High profile charity problems around the world

Christmas might be a time for giving, but in the media globally it also seems to be a time for critical examination of charity management.

In Singapore:
Channelnewsasia.com
has a major feature on a KPMG consultancy report into charity NKF, on various web pages. The main news: “A highly-awaited 300-plus page report on suspect practices by a Singapore charity, the National Kidney Foundation, is out.

“The findings by KPMG are startling, from revelations that only 10 cents of every charity dollar went to subsidise patients’ direct treatment costs, to wasted opportunities by regulators to commence investigations earlier.”

They also say “Organisations working in the charity sector say an overhaul of the regulatory system is long overdue.” (Note: VWO = voluntary welfare organisation or similar)

In the US:
ABC News: Red Cross President Resigns; Questions Remain
Dec. 13, 2005 — Today’s resignation by American Red Cross President Marsha Evans makes her the third in the last four presidents of the organization to end their tenure after a major national disaster.

Evans’ resignation came as a surprise just hours before a congressional committee heard detailed testimony of Red Cross shortcomings and failures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Red Cross operates under a charter from Congress, and in times of disaster, no American charity takes in more cash.

But the charitable organization was described today as operating like FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — both incompetent and ineffective.