My Nonprofit Reviews
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Review for Tewa Women United, Espanola, NM, USA
I was active with this organization for more than a couple of years and was glad to leave. I saw multiple volunteers have their time wasted on projects that benefited no one but the family running the organization and other employees and their families (ex: they had development projects done on their personal property.) The managers were wasteful of donations and grants as well. Expensive trips were made with no tangible benefit all over the country and even to other countries on a rare occasion by various employees multiple times a year. Sometimes employees took their family along on the company (or donor) dollar as well. The board was hand-picked by management (which was a mother-daughter team) and rarely attended board meetings or were involved in decision making. There was one active board member during my time there and she was eventually "frozen out" for asking questions and critiquing management. Management abused company property (the director's daughter lives in a trailer that was donated to the organization without paying a cent. and the mother and daughter set their own salaries without board involvement or concern for organizational needs.
Overall, I feel that this organization had some good programs, but the self-centered management wasted opportunity after opportunity and dollar after dollar. I will never donate time or money to them again after seeing so much on the inside. I saw so many things that were unethical and I was worried that they were even borderline unlawful.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Three years of giving them my time because I initially believed in their programs. I was starry-eyed and naive. There was so much more that went wrong than I have the time to fill in here. I would like to see them succeed with their programs, but it won't happen until the "ruling" family gives up control to qualified management.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Create a REAL board of director's that are chosen without the managing family being involved. Do not allow cronyism and nepotism. Hire qualified staff instead of family and friends (this was the rule, not the exception). Get annual audits done by outsiders. They never had an audit while I was there and there is NO WAY they would have passed. The community doula program and the resources they provide to victims of sexual abuse are really needed in the community and I sorely wish they were done properly.
Review for Girls Inc. of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM, USA
My daughter has been attending Girl's Inc.'s after-school and summer programs for two years now and we both really love it. It is safe, convenient, enriching and affordable and I can't thank them enough for "being there" for the community. They pick my girl up from school, feed her a snack and keep her entertained with lots of fun and educational games until I can get her after work. She also gets help with her homework and valuable life-skills guidance. I love the strong focus on teamwork, compassion and acceptance. Here are just a few things that my daughter loves: "Art projects, science, and playing outside!"
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My daughter's interaction with other girls is definitely colored by such activities as "kindness gems" (earning gems for a good act). The peace of mind I have knowing that I have a trusted and beneficial option for my daughter is priceless.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
My daughter says that she wouldn't change a thing!
