is kars4kids a legitimate charity

- they claimed they did not sell my address to other junk-mailing third parties but refused to explain their business process for the handling of the mailing list to verify that their claim had any substance Most likely in New Jersey, but this may not be limited to several select locations. SHAME ON YOU! Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Kars4Kids. This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us. I will wait to see if anything comes of it, but I am not paying the invoice. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH INVOLVES SCHOOL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP OUR YOUTH INTO PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. The POA does not mention their agency at all on the paperwork. I called a half dozen times and could not get the operation's auction person on the phone. Yet its not illegal to any extent, but goes to show you that these cars arent going to people in need how you were told they would. The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. I was going to give my car to Kars4Kids and cancelled the pick up. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.). Evelyn Kanter is Editor of SeniorsSkiing, which focuses on the 50+ outdoor enthusiast. Or that the bulk of donation funds are transferred to relatives of the charity which gets your money. - they refused to allow me to discuss my complaint with anyone higher than the help desk assistant manager. Kars4Kids gets a measly three stars out of five rating from Charity Navigator, in part for using nearly one-third of its income just under 33% for fund-raising, no independent board members and no audited financial statements on the website so contributors know where the money goes. Remember, if you receive and accept something in return for your donation your donation is reduced by the value you received. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. Thank You, Tired of hearing that lovely jingle for such a crooked charity. Charity Navigator - Rating for Kars4Kids There was also, only 1% of the money that was raised that is actually promised by Kars4Kids that went to Minnesota that went toward local programs. According to our analysis, Kars4Kids appears to be offering travel services on their website. It's free. As reported by charities on their IRS Form 990, this measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on overhead, administrative staff and associated costs, and organizational meetings. WHAT?!?!? If you wish to donate, please refresh the page. Supreme Court strikes down Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning "Little Miss Sunshine" actor, dies at 89, Supreme Court sides with designer who declines to make same-sex wedding websites, Hundreds arrested as France rocked by new protests over police killing, "America's Most Wanted" suspect in 1984 killing returned to Florida, Political consultant gets 24 years in colleague's murder as motive is revealed, Man with weapons and Jan. 6 warrant arrested after running toward Obamas' D.C. home, Iowa woman who lost home in tornado wins $2 million lottery, "Compassion man" leaves behind message legacy of empathy, Kars4Kids charity misleads donors, report says. Sell your vehicle and donate directly to the charity of your choice, this organization is a total scam. This is one admission that missing from this page. When it comes to Kars4Kids, it specifically helps Jewish youth and their families. OUR WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO IMPACT EVERY ASPECT OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ACADEMIC TO THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL. The Easiest Way to Donate a Car in Under 2 Minutes - Kars4Kids Hub 1. Financial statements for two nonprofits associated with Kars 4 Kids show the charity lost more than $5 million on real estate investments in 2010. They then go on to state that if I do not handle this immediately they will be abandoning the car and any legal issues that arise will be my problem. What a couple of THIEVES!!! Ninety percent of the monies donated go to a sister organization,Oorah,a New Jersey-based charity that operates Jewish youth summer camps in New York. Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations - Consumer Reports Whether you are donating a vehicle, household furnishings or money, always check the charitys rating first with one of the charity rating services. This will surely increase the credibility of your complaint. I donated a car to them and totally regret it. (Less). The Upshot: Kars4Kids, Not a Scam By pricing the vehicle for $500 or less there is no paper trail/work that has to be presented to the IRS. These investments are reportedly all tax write-offs for Oorah, and further raises the question of what these charities are doing with their donations from charitable Americans. In this case, we deduct 15 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. It might sell for a lot lower than you expect it to be worth, and thats not counting the number of times it can be resold at other auto auctions after that. The committee provides an important oversight layer between the management of the organization, which is responsible for the financial information reported, and the independent accountant, who reviews the financials and issues an opinion based on its findings. Countless other groups get peanuts for their underfunded youth programs. But this is where the Oorah nonprofit organization starts to get murky as well. Obviously, 99 percent is stolen for the people who work the system. See the metrics below for more information. Kars4Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that states that its mission is "to fund educational, developmental and recreational programs for low-income youth" through programs largely facilitated by its sister charity Oorah, which focuses on Jewish children and families. 1. Most of the $30 million that Kars4Kids / Oorah takes in is used to support founder Eli Mintz elaborate lifestyle. If I give a dollar I want at the very least .75 cents going to charity. Please keep us posted. They will provide a tax deduction certificate that is given within 3-6 weeks of any vehicle donation that can be claimed on your year-end tax write-offs. While there is nothing wrong with paying for a widespread advertisement for their charity, some states have begun to question their legitimacy. Kars4kids overall areas of activity consist of educational programming, school placement, tuition assistance, mentorship programs, cultural activities, weekend retreats, religious instruction, summer camps, recreation and guidance counseling. Contact us for car donation advise & fair market value estimation. Our analysts check the charity's website to see if the organization has a donor privacy policy in place and what it does and does not cover. accept donations in return for tax deduction claims, 10 Best Car Donations for Veterans Charity Reviews and Donor Guide, 11 Best Ways on How to Get Rid of a Car That Doesnt Run. ? Ive just found these ads to be questionable, who donates cars, real estate etc?? Dont hold your breath about getting a 2 night hotel. $ 50.00 Refund Check # 1063 dated 04/28/21, donation process/ lack of donation voucher, I donated my 2004 bayliner 205br with trailer, Value of Vehicle Donation for Tax reporting, Read full review of Kars4Kids and 2 comments. I have attached a copy of the Blue Book value of your vehicle for a trade in." "That's fine if people want to raise money for orthodox Jews, but they need to be clear and state that's what the purpose is," Borochoff said. Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has these governance practices in place. Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization makes this information easily accessible. When I complained that they took my belongings without giving me a receipt and that I Share your photos and videos with others to prove the truth of your words. Initially just got a email receipt for $500 without my VIN or anything to identify my vehicle. Car Donation Title Transfer in California. Kars4kids is recognized by the IRS as a licensed and registered 501 (c)3 charity. I have donated other (2) vehicles to other organizations but this time I felt ripped off and had to say something. Please refresh the page Its certainly okay to donate to a charity that runs summer camps for youths of a particular religion in a particular state so long as thats where you want your donation money to go. Is Kars4Kids a legitimate charity? I choose them because I didn't have the actual printed title and didn't want to go thru the hassle of getting it. The same thing may happen with another business but sometimes the devil you don't know is better than the devil you do know. Here are some warning signs that you should be looking out for: Kars4Kids' success has been built on a proven track record, both in its car donation practices and its charitable work. Land stolen from indigenous Palestinian people, villages once farmed by these innocent Arabs are now, bulldozed and made way for settlements. PS Thank you for your service to society. I asked them how, they couldnt give me a straight answer. Hope we could somehow reorganize the original Cars for Kids, and destroy the one spelled with the K. When I start to hear their ad on Fox channel, I simply turn it off. With our inclusive, big-picture approach, we bring together home, school and community to make a lasting positive impact on our children. Please don't donate to Kars4Kids : r/Scams - Reddit Goal Three: Ensure recruitment and hiring practices are agile and adequate for attracting and retaining the talent necessary to fulfill our mission, The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development. If the vehicle is in good working order, youll do better selling it yourself, or donate it to a legitimate charity like Salvation Army or Volunteers of America, which will give your vehicle to a poor person who needs transportation to get a job. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars, smart spending and frugal living by subscribing. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is taking aim at Kars4Kids, a New Jersey charity that spent less than one percent of the $3 million it raised from Minnesota donors on charitable. - they claimed that they were in compliance with regulations about the handling of personal information but refused to specify what regulations they complied with to verify that claim Kars4Kids has over 500,000 satisfied donors and can quickly take your car off your hands. "I think it's important when people donate to a charity, that they have information in terms of where their money is going," said Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. Scam Alert: Kars4Kids Car Donation Charity, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), ecoXplorer Year in Review: Top Stories of 2019. no audited financials on its website so donors know where the money goes.. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/223746050_201812_990_2019071116477182.pdf, Best Viewing Spots for Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, Free Hotel Rooms for Cancer Patients & Caregivers, Where to Eat in Times Square & Theater District at Local Restaurants Not National Chains, Mad Men's Jon Hamm is New Voice of Mercedes-Benz Commercials. Best Items to Donate to an Animal Shelter, Donors Prefer Charities that Earn All Four Beacons. Madeline Filion, Desired outcome: Part of our goal in rating the financial performance of charities is to help donors assess the financial capacity and sustainability of a charity. The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission. KARS4KIDS CAR DONATION - 15 Photos & 145 Reviews - Los Angeles - Yelp This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER A GENERATION OF WELL-BALANCED, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS. Can I Donate Car with Expired Registration? Auto Boat/PWC RV Motorcycle Other What kind of car? We're a registered nonprofit Jewish organization who, together with our sister charity Oorah, help thousands of children develop into productive members of the community. As for Minnesota's report, the charity said they have had conversations with the attorney general's office and are reviewing their suggestions. They use the motto: Because kids are our future, which sounds seemingly harmless, but is also telling the truth about what their mission statement is all about. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson at the State Capitol building in St. Paul, Minn., on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Thats how such scam coupons work. Many of them have a very specific focus on who they directly help. We would like to be removed from this as we have not owned the vehicle in over a year and have let the DMV know. Just received a bill from their towing company for $350 to cover towing and storage! They can be cars, trucks, boats, and not limited to land or property. Waiting for your respond. What is Kars4Kids - What Does Kars4Kids Do? They also assert that Kars4Kids raised 88 million nationally between the years of 2012 to 2014. The Minnesota Attorney-Generalaccused Kars4Kids of spending just $12,000 on programs for Minnesota kids after raising some $3 million in the state, and neglecting to tell donors it turns over 90% of money left over after advertising and other expenses to another non-profit with a narrow religious and geographical focus in another state, thousands of miles away from Minnesota. Even though we can't use the Kelley Blue Book for the receipt, we do use it to get an idea of how much the car would sell for at the auction. For one thing, their motto says everything you need to know about what Kars4Kids is all about. This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. You are better off selling Old Breakdown yourself for parts and scrap, and donating the profits directly to a legitimate childrens charity, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Childrens Miracle Network or the Special Olympics. Our organizational culture is very focused on growing ambitious and capable individual contributors who are dedicated to the mission into higher level management, executive and less formal leadership roles. Apparently the original Cars for Kids was an honest charity, but this one that is spelled with a K, Kars for Kids is totally a scam scheme. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Where the cars go after that, depends on who the buyers of these cars happen to be. Maybe Hes misinformed. tow which is kars for kids responsibility. I have to mute the tv, or radio when this comes on. Pennsylvania also fined JOY $40,000 for their misleading practices. A convenience for them but a problem for you. It is an Orthodox Jewish charity. And the ratio is likely to be similar in the many other states where it advertises for donations. Most likely for car collectors to see before an auction takes place. The well-known Kars4Kids' jingle makes a simple request, "donate your car today" and has weathered the wrath of comics. If the charity does report a diversion, then we check to see if it complied with the Form 990 instructions by describing what happened and its corrective action. In the case of a dealer, the charity generally receives a flat fee per car, sometimes as little as $45 per car. I wish I had read these Comments before I donated my car. If a vehicle is not working, broken down, or wrecked, Kars4Kids will accept these vehicles too. Kars4Kids has earned a 73% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Why has nothing been done. It's free. Keep me posted. The orthodox are very different though. As we continue following the money trail, we find ourselves scratching our heads about how Kars4Kids lost 5 million dollars in real estate investments. I said that was ridiculous and I wanted my boat back. First of all, we need to look at one state that is upset about the misrepresentation of their charity guidelines. They picked up my 1996 GMC Suburban promptly after my wife called. This also gave them the ability to offer what is called the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization classification. Charites that contact me every 60 days with a slick mailer I will not give to. This is a far cry from a charity that allows you to claim a tax benefit. One of the key aspects of this 501 (c) (3) car donation charity is that they operate their own auctions, so no money is wasted in middlemen fees, and all the proceeds from their auctions can directly benefit their key programs. The Minnesota report also says that Oorah lost close to $10 million in failed real estate investments, by a cousin of a Kars4Kids/Oorah executive. The point of this article is to show that this charity spends less than 30 cents, the rest going to advertising. Then again, its hard to miss the part where other similar-sounding charities arent partnered with a very obvious Oorah sister nonprofit thats set up for Orthodox Jewish youth only. This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission. Its beyond a scam since its making them money. There are plenty of A-rated charities which are transparent about how they use donation money, and dont spend half of what they raise on non-stop radio and TV commercials. Also follow my NYC website, NYC Travel Guru, Filed Under: Scam Alert Tagged With: car donation scams, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, Kars4Kids. This sounds a bit odd since its not beneficial to anyone outside their charity to be given a car- as a volunteer. The company provides a physical address, 2 phone numbers, and 2 emails, as well as 4 social media accounts. In hindsight, their motto wasnt lying at all since they are talking about their kids being the future. I am going thru the same thing with them. So the money goes to a particular religious group. Some of which begin with innocent misleading commercials of kids singing. Software & Services Kars For Kids Kars For Kids Reviews ( 2 reviews ) Website: www.Kars4Kids.org Write a Review Kars For Kids is a non-profit organization found online at Kars4Kids.org which says their mission is to give children the opportunities and support they need to develop into productive members of their community. Dividing a charity's average administrative expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. The Minnesota Attorney-General accused Kars4Kids of spending just $12,000 on programs for Minnesota kids after raising some $3 million in the state, and neglecting to tell donors it turns over 90% of money left over after advertising and other expenses to another non-profit with a narrow religious and geographical focus in another state, thousan. Donors can be reluctant to contribute to a charity when their name, address, or other basic information may become part of donor lists that are exchanged or sold, resulting in an influx of charitable solicitations from other organizations. Hi, My name is Norma Macias. The issue here is transparency or lack of it. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Something about this whole process has left me feeling like this is more of a scam than a service to actually help people. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation . He went to the truck supposedly to get the receipt but they drove quickly away instead. The tower gives us an invoice at the end of the month for all the cars combined. They do not give back to the community whatsoever. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting, Plus $49,000 of Compensation from Affliates. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. WRONG! And it seems that many people here are really not realistic -- your car was 20 years old at the time you donated it; how much do you really think a 20 year old car is worth, especially one that is not in perfect condition? Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. No one returned my calls. According to the Minnesota attorney general, between 2012 and 2014, Kars4Kids raised $3 million in the state through car donations. Its a Jewish organization, I get that. The simple answer is no, you cannot. We looked up Kars4Kids and found that the website is receiving a high amount of traffic. I made the mistake of donation to this so-called K4KThey are a bunch of Banana nose's ripping people off-and ride on the tails of IRS-claiming you are allowed to claim fair market value (up to 500 dollarsWhat a joke ! If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. I donated my vehicle in August to Kars4Kids. One thing for sure is that this is not a legal tax deduction, and isnt part of vehicle charity whatsoever. A grant for a whopping total of $350.00 is hard to imagine, especially since the Oorah youth camp receives several million per year for their teaching programs. Apr 17, 2023 8:09 am EDT Verified customer Featured review Kars for kids vacation voucher We donated a car to kars for kids and received a vacation voucher. I regret donating my car to them. The two top charity watchdog and rating groups Charity Navigator and Charity Watch both give Kars4Kids low-to-failing ratings, for disguising the purpose of donations, and because of the costly non-stop 1-877-Kars4Kids commercials with the appeal to donate your car today. This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Absolute cockroaches. I am now receiving emails that they will abandon the vehicle and I will be held liable after they accepted the vehicle months ago and I have a receipt of their tow company accepting the vehicle and copy of the vehicle title I signed. They are definately spending more on advertising and office overhead than they are applying to the charity. This sort of thing is a common way for people to get rid of non-working cars, since they'll just come and tow it away without a hassle. Actually doing what they stated they would in the beginning and processing the paperwork. I donated my car on September 28th. While they do make a point of mentioning that these donated cars are being sold for scrap and through private auctions. Why is Kars4Kids a legitimate charity? Costly and Continuous Kars4Kids Ads Disguise Charity's Real Purpose I have no dislike of the Jewish faith. With all of these possibilities aside, as a nonprofit organization is liable for, you can claim a deduction for donating your vehicle. The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission. Child and Family Assistance. If people do claim this voucher, there are additional taxes, fees, and terms of use under the COVID-19 state of emergency laws that apply. If not find another charity. And if you do, dont be surprised that the conditions attached prevent you from using it, or if the hotel did not authorize the coupon and wont accept it. Goal One: Establish streamlined operating systems throughout the organization. Numerous calls from them telling me the vehicle has an outstanding lien on it, its been paid off over 16 years now. Car has been paid off for over ten years. Their commercials go all day long, and one of the hosts in particular praises them, and makes them sound like the best thing that has ever happened for the benefit of kids. This means they can accept donations in return for tax deduction claims. Our Jingle A big part of our national fame and growth is due to the Kars4Kids jingle. Several positive reviews for Kars4Kids have been found on various review sites. This site shows off all of the current cars they have that are waiting to be resold at a private auction. [13] Academies. Tips for Donating a Car to Charity | Charity Ratings | Donating Tips 2010-2023 EcoXplorer by Evelyn Kanter. In other words Kars4Kids used only 1% of donations raised in Minnesota for local programs for Minnesota kids. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. However, new revelations about the charity are no laughing matter. This is at a single US location showing how your donated car will end up here. When I asked if the funds generated from the liquidation of my suv would go towards helping all kids, not just Jewish children, I was told it shouldnt matter who it helps as long as I knew it was helping children. You simply are being stripped of the right to claim a tax deduction! They offer the standard $500 deduction that most nonprofit charities will provide. If you have a car thats worth much more, it needs to be evaluated independently. He said sure, no problem the receipt book is in the truck. If you want another prime example of the ability to not answer the question of their mission statement, read the question underneath labeled: What is Kars4Kids? 3. Aside from growing limitations during the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels arent easy to work with. What this article will help uncover is whether or not Kars4Kids is a real charity or an elaborate scam. When I started my process of donating my car to this organization they made everything seem like a simple process what has unfolded is anything but. "So when one makes a donation to Kars4Kids, they're basically paying for those ads," Borochoff said. They are now stating that there is an error with the title not explaining the error as there is no error and that I need to do a power of attorney to Copart Auction and not them. The Minnesota report says Kars4Kids raised $88 million nationally between 2012 and 2014 from scrapping and selling 160,000 vehicles, and passed nearly half of that, or $40 million, across the office to Oorah. OUR MEANS TO ACCOMP (More)KARS 4 KIDS FUNDS EDUCATIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR JEWISH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. And we think that, too, is something important for people to know," Swanson said. While many travel companies are legitimate, it's important to be cautious and do your research before booking a trip to ensure that you are getting a good deal and not falling victim to a scam. While Kars4Kids has a high level of trust, our investigation has revealed that the company's complaint resolution process is inadequate and ineffective. Enjoy smart fillable fields and interactivity. Kars4Kids Reviews - Is Kars4Kids a Legitimate Charity or a Scam The existence of a privacy policy of any type does not prohibit the charity itself from contacting the donor for informational, educational, or solicitation purposes. The driver called about 20 minutes before pick up. No: This charity either does not have a written donor privacy policy in place to protect their contributors' personal information, or the existing policy does not meet our criteria. Is Kars4Kids a legitimate organization? - Angels Azuloz Kars4Kids Review | Car Donation Reviews By Drive Safely Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain and market changes, the auto industry has been in flux. Public & Local Services Professional Organizations Non-Profit Organization Kars4Kids Car Donation Kars4Kids Car Donation Reviews 5,883 Excellent 4.9 VERIFIED COMPANY www.kars4kids.org Visit this website Write a review 4.9 5,883 total 90% 1% < 1% 1-star < 1% Filter Sort: Most relevant Bob N Kathee Smith 1 review US A day ago A BREEZE Kars4Kids reported its largest program on its FY 2022 Form 990 as: KARS 4 KIDS FUNDS EDUCATIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR JEWISH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. Also, they invested their money in a Ponzi scheme. The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.

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