The New York Attorney General's Charities Bureau reports telemarketers kept on average 61.5 cents of every dollar they raised last year, providing 38.5 cents for the charities themselves. WAMC’s Dave Lucas has more.
The report, issued Friday, shows 602 campaigns brought in almost $240.6 million, with $92.7 million going to the charities, which actually lost money in 76 telemarketing campaigns.
Many campaigns also list large amounts of uncollected pledges.
The report, titled "Pennies for Charity," is based on information from fundraising reports filed with the bureau.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says New Yorkers expect their money to make a difference and not pay for-profit fundraisers.
His office has issued more than a dozen subpoenas in an investigation the agency says is focused on campaigns that repeatedly result in little charity money.
(c) 2012 AP