My Nonprofit Reviews
K.E.
Review for St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, SD, USA
Does this Catholic "non-profit" even need donations???? St. Joseph's has over $122 million in assets! Yet it raises over $50 million per year in donations, but spends less than 60% of funds on services. If 60% ($30 million) is actually spent to support the 200 Native American children at the school, each child's annual support is $150,000!!!
St. Joseph's will not report to Give.org. (Better Business Bureau). I give to reputable charities who disclose their donations and expenses to the public at Give.org, Charity Navigator, or similar outside agencies and where over 80% of funds raised go to actual services.
St. Joseph's spends 30% on fundraising, mailing fat packets to potential donors. Do donors really want $15 million per year (30% of $50 million) to support direct mail companies?! The 2015 packet I received contains a Windcatcher (made in China), 3 Christmas cards, an Advent calendar, Christmas gift tags, Christmas stationery seals, 2016 calendar, personalized Certificate of Appreciation, personalized address labels, large notepad and small notepad. Personally, I'd rather see the money spent on books and educational supplies for the children.
Also, even though 50% of the students are NOT Catholic, the administration acknowledges that " we do make our kids go to mass on Sunday." OUTRAGE! How is this different from the indoctrination of the 1920's, forcing Native American children to learn the "white man's religion?"
Hope more people will investigate before giving.
SEE: http://www.give.org/charity-reviews/national/american-indian/st-josephs-indian-school-and-missions-in-chamberlain-sd-675
SEE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/17/us/south-dakota-indian-school-fundraising-investigation/
SEE: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1209
More Feedback
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2015
St. Joseph’s Indian School is indeed blessed to have had net assets of $153 million as of June 30, 2015. Property, plant, and equipment make up $28 million of that figure and our Annuity Reserve Fund (which is restricted for payments to our charitable gift annuitants) makes up $60 million. Our current assets and investments (less liabilities) are $45 million which will be used to fund future programs at St. Joseph’s, but would also allow us to keep St. Joseph’s operational for two years without our fund raising program. While the argument could be made that $45 million is more than enough for future programs, there’s no guarantee that donors will continue to give to our children and school at the level they have in the past. As a direct mail fund raising program, we know that the number of checks being written is decreasing rapidly, and the U.S. Postal Service is showing signs of insolvency – both very ominous signs for future direct mail efforts. We also do our best to keep costs low. We do have a printing press on our campus and print many of the mailings we send out. Though St. Joseph’s Indian School is affiliated with the Catholic Church through the Priests of the Sacred Heart, we welcome children of all faiths, recognizing the dignity of each human person created in God’s image. Students are not required to be Catholic, and we respect each child’s individual family beliefs. Families record their wishes in their consent packet each year, and the Director of Pastoral Care follows up to confirm those wishes and provide further information when sacramental preparation is requested. St. Joseph’s Indian School is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) regarding our finances. We believe it is a better use of time and resources to submit to a comprehensive review of our organization. Please visit http://www.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9199 for more information.
