happykayaker’s Recent Comments

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  Open the financial books!

  Research your organization before you put your money on the table!  I'm currently "shopping" for an offsetting program and found that for 2005, carbonfund.org:

  -Had $39,421 in revenue.
  -Spent $12,625 to directly offset carbon emissions.
  -Spent $16,242 on education programs, press releases, and developing their website.

  In other words:
  -32% of their revenue directly mitigates CO2 emissions
  -68% of their revenue goes into developing their company and educating the public on carbon neutrality (including developing their website and issuing PR statements about their role in balancing CO2 emissions)

  That means that for 2005, 32 cents of every dollar you donate was applied directly to reducing CO2 emissions.  The other 68 cents went to PR and education (which means paying for their website, educating the public, issuing press releases about their company, and so on.)

  Check it carbonfund.org and other non-profits on guidestar.org.

  Is 32% a high enough number?  You have to make up your own mind.  But when you do, keep in mind that start-ups like this one need capital to build their own internal structure for the first couple of years.  And it costs money to print brochures, develop materials, and spread the word.  Eventually, I'd HOPE that 32% would AT LEAST double. (Some mature non-profits spend 70%+ of their revenue on "direct services."On Fee to be carbon free posted 2 years, 11 months ago 7 Responses