By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners. Did a telemarketer contact you about fundraising on behalf of a charity or political action committee? by Sarah Kleiner and Chris Zubak-Skees, Center for Public Integrity December 27, 2019, This article first appeared on Center for Public Integrity and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. There are several ways you could help . info@leorf.org. There are so many negative narratives regarding LE floating out there right now, this does nothing to help it. The organization may expand the scope of its services in include other members of the public at its discretion. The Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is there immediately to support our public safety officers in their greatest time of need. I told him to send me something in the mail. Thank you once again for your support of this important cause. Their 2nd quarter filing showed that they spent $1,014,037 with only $972,145 coming in. Its called LET Unity, and its where we share the untold stories of those patriotic Americans. NPSF is not the ones making the calls. (See image below.) This has sometimes caused police officials to in an odd twist warn the public about groups that say theyre raising money for police. Is The National Police Support Fund Legitimate Three of them have been negative subjects in similar investigations from Public Integrity. Simply enter the organization's name (Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund) or EIN (521095066) in the 'Search Term' field. Numerous sources list NPTA as a scam, and a recent report from the Center for Public Integrity (which is a self-described nonprofit newsroom that investigates betrayals of public trust) reveals just how much of a scam it really is. From roughly 2011 to March 2018, the union and the relief fund spent about $106.3 million, according to annual tax returns filed with the IRS. The IUPA has several red flags of its own, according to Public Integrity, as well as other sources. The Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is part of the IUPA as well, and allegedly provides financial support to families of fallen officers while they wait for their full benefits to kick in. Conversely, organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police are completely up front with information such as its membership numbers (330,000 police officers according to the website) and let people know on the site that the National FOP doesnt conduct telephone solicitations. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories: Yes: This charity has a written donor privacy policy published on its website, which states unambiguously that (1) it will not share or sell a donor's personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations or (2) it will only share or sell personal information once the donor has given the charity specific permission to do so. In October, it held its annual golf tournament in Venice, Florida. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. Founded in 1978, NAPO is the strongest unified . The IUPA and the relief fund also uses almost 80% of its donated funds to pay telemarketers to obtain even more funds. These include two FTC actions against alleged sham non-profits and the telemarketers who made deceptive claims about these so-called charities. Make sure you click following and then click see first so you dont miss a thing! Donations arent directed to the Trenton Police Department or typically any other police agency, for that matter. Subscribe to NPQ's newsletters to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox. AOCs Tax the Rich Dress Dazzles Met Gala, while Foundation Giving Numbers for 2020 Show 15 Percent Increase, Strike MoMA Imagines Art Museums without Billionaires. The so-called Police Action Fund is nothing more than a scam that exploits the heroism and sacrifice of law enforcement officers. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. Donate Today - LEORF Full Credit: The charity's audited financials were prepared by an independent accountant with an audit oversight committee. Granted, 11 families received a total of $72,000, and some of it (about $25,000, or $2,500 per person) went towards law enforcement student tuition and scholarships. If you wish to donate, please refresh the page. National Police Support Fund representatives have been phoning potential donors in the St. Louis area over the past several weeks, including the wife of a retired police officer who said she . The Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund is a nonprofit charity that says it provides "specialized relief when, tragically, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line-of-duty." But a Center for Public Integrity investigation indicates most of the money it raises goes to telemarketing expenses and salaries. The IUPA itself has a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau which also provides reviews of its own fundraising tactics, complaining that the callers front with appeals for individual officers while really attempting to raise money for lobbying. Dividing a charity's average fundraising expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. Sarasota, FL 34233. The organization supports officers critically injured or their immediate surviving family member if killed in the line-of-duty. Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed Form 990. Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail or email, text or in person. We hosted our most recent event at the beautiful Sarasota National Golf Club in Venice, Florida. All the latest Law Enforcement Today news, updates and alerts delivered straight to your phone or inbox. The Giving Basket is having some issues. (Firstnet.gov), Your phone rings. During 2017, more than 100 tax-exempt groups claiming to represent police officers, sheriffs deputies and state troopers reported spending more than $100,000 each on professional fundraisers, according to IRS data from federal tax returns.