Wounded Warrior Project a Scam?

Although I do not condone the behavior, from a business (non-profit) I do understand.

I am always skeptical of "big name" non-profits due to the sheer marketing that goes behind these efforts and how they have a hard time disclosing their profit/loss margins clearly. I've found more effectiveness on the local level, such as in Minnesota with the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund (http://www.thankmntroops.org/). I actually have been a beneficiary of this fund as I received a gift from them when I was struggling early on post-college and barely employed. It wasn't a lot as they were very new then as well, but it helped greatly then and I was extremely thankful.

Otherwise my point would be to research any foundation first before putting anything to them. There are many organizations and "non-profits" out there ready to exploit the sacrifices that soldiers, veterans and their/our families have made to serve this country. Sad to say, but always true.

Hi folks. I was invited to their initial $ 1,000 a plate dinner in NYC. Mr Melia was the original veteran who started it, and he had an excellent program. The gents who came to work with him to set it up came from a nonprofit that was investigated by the NYS Attorney General, and for awhile there was a reference to that on their website.

The 2012 Form 990 on their website showed a $ 49 million profit, with $ 61 million in cash and short term investments and very little in payables. The explosion of cash does not relate to the levels of support maintained elsewhere in the return.

Do the math, and follow the money. They have an incredible fund-raising machine. They also decided within the past year to not fund any veterans prior to 9/11.

I started Vets-Help.org 7 plus years ago, and I have been the primary funder because I did not want to hear about how I spent the money developing our programs. I also had to learn who was real and who was not inside our government, and we have positioned ourselves extremely well now with projects designed to self fund us as we move along. No salaries, either. Feel free to check us out as well, and thank you folks for all the work you do to help our vets. We have one caveat - we help the entire family.

Some view the WWP as a PR juggernaut that squanders donations on an extravagant corporate identity and lifestyle. However the WWP does provide services to vets in a number of ways so they say. I also know that a friend of my father's, COL White, worked with them until he passed away. This guy devoted his entire life to the military community either by serving or helping those who did serve. So I believe there are good people behind the curtain. Unfortunately I have heard both good and bad. As they are as big as they are I only know of one person that was assisted with housing. I dive with a lot of busted up guys with SUDS and no one, but this could be due to the fact that the WWP helps fund other non-profits.

I will never donate to them for several different reasons but primarily is they support anti-freedom policies. I used to like them until they started in on the political garbage.

If you're looking to research charitable organizations, here's a great resource.

Please do not take this article, or anything else that comes from Veteran's Today seriously. This IS NOT a reputable web site!

First they have separated and segregated us they will not help veterans of past wars not that I need them but if you are not from 2001 then you do exist to them and no way this supposed to be about the troops not someone making big buck to run a charity

I think that the money spent could be better use with other organizations that get more money to vets. Wounded Warrior is going to come crashing down at some point and other non-profits that help are going to receive some of the fallout.

Based on what I've read (and I'll admit it's not extensive, but enough) and heard from fellow vets locally, it sounds like Wounded Warrior has gone the way of a lot of charities where the amount reaching the target audience is not in line with the donations they are pulling in. IMHO, anything below 50% going to the cause needs to be examined. If you're below 50% then that sounds like a lot of overhead, potentially in real estate, salaries and product.