Posted on Jan 27, 2016
Why is the Wounded Warrior Project so controversial as an organization?
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I am conflicted on this organization. On the one hand, they are arguably the most visible organization when it comes to promoting support of veterans. But they've also garnered controversy from veterans and news organizations for misalignment of their efforts -- high overhead, turning away veterans, and stringently protecting their brand.
I've had only a couple personal experiences, and none directly with the organization.
-I am friends with a member of the board. The organization supports a wide variety of programs, and it's spending efforts come with the territory of being a large and famous entity -- money is needed to attract a top executive, staying top of mind in the public, and maintaining branding.
-Another non-profit partnered with WWP to fund one of its own programs (a work training program for vets in the local area). It seems to me that this sort of collaboration is exactly what WWP can do on a large scale since it has the money, and smaller organizations can provide more targeted efforts to support veterans in different ways.
So I want to give WWP the benefit of the doubt. I mean, who is going to take their place and do better? But then I hear all the stories of vets getting turned away, smaller non-profits being sued, and reports of money being spent negligently.
What story do you believe? What can they do better? What can a competing organization do?
http://greatnonprofits.org/orgA/wounded-warrior-project
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wounded-warrior-project-accused-of-wasting-donation-money/
Edit:
Another article, released JAN 27, NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/us/wounded-warrior-project-spends-lavishly-on-itself-ex-employees-say.html
Edit 2 (1/28/2016):
Didn't mean for this to become a WWP bashing (judging from most of the comments), so here is what I've learned, so far. From what I gather, WWP has grown significantly because it has reinvested in doing so -- which can be a good thing. It equates to more support for veterans. It spends, slightly, more than other charities (anywhere from ~7% to ~40% of expenses don't go to program expenses, depending on your source -- please feel free to correct me if I'm off since I'm not entirely sure which numbers to go with), but that still means a significant chunk (in dollar amounts, if not percentages) goes to helping veterans. With that success draws attention. I think WWP would benefit from focusing some of it's marketing efforts on more individual support of veterans and showing veterans how WWP helps them. It would give them less flak from the veteran community.
I've had only a couple personal experiences, and none directly with the organization.
-I am friends with a member of the board. The organization supports a wide variety of programs, and it's spending efforts come with the territory of being a large and famous entity -- money is needed to attract a top executive, staying top of mind in the public, and maintaining branding.
-Another non-profit partnered with WWP to fund one of its own programs (a work training program for vets in the local area). It seems to me that this sort of collaboration is exactly what WWP can do on a large scale since it has the money, and smaller organizations can provide more targeted efforts to support veterans in different ways.
So I want to give WWP the benefit of the doubt. I mean, who is going to take their place and do better? But then I hear all the stories of vets getting turned away, smaller non-profits being sued, and reports of money being spent negligently.
What story do you believe? What can they do better? What can a competing organization do?
http://greatnonprofits.org/orgA/wounded-warrior-project
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wounded-warrior-project-accused-of-wasting-donation-money/
Edit:
Another article, released JAN 27, NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/us/wounded-warrior-project-spends-lavishly-on-itself-ex-employees-say.html
Edit 2 (1/28/2016):
Didn't mean for this to become a WWP bashing (judging from most of the comments), so here is what I've learned, so far. From what I gather, WWP has grown significantly because it has reinvested in doing so -- which can be a good thing. It equates to more support for veterans. It spends, slightly, more than other charities (anywhere from ~7% to ~40% of expenses don't go to program expenses, depending on your source -- please feel free to correct me if I'm off since I'm not entirely sure which numbers to go with), but that still means a significant chunk (in dollar amounts, if not percentages) goes to helping veterans. With that success draws attention. I think WWP would benefit from focusing some of it's marketing efforts on more individual support of veterans and showing veterans how WWP helps them. It would give them less flak from the veteran community.
DAV
Wounded Warriors
Wounded Warrior Project
Non Profit Organizations
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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People getting rich. It's that simple. I don't have anything to do with this organization. I also don't wear the Under Armour clothes with the logo either.
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I asked my self a couple of questions when I first heard about them I was excited for what they wanted to do and could do then the first question truely hit me NON-PROFIT I looked this up "economic terms, a nonprofit organization uses its surplus revenues to further achieve its purpose or mission, rather than distributing its surplus income to the organization's shareholders (or equivalents) as profit or dividend" Wikipedia. Why does a non profit company have so much overhead I think you said the answer Capt Byron Chen "money is needed to attract a top executive" and I guarantee he/she are not working for free so where does this money come from? It comes from suckers like me who rushed out to donate to them only once thank god to help pay for that top executive. Don't get me wrong they have a great name and concept if it was truly a non profit company and did what they said they would do and not turn away our vets especially the ones who really need it the most. That's just my opinion take it for what its worth but research them more and you get more filth that the dirty dozen.
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LTC (Join to see)
Just as a point of clarification...a Non-Profit organization can truthfully maintain that status because they are not generating profits that go in to furthering the company itself. It is a sticky issue, but they wrap these exorbitant salaries into their overhead thus they aren't making a profit, it is a part of the cost of doing business as a non-profit.
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Well I myself have had nothing but positive experiances with the WWP. I am an active member with them. They have helpped me turn my life around from where i was 3 years ago.
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Why controversial? They are as bad as the people that call you at home and ask for money for police and firemen funds. Minimal amount of money goes to vets. I don’t give a dime to WWP. Read too many articles and most all always state they didn’t return calls or refused to comment.
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