They are a disgrace.The Veterans sacrificed there lives and are not getting the funds due to them.The man in charge is living high on the hog,while the Vets miss out.Jail is to good for him.

This report disgusts me. I cannot believe the laws regarding starting charities and the small amount that is legal to be given. The laws should be changed!

Veterans were heros after WW2 but came to regarded as burdens by the 1950's and it had only gotten worse. Veterans have served an ungrateful nation.

And to think I was giving to 3 of these F graded organizations. Thought I was helping my fellow vets, it's a disgrace. Now I will contribute only to those who are actually helping these veterans.

This was very informittive, there should be more investagations carry out on the so-called charities in this country. Please report on the better charities, so that more monies will be directed towards those in need. Thank you.

Very Helpful. I'll cancel my pickup for AMVETS. How about Vietnam Veterans of America? I have a big bag of clothing ready for them.

Do you have any information to:
Disabled American Veterans,in Cincinnati Ohio.

Thanks for your time , Frank

Regarding veterans charities, I give to Disabled American Veterans. I did not see that one on your list. Hopeing they benefit from most. Thank you for opening our eyes regarding this matter.

Excellent reporting.Now I know what organizations I should no longer contribute to.You should do this also for those organizations serving American Indian charities;abandoned children;etc.

Thanks for providing this most useful service.When they feel the pressure maybe some of those "F" rated groups will mend their way.

Rafael

not only these charities should be looked into the VA should also. There are some Vet who are employees who being fire from there job instead of being help with there problem for being in iraq

Could you supply me a complete Report Card so I do not contribute to the "less than reputable" charities soliciting our money. We believe the Vet's should be treated with the utmost respect for their outstanding contributions to keeping our nation free and safe.

I am a regular contributor to an organization called Disabled American Veterans, Cincinnati, Oh , and do not see them listed on your grading scale of f or a, where do they place, how about listing the grade for all 27 organizations that you have mentioned.
thanks

Am I Vietnam Vet, U.S.C.G., 1967 all I can say, from my own experiences, is the the 'charities' rip up off as bad as the government does! Bottomline folks is that neither the government nor the 'citizens' give a damn abt us after the war/s. Check out the high divorce rates & the unwilliness of companies to hire us after combat. Frankly 'merica is a sick joke. TKU.

brian - thank you for exposing another massive scam victimizing all Americans. it seems as if the American moral fiber is slowly dwindling away over the last two decades. since when did we 'the people' elect to misspell our Lord GOD with an 'l' = 'gold'?? God Bless America and may HE forgive us for all we do in HIS NAME.

After hearing your report this morning on GMA, I would hope that you could follow-up with a positive report from lesser known charities contributing 95% of donations to our returning wounded and disabled American Veterans.
Our non-profit, American Love and Appreciation Fund, Inc. dba Veteran Love has helped close to 100 servicemen and women and their families over the past 18 months. We pick up the slack when servicemembers cannot get their disability checks in a timely manner and go without income, therefore on the verge of eviction. We pay for plane tickets for parents or spouses to be with their loved one in the hospitals such as Tampa's James A. Haley VA.
Please consider highlighting those of us who do not take a salary directly from the organization and how we do provide direct support to our wounded and disabled American heroes.

Do you know any rating for Disabled American Veterans out of Cincinnati OH?

I have given to Disabled American Veterans for years. I did not see this on your report card. How did they rate?

Im SO Furious right now. I have gone through my own hell for the past two years since my husband (a navy Seal) was injured while at war and to hear and read the reports about these so called charitable organizations helping these soldiers makes me sick. These people need to go to war and come back to really appreciate what it feels like to be used the way these men and women have been. They live a properous life while these guys and girls struggle to somehow fit back into a world they left and will never be the same again. My husband received a Purple Heart among many other medals. He has had approx. 6 surgeries and another one on the way. He got addicted to all of the pain meds and had to go thru de-tox. He is never not in pain but has slowly worked his way out of his own hell and is coming back to the strong, competent, responsible, caring man he was before all of this. He loved his job and never regretted fighting for this country but to know that is so easily excused from so many so called proud to be Americans is disgusting.
If there is anything I can do to help in this cause or to help other injured soldiers and families please let me know. Im trying to be a catalyst for the wives when the husbands come home. You see in my husbands job the phone call that my friends have gotten were quite different. There husbands didn't come home. For some reason my call was different and I feel that if I can prepare anyone for what they might be in for I would love to help. Coming home is great but helping them thru it is a whole other story.
A Very Proud Wife of an American Soldier.
Linda

Good start. I'll be real careful not to send money off to any of those on the 'F' list in the future. But what happened to all the charities which
got B-pluses and C-Minuses? Were there none of them? What are their names? It seems that your report, as presented, is missing quite a bit.

You get an 'incomplete'.

as a Amets' Aux. ember, I am appalled that so much money goes to the CEO's and other offical of the non-profit organizations in which you must have served in the military yourself to be a member. As ayx. members, you must have had family members that have served. I personally have 2 brothers, grandfather, brother-in-law, etc, and the only reason my father was not accepted was due to asthma. I volunteer a lot of time to the Amets myself but will not be sending any money to these org. that got an F on this list. I just rec. a donation letter from the par. vets which I will not be sending any more money. I personally think that all non-profit org. should base thir salaries to the average salary of their county--plus expenses and that all non-profit org. should only accept cks (no cash) so that they can better be audited. You are going a great job and I do appreciate your time and effort.

What about the rest, example, I donate to the Disabled American Veterans, where do they rate?

I would like to see the whole list, could you direct me to a web site that rates all charities? Not just the veteran charities?

Thanks,

Duane

I find it disgusting and criminal when an organization can call itself a charity when only giving one half of 1% of its earnings to the very people it purports to serve!

YOU MENTIONED THE 13 THAT FAILED. DOES THAT MEAN ALL THE OTHERS (NON VETERAN)ARE IN GOOD STANDING? FOR ARGUEMENT SAKE - AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

PERHAPS ITS BEST WE STOP SENDING TO ALL CHARITIES OTHER THAN ST.JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN?

Now that the the media has once again exposed the "Evil Doers", and gain their points for doing so; will these charities be shut down? Will the lawyers and attorneys who set these money making operations up based on the laws and codes passed by our legislaters at the request of their big doners, be condemmed? I doubt that.

Will the serious doners continue to be taxed for donations beyond the limits set by Congress to bleed the rich in the name of true equality in our nation be addressed?

I doubt it.

PLEASE PROVIDE A FULL LIST OF CHARITIES.
I GIVE TO MANY AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFO.

THANK YOU

I also donate, regularly, to DAV and would like to know how they rated.

The web-site Give.org evaluates and reports on chartitable organizations.

I also donate to Disabled American Veterans, now I'm wondering where my money goes?? Thanks, karen

I would also like to have additional charity information, since I've sent to other charities and am real concerned. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Dear Brian et al. In the interest of an informed electorate I should like to point out a few facts that you may want to re-iterate for your viewers. Re: Rudy Guiliani. There are those who think Traditional Catholicism is dead. Let me assure you it is not. Guiliani , an adulterer who openly defies the teachings of his Faith, but still expects members of that Faith to vote for him. He's a leftist , apostate Catholic. His record ,as federal prosecutor for which he openly brags merits some scrutiny. Remember Michael Milkin ? Well Guiliani railroaded him for crimes he did not commit. As columnist Paul Craig Roberts reported, " Giuliani was unknown and looking for name recognition and staged a storm trooper assault on the financial firm Princeton/Newport, involving 50 Federal marshals with automatic weapons and bulletproof vests. " Perhaps you can remember his having 2 NY investment bankers hauled off their trading floor in handcuffs. These 2 had done nothing and were later exonerated. Amazingly, nothing was done to Guiliani fo this misconduct. Guiliani has turned New York into a sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Reported by Heather MacDonald, he went to the US Supreme court to fight a federal ukase, passed in 1996, that said cities could not forbid their employees from helping the Immigration and Naturalization Service. He lost in court but remained defiant to the end. On Sept. 5 2001 his handpicked charter-revision committee ruled that N.Y. could still require that its employees keep immigration information confidential to preserve trust between immigrants and government. Only six days later, several visa-overstayers participated in the most devastating attack on the city and country in history " I could go on and on, about his record of ignoring the tenets of the Catholic Faith. For instance, unlike other adulterers who marry after a divorce, Guiliani openly carried on his scandalous public behaviour in front of his constituents but by way of the national news media , he paraded his conduct of carnal activities in detail.
I have held off on Hillary Clinton, but intend with your permission to write you , detailing why I think she should never be considered for the Presidency... Thank you for your time.

There is only one way to fix this...the government needs to regulate the minimum % amount required for donation in order for a business to be called a "charity" and the maximum income a charity owner can claim. I work with a veteran's organization that raises funds for scholarships and 100% of our profit goes toward the scholarships. Each and every one of our members volunteers their time and money to make sure monies get raised and go to the correct place. Each of us can go to bed at night with a clear conscience. They should be ashamed of themselves--SHUT THEM DOWN!!!

I too, would love to see the rest of the list as I am a LIFE MEMBER in 3 Veterans Organizations and the list has already mentioned TWO of them.Happy Veterans day to me. I'm glad my 90% disability for wounds from Vietnam means so much to the people running these..."organizations" No more $ from me.
Semper Fidelis

Like Duane S., I would also like to know a site that rates all charities.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

Loss Retired US Air Force

I understand the neglect of charities giving what they receive, but why are we not looking into the government to see why THEY are not taking care of our veterans. The Government is the reason the vets are how they are, not the charities.

I find it disgusting that these organizations can call themselves charities when they are taking advantage of the individuals they purportedly serve. American veterans deserve the best service is possible and every American should be outraged with the outcome of the story.

My husband served in WWI and one son in Vietnam. We support several veterans' organizations and I, too, would like to see the complete list and how each organization rates.

Thanx.

Just like Duane we donate to the Disabled American Vets. If this is a good or bad operation no one knows from your report. I wonder how many people will stop donating because of your incomplete report???? Don

I donate to charitable programs as part of the American Legion and VFW organizations. My donations are supposed to go to veteran's organizations. How does the American Legion and VFW rate?

Just like Duane we donate to the Disabled American Vets. If this is a good or bad operation no one knows from your report. I wonder how many people will stop donating because of your incomplete report???? Don

I, too, donate every month to the Disabled American Veterans and would like to know where they rate also.

Thanks,
Lisa

Dear Sirs,

I am an Air Force Vet. with 34 years of service. I have donated cloths, household articles and money to several of these organizations on a consistant basis. THANK YOU. You have exposed the wolfs in sheep's clothing for what they are. I WILL NOT DONATE to them in the future. Perhaps with more articles like this they will go out of business.

Clement
MSGT USAF RET.

I also donate to Disable Vets ...were are they on this???... as a Veteran i find this information very useful keep up the good work. this is a shame for Americans to take advantage for what these folks have done for our nation.

I was sickened to hear the horrible veteran charities report this morning on GMA. The responsible ones should be SO ASHAMED! And the absolute worst, the reduction of donations in the future due to a few (or maybe MANY) bad apples. Please continue to update the public of those charities that are worthy of their donations to help our veterans who may need our assistance.

I rarely forward information emails, but I'd love to send this report card to several people I know contribute frequently to these types of charities. It would be great to have the report in a simpler format that could just be easily pasted on to the body of an email.

I have donated to two of the organizations on the "F" list:
Paralyzed Veterans of America and Help Hospitalized Veterans. After hearing and reading about the scams which include these two organizations, neither will no longer be getting any donations from me. What a terrible shame that people like Chapin can "use" our wounded veterans to get rich.

My family and I strongly support our military veterans. The fact that our donations may have gone into the pockets of executives MAKES ME SICK. But I want to continue to give to organizations that really help our nation's heroes. I feel that it is every citizen's duty to contribute to the well being of all of those who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Thank you for providing the American people with the charity report card. You can bet I'm going to refer to it before I write the next check!

Here in FL I donate to a non profit group called Veteran's Action Project, Inc.

How can I check to see if they have a good rating?

I see the list of A's and F's but I did not see other well known associations such as VFW or American Legion. Can I trust them?

You did a great job of highlighting the worst offenders and I appreciate it. You have everyone upset enough so they won't be donating at all. Please quickly follow-up with those organization that either get the A's and/or do the most good for our injured soldiers. This is the time of year that many people make donations. Let us know where our money will be well spent. Thank you.

I too, donate to the Disabled American Veterans organization. Would like to know how much help actually goes to the veterans. Would also like to know a website that rates the charities.

Thank you,

Jeanette

I would also like to see the full report on all 27 agencies. I donate to several and would like to be more selective in my givings. If you can direct me to the full report, I would be grateful.

Bruce

This is a disgrace! It may not be illegal, but it should be! I would also like to know where the Disabled American Veterans and the VFW rate since I support them. I also supported the Paralyzed Veterans of America - but certainly no longer will. You do a great job on your investigative reports, Brian.

The people that manage these "charities" have cheated our veterans and stolen from our patriotic citizens. I can't imagine standing at my judgement day and trying to explain that to God. To steal from people who are in a time of need is the worst of sins.

I also would like to see a complete listing of worthwhile Vets groups.

How can we know for sure if a charity is an "A" grade? Is there a website that divulges this information? This is very discouraging for all future giving's from my pocket. :-(

Thanks for the report.

I am always receiving address labels from all kinds of veterans org. and I try to send money to them. But it gets to the point where I can't send all the time. I get something each month. This makes me very upset about these org. because I thought I was helping them out. The paralazed vets is one of them. I am sorry but I will not be sending to them anymore. I think this is a disgrace to our heros.

The whole country is corrupt; every dog for hisself; these people who have stolen money from the vets should be taken out and shot.

Vietnam Veteran 69-70

I am a vietnam vet i have always donate to charity to help our borther our war veterans but what i saw on t.v this morning i will STOP...

Thank you for this report-we have always
tried to support our troops and have sent money. We see that we have sent money to the WRONG people! Would it be possible to send or post the addresses for the two A+ charities? We value our freedom and feel these men and women should never have to want for anything.

Once again Brian Ross uses one watchdsog's opinion without seeking any other watchdog opinion. Charity Navigators showed the actual audited financial statement of Paralyzed Veterans of America with about 65% of its income spent on program expenses for paralysed vets. That is a far cry from less than 35% and this leads me to believe the AIP is suspect and not accurately rating these vet groups.
I welcome a Congessional probe to bring out the true facts.
In the meantime I will continue to give to PVA as I have for many years.
Jerry

I have given to several veterans charities since I am a vet. I will no longer give the charities that recieved an "F". Please continue your investigation and let me know how to obtain a complete list and rating of all veterans charities.

I am not able to see the list of charities that you spoke about. Do not have the proper software. Could you direct me somewhere that I could find them listed.
Thank You for a very good report.

We contribute to r major veteran charities each year. None of our charities are on the top or bottom list shown. How do we gt the veteranmilitary list?

Thanks

G. R. Powell

I believe the Army Emergency Relief and the Army's ... Army Embergency Relief Fund are two separate organizations. It would be good of ABC to distinguish between the two.

This is outrageous. I worked in a veterans hospital for many years and have donated to various fundraisers for at least 20 years and now i see the money doesn't get there! I am furious. From now on I will only give to the charities you have advised are an A. I have been giving to many of the "F's" for a long time and it will stop today. Thank you ABC.

I have been loyal to Paralyzed Veterans of America for almost 40 years. No more. I am sticking with animals and environment from now on.

You've listed Veteran Organizations that have received your grading of "F", but you have not listed the reasons for this finding. I'm particularly interested in PVA, because my husband is a Service Officer for PVA and works very hard to help every Veteran to receive the highest rating for which they are eligible. He takes great pride in his work, and he was very incensed upon hearing this report because of the bad light it projects on all the hard working Service Officers across this country whose daily job it is to work on behalf of their client to get the highest benefits possible which helps these men and women adjust to life after their disability. Every year Paralyzed Veterans of America helps countless numbers of paraplegics and quadraplegics adjust to a life many thought had ended with their injuries. These Service Officers work to get a variety of benefits that allows these devastated vets to live a more fulfilling life, dealing with their disability at home, at work, in society, and in ways none of us could ever imagine. You might also have reported that the Service Organization side of these institutions are not the same as the Charity side, therefore not alienating veterans from seeking the aid of the Service side of these Organizations that do SO much for our honorable Veterans.

I personally do a lot of work with The Paralyzed Veterans of America and the services they provide for veterans is amazing. What the AIP calculations don't take into account is the definition of 'overhead'. In the case of PVA, they have National Service Officers who work with the VA hospitals in ensuring that returning paralyzed veterans get the benefits they deserve for their service. PVA works tirelessly with the VA and other organizations to do so much for veterans that people aren't even aware of. They have a large architecture department that works around the country to ensure people in wheelchairs have fair accessibility. That's a service that benefits ALL American's, not just veterans.

In an easier example, AIP doesn't distinguish between the gas that gets the food to starving nations and the office space overhead for their base operations, its all 'overhead'. They only count 'food' as giving of the funds raised. That's unfair.

According to your story the veterans are getting screwed twice.the charities are witholding a lot of the monetary help they have available and a lot of vets are contributing out of their own pockets. Where can I get more reliable information? If what you say is true I'm disgusted.The American public does not deserve the shabby treatment they're getting. As a former POW and combat wounded vet I can say that the Vetrans Administration has treated me well at all times. This charity thing annoys me since a lot of them are managed by fellow vets. I find it very hard to believe we're getting screwed by our own.Where can I get more reliable information?

Again the Gov't has failed , there should not be a need for outside help for the Vet. The Gov't called, they answered, they served, they gave their all. The gov't should be providing them w/ all their needs .... Another sad event in American History

I am Veteran i have always donate to Veterans Charity but what i saw on T.V this morning i will STOP my donation

I have given to Disabled American Veterans for years. I did not see that one on your list. Is there a more complete list on the net?

Thanks..

As an active member of the American Legion and Adjutant of a local Post, I am appalled at this report. Shame on me for not looking into these more closely and SHAME on those for the gross misuses and neglect of all veterans, many who depend on such donations. The VA may not have to continue to seek so much more funds if these charities cheating the Vets would "pay up" instead of padding their own pockets. Making a living is one thing- living it up is another!

Herb Pratt, Msgt USAF Ret

I donate Semper Fi charity fund... what is their rate? I understand it is necessary to have overhead for operation but it should be 1% of the money they receive...not 99% to their own pocket... it is crime... Our laws aboslutely need to be reviewed.

I feel so disappointed with lots of law makers and don't want to vote... what the difference between A from B?

Monica

Brian,

We need a complete list of charities and their ratings so we don't get taken in the future. I'm tired to giving money to organizations that only provide a big salary to their founder.

I think this is a disgrace. I have been donating for years to Paralyzed Veterans of America. I will not be donating to them anymore, What about Disabled American Veterans How are they rated. I give to many other charities would you be able to provide a list. Thank you

Thank you for this report. I just received a mailing from the Disabled Veterans of America. They included Christmas cards and said I wasn't obligated to send money but the majority of people usually do. I didn't respond even though I was very tempted to send money because our veterans are a group of people I support very much. It wasn't a couple of weeks when I received a reminder letter from them in the mail. If I wasn't obligated, why are they sending reminder letters out? To be honest-we ripped it up before we opened it because I am so tired of getting these type of mailings. The phone calls from these and other types of organizations are very annoying as well.

I have made donations to the Fisher House and USO. Where are they on the list? How do other orgainzations rate like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army or the United Way?

This is a terrible thing that charities are ripping off the Veterans. There are some charities who rate 4 stars and one is the Disabled American Veterans. The biggest crime of all though is Congress not passing manditory funding for our Veterans medical care. Right now it is descresionary funding and they get whatever Congress feels they can give and it's never approved on time so the health care system is always struggling for money to take care of our Veterans. Contact your Senators and Congressmen and demand that they pass a Manditory Funding Bill for our Veterans.

The AMVETS Service Foundation's IRS 990 Form for 2005 shows the organization returns 77.2 percent of contributions directly to programs to support veterans, not less than 35 percent as suggested by Dan Borochoff of the AIP. This is a matter of public record, and AMVETS will be officially responding to this erroneous news report shortly.

How sad. If the government would take care of the thousands of people they're using as pawns in the "War on Terror", these poor vets wouldn't have to rely on shady, greedy charities.

Way to view the big picture, Washington D.C.! Don't start a war if you can't pick up the pieces afterward.

Agree with those wishing there were some information provided on the honest, good and effective charities so that the readers could come away not feeling like they should simply stop trusting any charity. Loopholes that allow scammers to legally steal in this manner do unimaginable damage. As an aside... those who believe that the US has generally treated veterans well might be surprised to read about the WWI veterans ridden down McArthur in the Bonus Soldier protests or even the plight of Revolutionary soldiers. WWII soldiers may be about the only vets the US has treated with the dignity they deserved - and I wonder if even that perception would stand much scrutiny.

This is a terrible thing that charities are ripping off the Veterans. There are some charities who rate 4 stars and one is the Disabled American Veterans. The biggest crime of all though is Congress not passing manditory funding for our Veterans medical care. Right now it is descresionary funding and they get whatever Congress feels they can give and it's never approved on time so the health care system is always struggling for money to take care of our Veterans. Contact your Senators and Congressmen and demand that they pass a Manditory Funding Bill for our Veterans.