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Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Follow this thread.

worst-charities

Jun 11, 2016 03:10 AM
Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I'm always leery of national charities.  Too much administrative expense, taking away from the actual charitable work.  I donate time and money locally.

Jun 11, 2016 03:26 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Unfortunately, in the charity industry, there is a new scam coming along every day.

Best to deal with something small and local where you can monitor the results.

Jun 11, 2016 02:59 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

They take a huge cut for executive salaries and "expenses"... just like all national charities.

Jun 11, 2016 03:35 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jerry,

There is a site called charity navigator that rates charities.  However, we prefer to give locally, and to those whose percentages substantially exceed expenses.  For instance CARE at one time gave 80% of the money away.  I have not checked their stats lately.  A

Jun 11, 2016 03:42 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Looks like you received your answer from Bob Crane and Sam Shueh already. Good luck!

Jun 11, 2016 03:15 AM
Rainer
53,878
Terry Kraemer
Exceed Realty - Houston, TX
Houston Realtor

I got the same email today.  It looks like a scam to me too. After reading the other post, I think it is a scam...

Jun 20, 2016 11:23 PM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

yes. no. maybe. see the other answer. verify. i havent heard of it. i didnt take my medicine today.

sorry jerry i am on a rant for members answers with bs answers just for points. not that they will see this or care

Jun 12, 2016 05:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I agree with Bob Crane!  I do support a few well know large charities but only because I know they are legit!!

Jun 11, 2016 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Sam Shueh AKA ActiveRain Investigative Reporter.

Jun 18, 2016 02:14 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Sam Shueh is the super-sleuth on this scam!

Jun 16, 2016 06:19 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Check to see exactly where the money is going and what percent actually gets to the intended recipients. Often the money is "chewed up" by extensive administrative infrastructure.

Jun 12, 2016 01:10 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Nope. Always verify the results.

Jun 11, 2016 10:29 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I am very wary of charities these days

Jun 11, 2016 10:10 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Sorry, no idea about them. I support Children's Miracle Network through RE/MAX and my local no-kill shelter.

Jun 11, 2016 10:08 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

no

Jun 11, 2016 09:48 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jerry Caldwell - somehow, charities have lots of cost associated with management - and the final number reaching to actual needy people is much less.

Sam Shueh has shared a special link...

Jun 11, 2016 03:24 PM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I always check Charities before giving money - I want to know that  laarge % of my money is to benefit those in need, not to support administration. I'm not familiar with this network.

Jun 11, 2016 02:31 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Is that a Real Estate Charity group? I haven't heard of them, either way.

Jun 11, 2016 01:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,948
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

no

Jun 11, 2016 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I have not but I keep all my stuff local

Jun 11, 2016 11:48 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have not heard of that.

Jun 11, 2016 11:35 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

No. Charity Navigator seems ok though at rating charities, but i have lost interest in most of them dud to scams. Similar to all these go fund me sites that popped up that seem like scams.

Jun 11, 2016 10:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

No.

Jun 11, 2016 08:09 AM
Rainer
7,380
Jerry Caldwell
Realty Sales Pros - Santa Monica, CA
Currently managing 6 apartment buildings

Wow...thanks for all the imput.

My reason for posting this question was they are claiming to be a charity network that refers its members to local realtors when they are planning to move.  It looks like a scam but I thought it was worth checking out.

 

Here's the email they sent me: 

 

Rodger, a Santa Monica member of our Charity is selling her 4 bedroom home and immediately needs a top Santa Monica Realtor.

One of our current California Referral Realtors recommended you.

Rodger, are you available for this Free Referral?   YES   NO


Mike Johnson, Realtor Referral Director
The USA Charity Network
327 Charities, 17 Million Members
"Referring our Members to the Best Realtors in America"

The link takes you to a page requesting $1 donation. 

http://usacharitynetwork.org/1short

 

I was bored so I clicked.  8  )

 

 

Jun 11, 2016 05:10 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I haven't heard about them and I would be very leery of any useful leads from this organization.

Jun 11, 2016 04:54 AM
Rainmaker
290,969
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

It looks like they are a nonprofit, when I checked out their website, but I am not familiar with them personally, and didn't actually see alot of info to peruse.  Hopefully they are not a scam, was my first thought Jerry Caldwell

Jun 11, 2016 04:53 AM