of charities a few years ago. At that point, Charity Navigator's rating was significantly lower--one star, in fact. Would that I had checked before sending a check. Since then, I have not donated again. Nonetheless, I have been harassed (that's really the only appropriate word) by phone calls. I have made repeated requests to have my number removed and made it quite clear that I want no more phone calls. But the repeated promises that the charity would honor my request have been false.
I see that the charity has responded to similar complaints by suggesting that perhaps a reviewer was mistaken by all the charities with similar names. I have made it a point to ask the caller whether he or she represented National Relief Charities (since the calls come under different names) and been assured that yes, the caller was from that organization. I am fed up with this organization and will never donate to a group that refuses to honor my wishes to be left alone and that treats me rudely when I express them.
I have also seen the responses claiming that the charity does not want to call people who don't want calls and offering an e-mail address and a phone number. My question: Why can't the organization have its callers record information that I've given multiple times?
National Relief Charities represents absolutely the worst experience I have ever had with charitable giving.
More Feedback
Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
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?
2013
Mr. Mann, I am responding in behalf of National Relief Charities and sincerely empathize with how frustrated you are feeling. We in no way wish to “not honor your requests.” That would in no way help you or our cause. And, we really want to help you get this resolved. I think the heart of the matter centers around this all important question that you raised: “Why can’t the organization have its callers record information that I’ve given multiple times?” The fact is that the caller does record your request – but it doesn’t transmit throughout our entire database because callers have limited security rights. In other words, callers do not have access to all screens in our database, and this is done for donor privacy protection as well as database integrity. Therefore, we ask all donors to contact DONOR RELATIONS for “do not contact” requests: 800-416-8102. It’s a simple step, but one that you must take to ensure that your request is honored. If you ask a caller to flag your account, they record it but it does not carry throughout the system so you may be called again. Donor Relations representatives are there for the sole purpose of helping you. They have full access to the database and, when requested, can ensure that your account is fully flagged throughout our organization. If you think about organizational structure, what it boils down to is this: Only one department is responsible for donor account management and trained to do it, just as only one department is responsible for HR or Accounting or IT. Therefore, to ensure that your request gets recorded organization-wide, please place your request with Donor Relations: 800-416-8102.
