My Nonprofit Reviews

My 6 year old came home from school telling me about an all school assembly where there was a pitch to these elementary school kids to raise money for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart. He then showed me a pledge sheet and lots of toys you get for signing up online and raising money from friends and family.

After heavy lobbying on his part, I signed up online and gave $5 - which he gave to me from of his own money (about half of all he has). A few weeks later, he got two key chains made in China (by kids in slave conditions?) worth about 25 cents. He wanted more - and wanted to ask family to give so he could get more trinkets.

I wanted to know what we were giving to. So I looked online and saw that we are essentially giving to lavish executive salaries (which is what I feared). We had a good discussion and will not be giving any more.

I OBJECT to AHA using the school system and our children to collect data and donations from our social networks. I OBJECT to roping young kids into fundraising for a big national organization using cheap trinkets made in China under labor conditions that are questionable.

The whole thing feels predatory and invasive.