TRUTH: Compensation for executive staff at WWP is set following IRS rules, and based on comparison data derived from industry-wide surveys and the IRS 990s of other similar size and scope nonprofits. Plenzler said spending on that program so far has totaled $100 million, with another $165 million committed over the next five years. WWP also does not authorize proceeds from sales without a licensing agreement. Since then, however, the rate of investment has grown substantially. He noted approvingly that the organization has hired more mental health professionals to do follow-up with wounded warriors, and invested dynamically in meeting the needs of female veterans. WWP was accused by several charity monitors in the 2010's for spending donations on other things outside of the charity programs. But according to public records reported by "Charity Navigator," the Wounded Warrior Project spends 60 percent on vets. Last year, the WWP's people placed 2,555 wounded warriors and their caregivers in jobs generating $87 million in annual income for their families. Regarding the criticism that WWP's portrayal of veterans in the past overemphasized traumatic wounds and veterans in need of lifelong help and support, Linnington said the organization's advertising approach is now different. Some of the information circulating states: The CEOs salary is set by our board of directors and is in line with other national charity CEO salaries. "He rappelled down the side of a building at one of the all hands events. "And secondly, with the American people who support our warriors.". The nonprofit sector provides social services that governments cant or wont, including providing food, shelter and free higher education to the poor. Follow the links below to view the court documents. The Wounded Warrior Project is working to rebuild trust with its donors and veterans. [50], In February 2017, the Better Business Bureau released a report clearing Wounded Warrior Project of the "lavish spending" allegations, and "found the organizations spending to be consistent with its programs and mission. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Let's get it catered and have a big old party," he described. As of August 2018, that rating had dropped back down to 3 stars. One employee was quoted as calling it "extremely extravagant. The Kanes also initiated an online petition calling for a public audit of the Wounded Warrior Project in addition to canceling the next golf tournament Tee-off for a Cause was to hold to benefit the Project. Former employees say spending has skyrocketed since Steven Nardizzi took over as CEO in 2009. Be able to be able to provide the best quality services.". Market data provided by Factset. What I'm worried about is, how can we be the most effective in meeting the needs of our warriors in whatever resources we have?". We regularly register religious-based events and accept donations from religious-based organizations. Millette also marvels at the way the organization has overhauled itself and rebuilt, even as many predicted that it would crumble under the pressure. Millette, 41, who still lives in Jacksonville, Florida, where Wounded Warrior Project is headquartered, told Military.com he stands by all the claims he made about the organization -- $2,500 bar tabs and other prodigal spending at staff-only team-building events, a permissive "good old boys" atmosphere among leadership, and a tendency to push certain badly wounded veterans into the spotlight again and again for what appeared to be promotional purposes rather than for their benefit and well-being. Wounded Warrior Project initially operated as a division of the United Spinal Association of New York,[8][10] which adopted WWP as a program in November 2003. (Linnington said more than 72% of WWP spending currently goes toward programs.). We regularly register religious-based events and accept donations from religious-based organizations. Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, an outspoken accountability advocate who oversaw a Senate probe into WWP released in 2017, struck a hopeful note in a statement to Military.com. In all those areas, Linnington said Wounded Warrior Project is making strides. He was impressed, he said, that so many of those nighttime arrival flights would be greeted by WWP staff members, and that he'd also see WWP teammates visiting veterans at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. LTG (ret) Michael Linnington serves as chief executive officer of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). You can also report any incidents of consumer fraud or deception directly to the Federal Trade Commission atftc.gov/charityfraudor call (877) FTC-HELP. And though critics argue that the standards used by watchdog organizations to assess nonprofits are overly subjective and sometimes unfairly punitive, staff with two accountability groups who spoke with Military.com were generally bullish about Wounded Warrior Project's practices and outlook. He changes his habits and routine around Jacksonville, Florida, he said, to avoid running into former organization co-workers. "Wounded Warrior Project helped me reclaim my life," one reads, over a photo of single-amputee wounded veteran Sean Karpf, smiling proudly. All legitimate WWP job opportunities are listed on our website under Cool Careers.". Linnington also said the organization supports the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in caregiver work, Veterans of Foreign Wars in assisting veterans with VA disability claims, and the National Military Family Association in caring for veterans' families, among many others. WWP continued to support injured service members by providing them with free WWP Backpacks filled with comfort items. Despite the recent removal of many articles originating the false information, rumors and falsehoods continue to circulate and surface online. [20], Wounded Warrior Project provides interactive programs, rehabilitation retreats, and free mental health counseling. "So when I saw what was going on in the media, I was, believe it or not, automatically attracted to try and help.". We take all reports of fraud and infringement against WWP seriously, and will update our supporters here if we receive several alerts concerning the same scam. A CBS News investigation into a charity for wounded veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project, looks into how the charity spends its donation money. The development was confirmed by Abernathy MacGregor, a public relations firm hired to represent the veterans charity. But after two years, he quit. Although detailed defenses of Wounded Warrior Project have been mounted -- including a lengthy independent report from nonprofit expert Doug White, published in September 2016 -- Linnington spends little time trying to relitigate the past. "We focus our advertising campaign on warriors that have succeeded. To see the impact WWP and our skilled staff are making in the lives of those we serve, please visit:woundedwarriorproject.org/mission/who-we-serve. He's come in on a Segway, he's come in on a horse.". [52] However, for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2016, Charity Watch assigned WWP a C+ rating (up from a D originally) and Charity Navigator published its rating for WWP on 1 February 2017 as "four out of four stars" (up from three). In fiscal 2016, the organization's revenue exceeded $226 million; the closest runner-up was Disabled Veterans of America, with nearly $135 million. In September 2016, Forbes published a pre-emptive obituary to the organization: "The Gutting Of Wounded Warrior: How To Kill A Charity.". Legal Statement. First published on January 26, 2016 / 7:06 PM. To do this, we must give numbers priority over emotionally compelling stories. "Donors would be unhappy that so much of their money wasn't being used given the plight of veterans," he said. [24], Wounded Warrior Project helps families of veterans reconnect through events that support family bonding and transitional skills. [31], On May 27, 2014, Wounded Warrior Project filed a lawsuit against Dean Graham, a disabled veteran with PTSD, and his Help Indiana Vets, Inc. Another organization, Animal Charity Evaluators, gives recommendations on the most effective charities to prevent animal suffering. "[41], In 2012, WWP spent US$114,817,090 on programs in support of wounded veterans, their families, and caregivers. There are several defamatory blog postings on the internet along with various email chains which claim WWP is a scam. "We have met with DoD a couple times, when I first came on board, to talk about how we can help inspire young people to serve," he said. " One significant ongoing organizational investment has provided for a two-week intensive post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury outpatient program at four hospitals: Massachusetts General Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Celebrity endorsements from the likes of Trace Adkins and Jimmy Buffett. Kaine, in the recent interview, also questioned Nardizzis apparent public absence while his organization has been under scrutiny. To continue addressing these social needs and address the distrust caused by nonprofit scandals, we need to improve our nonprofit sector. Millette is now best known as a whistleblower who went on the record to decry what he saw as WWP's lavish spending and interest in nurturing its public image, rather than providing meaningful support to its constituents. Already, more than $6.9 million in grants has been awarded for this fiscal year. Wounded Warrior Project's CEO, Steven Nardizzi, and COO, Al Giordano, were fired by the charity's board amid criticisms about how it spent more than $800 million in donations over the last four years. The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the most well-known non-profit charitable organizations focused on rebuilding the lives of wounded veterans. In an effort to narrow its focus, WWP has dropped some efforts in favor of supporting other organizations that specialize. At the end of 2015, there were 96,695 individuals in WWP's database; by the end of 2018, there were 155,302, with growth staying fairly consistent year-over-year. Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is the President of Intentional Insights, an education nonprofit, and a tenure-track professor at Ohio State University. [5], WWP allocates 71 percent of its revenue to programs and services for wounded veterans and their families, and the remaining balance pays to support those programs.[6]. The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation provides more than 98 percent toveterans. Crucially, these evaluative organizations, called meta-charities, do not receive any funding from organizations they are evaluating. Seeing them do that restores my faith in the organization.". But investigations revealed that the organization spent millions of donor dollars on first-class airfare, employee retreats and extravagant salaries. Sign up for our email newsletter and get the latest info on events, fundraisers and ways to make an impact. Staying at a lavish hotel at the beach here in Jacksonville, and requiring staff that lives in the area to stay at the hotel is not team building," Millette continued. WWP is recognized under the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) workplace giving program of the federal government of the United States with CFC #11425. It also closed regional . The. [44], In June 2015, The Daily Beast reported that the WWP sells its donor information to third parties. About 500 staff members attended the four-day conference in Colorado, which CBS News reported cost about $3 million. Nearly 200 athletes from U.S. military branches will. According to data provided by Plenzler, a 2018 study on the organization's reputation within the veterans service organization community found that 83% of participants considered WWP a respected part of the military and veterans nonprofit space, up from just 13% in 2017. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. You have reached your limit of free articles. WWP fundraising efforts do not include door-to-door solicitation or the promise of gift cards in return for donations. CBS News spoke to more than 40 former employees who described a charity where spending was out of control. "I have zero regrets, and I would do it again," he said. To date, the WWP's . In other words, the Wounded Warrior Project scandal will likely reduce trust in all nonprofitsincluding effective ones. The Wounded Warrior Project raised more than $1.1 million by renting out donor names and addresses over the last two years for which records are available. Wounded Warrior Project is one of the largest veterans service organizations in the United States with office locations and partners across the country. 4899 Belfort Road Suite 300Jacksonville, FL 32256, Wounded Warrior Project is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization CFC #11425, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/scam-information/fraud-faqs, woundedwarriorproject.org/mission/financials, our IRS Form 990 and audited financial statements, state or local consumer protection office, consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0121-charitable-solicitations-vet-military-families. "These are groups that just get together over a pizza and a soda, to talk about the issues that are affecting them and their families, and look for ways to support each other.". While the organization keeps a rating of three out of four stars, the numerical score reflects marginal improvements in program expense growth, Magdalena Kurnyta, a Charity Navigator associate program analyst, told Military.com. Cool Careers People also search for wounded warrior project clothing wounded warrior project volunteer wounded warrior project topeka kansas Several bills have passed, including the Traumatic Injury Protection Program (TSGLI), the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019, the Veteran Families Financial Support Act (2020) and the PACT Act (2022). Wounded Warrior Project executives fired in spending scandal. WWP strives to provide our warriors with high-touch, comprehensive support in the areas of mental health, physical health, education and employment. March 11, 2016. Under the Charity Watch rating system, Wounded Warrior Project has a modest C+, up from a C in 2015, said Daniel Borochoff, the accountability organization's president. Kaine, in June 2015, the Wounded Warrior Project is one of the hands... 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