United way? (King: mattress, look for a job, buy)

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

With all due respect, I wholeheartedly disagree with your broad swipe at the growing group of people who choose not to donate through a well paid middle-man. Did you see where the head of the Charlotte chapter pulls down more money than the head of the Chicago chapter? Is there a reason why a non-profit leader needs to earn the same as blue-chip CEO's? This one is a stretch, but since the Pope doesn't make that kind of money, is he less effective as the leader of a non-profit organization?

Let's be real. The UW has been riding the donations wave for a long time and they've made a pretty good living for themselves on the backs of the donors. Well, thanks to the economy and a plethora of various people willing to take your hard-earned dollars (rising costs of everything!), we are now growing very cognizant of how our money is spent. Sure, many of us want to give to charity; we're just seeing that we need to cut out the middle-man.

The UW not only sets the bar for this, but rubs it in our faces trying to defend it. Well, no thanks; I'm not one of the one's PT Barnum talked about in his famous quote.

I agree totally Stripes. As I said, my parents had no idea that they were dealing with them. They had contacted a company that advertises on television as a business not a charity. The whole thing was shady.

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

With all due respect, I wholeheartedly disagree with your broad swipe at the growing group of people who choose not to donate through a well paid middle-man. Did you see where the head of the Charlotte chapter pulls down more money than the head of the Chicago chapter? Is there a reason why a non-profit leader needs to earn the same as blue-chip CEO's? This one is a stretch, but since the Pope doesn't make that kind of money, is he less effective as the leader of a non-profit organization?

Let's be real. The UW has been riding the donations wave for a long time and they've made a pretty good living for themselves on the backs of the donors. Well, thanks to the economy and a plethora of various people willing to take your hard-earned dollars (rising costs of everything!), we are now growing very cognizant of how our money is spent. Sure, many of us want to give to charity; we're just seeing that we need to cut out the middle-man.

The UW not only sets the bar for this, but rubs it in our faces trying to defend it. Well, no thanks; I'm not one of the one's PT Barnum talked about in his famous quote.

I didn't make reference to people who donate and their decision to stop or not even begin. My point was why and how people determine what a "lot of money is"- particularly for a salary not whether you should or shouldn't give to a non-profit. Regarding this article on the Charlotte UW CEO, most people seem to have stopped at the million dollar salary and declared it a travesty. I do agree with you that because the middle class is squeezed (as they've always been) that we're now more sensitive about where our money goes. Yet no one really has discussed what the CEO does or brings to the table, how the compensation is broken up, what % of the money is spent on actually services, etc. All of that is relevant to the discussion.

Why shouldn't non-profit leaders make as much as they can make? I believe everyone should make as much as they can make and the "market" will tolerate. After all this is a free market economy.

It's the same salary envy that pro athletes, entertainers, and the like face.

[businessperson]

I was driving down Johnston Road thru Ballantyne today and saw a young man standing by the side of the road with a "hungry and homeless" sign. It broke my heart. The CEO of the United Way should be forced to face this man and tell him why she deserves the exorbanant salary she gets and why United Way can't provide him with sufficient food and shelter. As our economy worsens we will see more of this and I think overpaid CEOs of "non-profit" organizations should have to face some tough questions as to why they don't have the funds to help.

[XNYgirl]

I hope they present this when they do their beggin in October. I think a million is excessive. Red Cross pays alot to their ceo or what ever they are called.

That million could have helped families in need. Such a sad story.

[charlotteengr]

I don't understand why more people are not outraged!! They say they only take 15 to 20%. For what? Paying big salaries to pay for fancy clothes and cars.

This is like a criminal organization. Skimming 15% is probably an acceptable practice. The organizations cannot say much in protest to this salary otherwise Ms King would probably cut off the money to them.

[charlotteengr]

Originally Posted by businessperson

I was driving down Johnston Road thru Ballantyne today and saw a young man standing by the side of the road with a "hungry and homeless" sign. It broke my heart. The CEO of the United Way should be forced to face this man and tell him why she deserves the exorbanant salary she gets and why United Way can't provide him with sufficient food and shelter. As our economy worsens we will see more of this and I think overpaid CEOs of "non-profit" organizations should have to face some tough questions as to why they don't have the funds to help.

I sincerely believe that Ms King and the United Way organization does not give spit for the homeless man. There criteria is to raise money so they can get their cut. How sad. Am I wrong. Is so I apologize. I am retired and would gladly do the job to 20K a year (gas money) just to help people.

[SunnyKayak]

base on the latest post it reiterates my point I think I made earlier in thread.
The United Way is to help other people and groups find out what groups they assist and give directly to that group.

Charlotte has loads of churches and many of them help our society and it a good source to use to help those in need

[Chef Giorgio]

Originally Posted by Miker2069

I didn't make reference to people who donate and their decision to stop or not even begin. My point was why and how people determine what a "lot of money is"- particularly for a salary not whether you should or shouldn't give to a non-profit. Regarding this article on the Charlotte UW CEO, most people seem to have stopped at the million dollar salary and declared it a travesty. I do agree with you that because the middle class is squeezed (as they've always been) that we're now more sensitive about where our money goes. Yet no one really has discussed what the CEO does or brings to the table, how the compensation is broken up, what % of the money is spent on actually services, etc. All of that is relevant to the discussion.

Why shouldn't non-profit leaders make as much as they can make? I believe everyone should make as much as they can make and the "market" will tolerate. After all this is a free market economy.

It's the same salary envy that pro athletes, entertainers, and the like face.

Why??!! Because it is a non-profit organization precisely. UW does not manufacture anything, neither sell you a service, or even entertain you as an actor or athlete would if I attend an sporting event (and to make it as an actor or athlete is not the easiest thing in the world anyway).

I too for a moment thought maybe this news was harder to swallow b/c this lady belongs to a minority and for being a woman, but I have to say that is a bunch of bs. If anything I feel she may have used that to shield herself of any criticism in the local community.

I would be EMBARRASSED to make this much money serving (I need to underscore that last word) a non profit organization. If she is so qualified to hold a CEO position and she must make the big $$$, well then she needs to apply for a position in the private sector.

It is very telling to me that despite the fact this story could be incredibly devastiting to their cause the UW, or Ms. King for that matter, have not gone out to the public, at least trying to PR their way out of this mess by say having Ms. King contribute a sizeable chunk to charity. Really, where is she hiding? This is an abomination whichever way you slice it. Instead they hired a PR group which did nothing but make it worse by coming out with some bs story about her compensation, and mailed us a notice thanking us for our contributions. I wonder how much did all that cost!!!

It hurts more not only b/c of the times but b/c of their horrible tactics to get this money from the hard working class itself. I guess that is part of her terrific qualifications that explain her outrageous salary and compensation package. I mean folks, why can't she contribute money towards her retirement fund like the rest of us, esp making that much $$$ already!! Arrrgggh, disgusting really. I will not contribute a dime to UW ever again.

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by Chef Giorgio

Why??!! Because it is a non-profit organization precisely. UW does not manufacture anything, neither sell you a service, or even entertain you as an actor or athlete would if I attend an sporting event (and to make it as an actor or athlete is not the easiest thing in the world anyway).

I too for a moment thought maybe this news was harder to swallow b/c this lady belongs to a minority and for being a woman, but I have to say that is a bunch of bs. If anything I feel she may have used that to shield herself of any criticism in the local community.

I would be EMBARRASSED to make this much money serving (I need to underscore that last word) a non profit organization. If she is so qualified to hold a CEO position and she must make the big $$$, well then she needs to apply for a position in the private sector.

It is very telling to me that despite the fact this story could be incredibly devastiting to their cause the UW, or Ms. King for that matter, have not gone out to the public, at least trying to PR their way out of this mess by say having Ms. King contribute a sizeable chunk to charity. Really, where is she hiding? This is an abomination whichever way you slice it. Instead they hired a PR group which did nothing but make it worse by coming out with some bs story about her compensation, and mailed us a notice thanking us for our contributions. I wonder how much did all that cost!!!

It hurts more not only b/c of the times but b/c of their horrible tactics to get this money from the hard working class itself. I guess that is part of her terrific qualifications that explain her outrageous salary and compensation package. I mean folks, why can't she contribute money towards her retirement fund like the rest of us, esp making that much $$$ already!! Arrrgggh, disgusting really. I will not contribute a dime to UW ever again.

So what I see here is that most people want someone who will work for little to nothing or free, but still have the credentials to run and direct an enterprise level organization, savvy enough to create and structure corporate, lead a staff of quality directors, and do all this for free. We're not talking about the volunteers at the goodwill store, or possibly that's who we all want running these corporations.

[Chef Giorgio]

Originally Posted by Miker2069

So what I see here is that most people want someone who will work for little to nothing or free, but still have the credentials to run and direct an enterprise level organization, savvy enough to create and structure corporate, lead a staff of quality directors, and do all this for free. We're not talking about the volunteers at the goodwill store, or possibly that's who we all want running these corporations.

$345,000 is not nothing in my book. Plus it's got to be your calling as well if you decide to serve the community and be a leader in non-profit organization, and thus you should know that such compensation will not be the same as those in the private sector.

I mean people don't become pastors or preists with just $$$ in your mind. It is a matter of principle.

$345,000/yr should be considered a pretty good salary that should not require such additional retirement benefit pkgs to exceed $1million, but well if you want to keep contributing to Ms. King's fund you are entitled to.