My Nonprofit Reviews
DeanShuey
Review for Carbonfund.org Foundation, East Aurora, NY, USA
Climate change is real. I am unable or unwilling to take my carbon footprint to zero. The concept of purchasing carbon offsets through a non-profit was appealing. I purchased from carbon fund.org in 2013. I did not receive a certificate from them with the initial purchase, but when I corresponded one arrived. This year (2014) I reviewed their Form 990 which all non-profits must file with the Internal Revenue Service. The following figures were available for 2012 and caused me concern:
2012 Total Revenue $1,953,107
2012 Total Expenses $1,622,536
2012 Total Salaries $849,473 (52% of expenses)
Compensation of President - $271,860
Compensation of Financial Officer - $118,365
Project Expenses - $506,302 (31% of expenses - 4 items - Carbon Co, Project, Renewable Energy, Other)
Assets/Reserves of $5,648,497 (over three years of operating expenses)
Note that total expenses for 2011 were $1,783,436 with a similar salary total.
I corresponded on these figures with the President and he said that what is important is what is spent on the mission and 95% goes towards that and that I had gotten the 48 tons of carbon offset I had purchased. I could not see how the 95% figure was derived. There was no reply to a follow-up query.
Each person will have to judge for themselves whether the costs are reasonable or not. I feel that the salaries are excessive for the non-profit sector, particularly for this size of organization. Perhaps with a more efficient model they could sell carbon offsets at a lower price and even more carbon could be offset. I have chosen not to use this organization again.
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
See above. The costs of running the organization seem high in relation to the size of the program.
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?
2013
Hi Dean, As we discussed, the 95% figure is the amount of our expenses that supports our mission in any given year. Salaries are a critical part of this for two reasons. First, without staff no organization can do anything (people do things). And second, the funds we do send out the door, which I believe you would like to see more of, likewise go to people for salaries, benefits, travel, legal, accounting, etc. Trees do not receive money, people do. Take for instance an international medical relief organization. The organization raises money and generally pays doctors, nurses and other health practitioners. They also pay outside people like medicine companies, who are themselves people receiving this money. All of this supports the organizations mission, with the exception of the fundraising costs, which are determined separately. Carbonfund.org is the same. Like most organizations, we pay market-based salaries and benefits, determined by outside professionals.
Hi Dean, As we discussed, the 95% figure is the amount of our expenses that supports our mission in any given year. Salaries are a critical part of this for two reasons. First, without staff no organization can do anything (people do things). And second, the funds we do send out the door, which I believe you would like to see more of, likewise go to people for salaries, benefits, travel, legal, accounting, etc. Trees do not receive money, people do. Take for instance an international medical relief organization. The organization raises money and generally pays doctors, nurses and other health practitioners. They also pay outside people like medicine companies, who are themselves people receiving this money. All of this supports the organizations mission, with the exception of the fundraising costs, which are determined separately. Carbonfund.org is the same. Like most organizations, we pay market-based salaries and benefits, determined by outside professionals.
