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National Vietnam Veterans Foundation

by Joe

Do you have a rating for this charity -- National Vietnam Veterans Foundation?

Joe, we started our research on the web site for the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation. We found NO financial information listed there, and we found that some of the items listed that should be links are not links.

So we sent them a request for specific financial information, and will update this page when we receive their response.

In the meantime, we checked GuideStar, which lists the following as programs of National Vietnam Veterans Foundation:

"1. Support of events to raise awareness on veterans issues, including but not limited to, health programs, POW/MIA book project, etc.

2. Assistance on veterans issues and programs, including but not limited to, medical research, homeless veterans employment and rehabilitation programs, maintenance of a veterans hotline, etc.

3. Contributions to various veterans organizations, charities and educational programs."

GuideStar also reports that for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, NVVF received contributions of $2,392,834.

From those contributions, it paid these expenses:

Program Services: $269,641 (11%)
Administration: $78,003 (3%)
"Other:" $2,037,909 (85%)

That adds up to just 99%, so the other 1% must be split among those three categories.

There is no further breakdown of "other," but our guess is that a large portion of it is fundraising expenses. (That guess is borne out by the report from the Washington Secretary of State, below.)

Next, we went to Charity Navigator, which reports that "National Vietnam Veterans Foundation is in our queue to be evaluated."

The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (BBB) reported: "Despite written BBB Wise Giving Alliance requests in the past year, this organization either has not responded to Alliance requests for information or has declined to be evaluated in relation to the Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability."

The Secretary of State for the State of Washington reports that for the organization's fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, National Vietnam Veterans Foundation reported revenue of $1,249,154 and program expenses of $97,548 (8%).

So apparently, despite a 92% increase in contributions from 2006 to 2007, the amount actually going to program expenses increased by just 3%.

So we're sad to say that National Vietnam Veterans Foundation rates a big fat "F" from us.

The Washington Secretary of State also publishes reports on commercial fundraisers registered in their state. For Community Support, Inc. (CSI), the fundraiser listed for National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, it reports that for 2008, CSI returned only 12% of the funds it raised to the charities for which it solicited. Another big fat "F."

The report shows that CSI solicits in the State of Washington for the following veterans charities:

AMVETs (American Veterans)
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation
Veterans Assistance Foundation
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Washington
Vietnam Veterans of Washington State
Washington Chapter of the United States Navy Veterans Association

So, our advice, if you live in the State of Washington, is not to donate to any of the charities for which CSI is the solicitor.

When we receive the requested information from National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, we will update this page.

Comments for
National Vietnam Veterans Foundation

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Jun 08, 2010

How to handle NVVF's invoice?
by: Anonymous

NVVF called the house. I don't have caller i.d.

I let them talk me into "considering" a $15 donation but told them I would send no money without further info in the mail. "Oh, yes. That's the way we operate," they told me. Then he had a supervisor get on the phone to verify my mailing address.

I got a REMIT TO letter today - and found your site tonight.

How do I help stop them? Who do I report it to? I believe I actually donated to them last year - $10 or $15.

Thanks.

We still have received no response from National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, despite passage of more than a month, so we've sent a second request for their documents.

Unfortunately, there's no law against inefficiency, and a charitable organization can maintain its tax-exempt status by dedicating as little as 5% (and in some cases, less) of its revenue to its causes. Special accounting allocation rules about what can be called "program expenses" can make the actual amount much less.

Probably the most effective way for you to complain would be to send a message to your Congressional delegation, asking them to support efforts in Congress to investigate and better regulate veterans charities.

Improving on the financial performance of charities will require revisions to the Internal Revenue Code with regard to tax-exempt charitable organizations.

In the meantime, use the links below (at the bottom of the page) to spread this information via Twitter, Facebook, etc., or e-mail a link to this page to your friends, and ask them to forward it to their friends.

By getting the word out, hopefully we can cause the flow of money to these inefficient veterans charities to dry up.

Aug 25, 2010

Rude Solicitation
by: Anonymous

I just had a call from someone who said they were from the National Viet Nam Veterans Foundation, claiming that I made a donation to them last year. I didn't recognize the name, and don't believe that I made any such contribution.

They wanted me to agree to send them money, and they would send me information. When I suggested that I would be glad to look at any information they wanted to send and then decide about a contribution, the man was very rude, told me to forget about it and then hung up on me before I could explain that my father is a veteran and I am more than supportive of veterans' groups, but that I have a policy of not making any promises over the phone to strangers.

Not a way to treat a veteran's family member, and not a way to ever get my money!

If you believe the organization that contacted you is engaging in fraudulent practices (by attempting to get you to donate under the false premise of claiming you donated last year when you did not), please see our response to Jill on that page for a list of places where you may file reports.

Nov 05, 2010

Rude solicitation
by: Anonymous

I too had a similar experience with this organization...they are very rude and I also have had them hang up on me.

Unfortunately I find that I gave to them in 2009 and again earlier this year. Guess I'd better pay closer attention.

I originally thought I was giving to Vietnam Veterans of America who have been around for 40 years.

Who is this organization? I can't find anything positive about them on the web. The invoice I received is a remittance address in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, there are a number of charitable organizations that deliberately choose names that are confusingly similar to other, well-known organizations. Today's donors really have to be careful that they know which groups they make donations to, and that takes some research. We're happy to happy to be able to provide information to help you make your donation decisions.

Nov 18, 2010

Suspicious
by: Anonymous

When I received the call from "National Vietnam Veterans Foundation" I was wary enough to wait for some paperwork to arrive in the mail prior to committing to a donation. The caller seemed rushed and anxious to get my pledge and without hestition declared he knew little about the organization AND was being paid to call me.

Several things just do not add up, enough to make me pause and reflect, and I finally decided not to support the fundraising effort. After a review
of their website and the letter sent to me, I elect not to send money to an organization I have doubt about. Many folks see the ".ORG" at the end of a website address and assume that means it's a valid and forthright organization.

Apart from the "rushed" telephone approach and questionable follow up letter, I was most disturbed by the listing of a Washington, DC, headquarters within that letter. I followed up and discovered it is NOT their address, but rather it belongs to a health grant association completely unrelated to NVVF. The receptionist who answered the phone said they receive mail periodically for NVVF and mark "return to sender/
address unknown".

Dec 21, 2010

DECIDED NOT TO GIVE
by: Anonymous

I read all comments and decided not to give. I sent them a note along with the donation pledge as to why I changed my mind and asked to be taken off their call list.

I plan to always check out the charity before sending a pledge.

Jan 13, 2011

scamers
by: Anonymous

i no two guys that work for them - they live well.

also seen the packages they send out - about 2 dollars of china crap.

Jan 20, 2011

Yet another address
by: Anonymous

Jan 20, 2011
My 'sponsor confirmation' letter doesn't list D.C., Maryland, VA or WI as other comments have listed here.... mine says they're based in Phoenix! Ok???

Yep, they're getting a note from me, not a check. There are more reputable agencies out there.

Pledger beware.

Jan 30, 2011

Curious Pledge Letter
by: Janet Cannon

I got the call - agreed to $15 donation because am the widow of a Vietnam Vet.

The pledge Letter came addressed to Mrs Joel/Janet Cannon. Joel is my son and is currently living at home with me.

How did they get his name? Everything (including my phone) is in my name.

Of course I will not send donation. The calls have started - one on a Sunday. As a charity I understand they are permitted to solicit on Sundays.

Thank God for your website.

Feb 09, 2011

NVVF - Jerks/scam artists
by: Anonymous

The same man from NVVF calls year after year,, multiple times a year even after I have donated.

Now he calls and because I have figured out his scheme he asks for my husband by first name only, thinking he sounds like a friend of his. This caller is rude and obnoxious.

As soon as I tell him my husband is not available, he hangs up without another word. I try to call back the number on caller I.D. and of course it is invalid.

Those scam artists have even sent a pledge sheet without a confirmation call just because they thought since I had given before that I must be absent minded and might have forgotten that I agreed to pledge again.

They make valid charities suffer because of their greed!

Feb 27, 2011

Outreach Calling
by: Anonymous

Community Support Inc (CSI) the previous fundraiser listed for National Vietnam Veterans Foundation was targeted by the FTC in Operation False Charity.

Calls for NVVF are now made by a new solicitation outfit, Outreach Calling, which amounts to a name change.

Donation amounts still add up to an invisibly tiny percentage of funds solicited.

Apr 11, 2011

Remove me from call list and mailing list...
by: Anonymous

Remove me from your calling list and your mailing list. I have donated clothing and articles of good use.

I do not want follow-up requests in mail or phone calls.

Anon, we just want to let you know that sending that request to us won't do any good. You must mail it directly to the charity itself. If you have the address from a letter they sent you, use it.

Apr 11, 2011

What to do?
by: Rosie

I received a call to donate to NVVF, have received the form but have not mailed check yet.

Don't know if I want to after reading all this!

My letter says West Allis, WI, not Washington state. Is this one and the same - does anyone know?

Rosie, it's not unusual for a national charity to have multiple addresses for collecting donations in different parts of the country, so don't let that throw you.

May 03, 2011

I too recieved a letter
by: Anonymous

I received a call from a blocked number and since it's in my nature to give and my grandfather is a veteran, I agreed to give.

My grandmother told me to double check and make sure its not a scam and boy was I not suprised that it is. The number was blocked, and the guy play on my good faith in God.

I wonder how do I get out of this without them harassing me with letters. I think it pretty sad that they play on the good nature of people. It breaks my heart. =[

Anon, just ignore the invoice when you get it, or call them and tell them you've changed your mind. You can also request in writing that the charity remove you from their mailing and calling lists. Telling them by phone generally is not effective.

May 14, 2011

Nice solicitor but sleezy operation
by: Dan

This web site confirmed my feeling that NVVF was not legit.

"Joe" was a nice enough fellow, his "just give me $15, be a patriot" seemed like a low pressure solicitation that I was happy to do for veterans "in this tuff economic environment."

I even felt that if it was a fraud, that "Joe" was probably down on his luck and could use the $15 himself.

But suddenly the light went on in my head and said "sucker! if you really have $15 to give, then make it your duty to find the real veterans."

Anyway, I ended spending the $15 on pizza and a couple of brewskies, but the next $15 that I save is going to a group of real veterans who set up a table outside my A&P on the weekends.

Thank you Google for sending me the knowledge at this web site. [is google part of my computer? how does it respond to my commands? and why does the number of the letter "o" in the google name change from day to day..... is there a google and a goooogle? thanks!]

May 27, 2011

Aggressive & Obnoxious Caller
by: CavMike19

I received the same type of call--"thank you for your past support and I know we can count on you again...."

The only thing is that I have never given to this organization. When I asked for information by mail, the caller became belligerent, saying that they would have to do mass mailings, "which we don't do." I then said I just wanted to check the effectiveness of their organization, and the caller became obnoxious.

I then said "if you cannot provide the requested information, the obvious answer is to terminate this call. Thank you, good-bye."

The whole approach was that of a scammer, unlike several other veterans organizations I know of. Checking up, I found that their program costs--the supposed purpose of the organization--range from 8 to 12 percent of their budget, with most of the rest being "other" but undefined.

Better to give to the other organizations that do a better job of actually supporting our vets.

By the way, I am a disabled Vietnam Vet.

Mike, Thank you for your service to our country, and Welcome Home.

Nov 07, 2011

VERY SHADY
by: Lawrence

I too received this call and then a print out like donation form. The address listed is a po box #.

I could not find ANY information on this group. NO answer at the 800# listed as office phone.

I hate to think that this is going on unnoticed.

Veterans Deserve Better.

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