Question nonprofit’s expenditures

To the editor:

To all those that may have an interest in the Wounded Warrior Project.

Posted on or about May 8th was their September 2014 audit as prepared by their new auditor, Grant Thornton, dated March 14, 2015.

This year's revenues grew to $410.5 million from 2013's $304.2 million This year's expenses were $300.3 compared to last year's $218.9. They retained in their net worth an additional $110.2 million bringing their total net worth to $285.8 million.

An analysis of the $300.3 million in expense shows:

$128.6 million - solicitation expense including media ad-value, postage, direct mail, advertising promo items.

$56.0 million - Consulting and outside services and may include a $28.0 million grant to Wounded Warrior Project LT Support Trust.

$63.1 million - Operations: $40.2 - compensation, $22.9 - Rent, Pro fees, office, telephone supplies and other.

$33.6 million - Meeting events and travel.

$14.1 million - Grants to other 501C3s

$3.9 million - Misc.

$1.0 million - Warrior assistance and support

$300 million - Total expense.

It remains a mystery how Charity Navigator can rate this operation with three stars when some of us have trouble identifying any significant amount of money truly making it to a wounded warrior. Is the demand for their assistance to wounded warriors so little that the organization is finding it difficult to disburse the $285,800,000 they how have retained unallocated in their net worth and the new $28,000,000 now in the WWLT Support Trust?

Beware of advertising that is just too appealing.

Henry Royer

Cedar Rapids