My Nonprofit Reviews

I have a friend who worked for the ACS in one of its call centers. He said that a large part of their training is to learn who all the other non-profit organizations are, then refer the caller to them by giving the other non-profits telephone numbers. This gets the patients and families off their backs. ALL of the best ACS programs are operated and carried out by volunteers. And, as some other commenter said, the wigs, bras, supplies, are all donated. Drivers to appointments are volunteers. Camps for kids are all donated with volunteers. He also said that ACS hourly employees were almost forced into making candy, selling hot dogs, making and selling crafts, and anything else they can think of to make money for ACS which they have to do on their own time with their own money, and then BUY the stuff from each other. He said they were also supposed to answer questions that came through email or regular mail. One such question he received was "Is there a test yet for ovarian Cancer?" When he tried to find out the answer (other than "no", ie try to find out and provide the latest research, updates, etc), he was told "Just tell her NO." The ACS is primarily there to support the employees and their pension plans. As others also have said: KEEP YOUR MONEY LOCAL. All the volunteers in your county or city who willing to work: organize on your own and keep the money for local cancer patients who need help. DO NOT GIVE TO ACS! YOU WILL BE WASTING YOUR MONEY THAT YOU BELIEVE IS GOING IN MEMORY OF YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIED!

The people who have given ACS 5 stars need to sit up and smell the coffee. Wake up! If you don't believe CN's (bad) ACS rating is worth considering, do a little research. You don't have to look far to find out the truth about ACS. If you don't trust the rating of Charity Navigator, check out other reputable organizations who do the same thing. If you just google a little, you'll find out a lot. Also, the fact of the employee pension plan is huge. Of course they can't drop employees who are currently drawing their pension. But if the money wasn't coming from donors, they would immediately do what large corporations have done: stop funding the pension plans for current employees. Of course it's legal, it's done all the time. Not good for employees, but the DONATED money in ACS's case could then go toward research and also to helping cancer patients more directly. ACS mission is not to set up their employees for their retirement years--it's to fight cancer. If they really believed that, they would follow through and make the necessary cuts.

Just a few links from a casual google:

http://www.indeed.com/forum/cmp/American-Cancer-Society/s-company-culture-at-American-Cancer-Society/t16550
ACS employee:
...You are expected to meet workplans that are sometimes ridiculous while being forced in training/brainwashing sessions, sometimes every week, but definitely at least once a month. These are usually overnight events. They try to brainwash you so you can explain to people where their money goes, when really it is going to pay for all the meetings, hotel rooms, salaries, gas, car rentals, food, etc. that you use each month. My expense report averaged over $2000 a month! It is disgusting to participate in a huge, extravagant 3 day meetings, but we were not allowed to give a patient the money to pay for a small co-pay on their much needed medication. I have even seen die-hard volunteers accept employment positions with ACS and then quit after a few months because of how appalled they are with how ACS is run.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/american-cancer-society-where-does-your-money-go/nFX4j/

http://www.wtflungcancer.com/where-do-your-relay-for-life-donations-go-american-cancer-society-doesnt-tell-you/

http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm

http://www.chondrosarcoma-support.org/index.php?topic=963.0

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In answer to mwartman:Yes, those programs are all great but let's set the record straight:almost all of the programs you mentioned are carried out by volunteers (the makeup class, the road to recovery, man to man, almost all of the programs are carried out by VOLUNTEERS. Wigs are donated, staff that helps with them are volunteers, the Hope Lodge is donated from large charitible donations for the most part. You need to do some further research and believe what you are reading via other posts on this site. ACS takes in Millions and MILLIONS of dollars, but holds on tight to it and makes sure that their administrative and top employees including the CEO are paid very, very well. My money will never go to them again.

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If you think this salary is high, please check out other reputable (better to say "well known" as in American Cancer Society whose head makes $2,000,000/yr) charities for comparison. This salary is not high considering. I will definitely keep IRC among the charities to whom I regularly donate.

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For those who say that you can't find a good CEO to run a charity of the size of ACS without paying them a huge salary: Look again at what the top dogs at ACS are getting vs other reputable charities of a similar nature. Also, I personally (who like many used to believe that ACS was wonderful), will look for a LOCAL charity that helps those afflicted with cancer. If you're a successful volunteer with ACS and there's nothing in your area, think about getting your teams together and starting a local organization. There are many who need assistance with transportation to treatments, medical/drug expenses, compassionate support etc. that ACS will turn down flat or refer to other non-profits. All the fantastic, wonderful volunteers w/ACS who help out every year and raise local money to fight cancer--by all means, continue doing so, but do your homework and find out where the money is being spent. If research is what you want to fund, seek out the orgs on CN who have the best track record there. I know my money and time will never again go to the American Cancer Society.

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