I can speak with some experience having been the Director of a charitable organization. There are many fine 501(c) tax-free charities out there, but unfortunately their fundraising is a professional business these days. The firms who actually handle it for most charities (mailings, telemarketing, TV and radio advertising), are well paid for their efforts with contracts usually calling for commissions of at least 25% off the top. The political 501(c) fundraisers are the same. Any contributions made to the big consolidators like the United Way, get hit twice before anything gets to the end goal. The United Way takes their overhead cut of about 22%, then passes funds on to the various listed charities who also legally take their "overhead percentage" of from 10% to as high as 90%, out of the monies received. It didn't cost them to raise it, so thetas their main incentive for joining the United Way. It lets them raise more "administrative/overhead" funds with less expense. I believe in making charitable contributions, but only to an organization that can certify to me and the IRS that at least 80% of the total funds raised go exclusively to the advertised recipient. All 501(c)'s are required by law to provide those figures in writing to any donor if asked, and you would be disgusted at the actual figures for some very well known organizations. Past church scandals and Rainbow-Push come to mind. That's also why a few celebrities are now embarrassed and having to back away from sponsorship of their recent 9-11 telethon. So any contributor who doesn't make their contributions directly to only a specific 501(c) charity, or who doesn't require a written statement in advance of the 501(c)'s "overhead/operating/administrative percentage" first, should not be surprised to learn when only a minor portion of their contribution ends up where they want it to versus overhead or drawing interest in the bank. Sad but true, as more people are learning today. Patrick Cummins Fairfax, VA Researching Cummins, Hamilton, Kraft, Smith, Lewallen, Stover