SOLON — Americans love a good cause to rally around. From national telethons for diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy to local initiatives such as refilling shelves at the community food pantry, we typically open our wallets and checkbooks in the belief that our dollars will go toward some greater good. According to donorbox.org, charitable giving has increased every year since 1977 (except in 1987, 2008, and 2009), 2019 was one of the highest years for charitable giving in the United States ($449.64 billion), and 60% of all American households participate in some kind of charitable giving annually.
Requests for donations come in all forms: radio and television advertisements, phone calls, door-to-door solicitors, and mailings. With so many requests from so many “good and worthy causes,” it is easy for bad actors to slip in and take advantage.
Back in December one such request landed in a subscriber’s mailbox from “The National Police Association of Stafford, Texas.” The subscriber, who requested to remain anonymous, forwarded the letter to the Solon Economist. The Association warns of efforts to “defund the police,” and urges the recipient to sign a petition, which would then allegedly be delivered by the association to the Solon City Council, urging them to support “Quality of life policing;” which they define as making arrests for vandalism, littering, loitering, vagrancy, public intoxication, and “other quality of life violations.”
The letter also asks for a donation to help the association “fight against those who would abolish Quality of Life Policing.”
Law enforcement in Solon is provided by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) on a contracted basis. As the population has continued to grow, the contracted hours per year have also grown, and currently Sheriff Brad Kunkel is working with the City toward a multi-year contract with continued annual increases in coverage. In addition, the JCSO has opened a satellite facility on S. Iowa St. projecting a visible law and order presence in the community.
“This one (National Police Association) isn’t ringing a bell,” the Sheriff said when asked about the organization and if they had provided any funds to the JCSO. “I’m sure there are plenty of ‘groups’ like this out there, some with good intentions and some that are scams.”
Indeed, among smartasset.com’s list of the “50 worst charities in America” are organizations such as International Union of Police Associations AFL-CIO, American Association of State Troopers, United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Police Protective Fund, Disabled Police Officers of America Inc., Reserve Police Officers Association, Disabled Police and Sheriffs Foundation, Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center, and National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition.
“I would encourage people to verify these groups first, or to donate to legitimate, statewide entities like the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association or the Iowa State Police Association,” Kunkel said. A good way to vet a potential charitable organization is to follow the seven steps outlined by forbes.com
• Look at the organization’s history and funding sources. Look at who supports them, research news stories about the organization.
• Check out their online presence, visit their website, read published articles, look at what others are saying about the work being done by the organization.
• Talk to other donors and volunteers on social media. “Any nonprofit that is doing a great job will have donors and volunteers singing their praises,” said Gloria Horsley with “Open to Hope.”
• See how transparent they are through organizations such as GuideStar.
• Request an independent audit report. If an organization receives an independent audit, it demonstrates a commitment to transparence and accountability,” said Freddy Williams of The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.
• Investigate their outcomes and beneficiary impact through Non-Profit Organization (NPO) rating agencies.
The Sheriff added, “Don’t feel pressured to donate if you receive a phone call or a solicitation letter. Take the time to verify the validity of the call or letter before sending any funds.”
Sometimes, good intentions are enough
Making a financial (or other) contribution to your local law enforcement agency might not be as simple as writing a check. Sheriff Kunkel explained that while some local agencies may have a separate association through which the public may donate funds, the JCSO currently does not.
“We’ve discussed forming an association, but it’s never gotten off the ground. We frequently run into situations where the public wants to donate or show their appreciation, but we don’t have a way to accept financial contributions.”