It was not worth my time to fight with Kars4Kids as I don't need the headache which I am sure they are counting on to get away with these valuations. It seems that one state is upset about their review of mission statements from Kars4Kids, and is being quite vocal about where the proceeds are actually going. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. 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. HERE IS MORE PROOF OF THE SCAM! However, new revelations about the charity are no laughing matter. I'm having the exact same problem. As long as the funds are being used for charitible purposes and not just to pay the CEO a six figure salary I do not see what the problem is? And all it takes is 2 minutes! Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization has these policies in place. DO SOMETHING! ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer. This metric will be assigned to one of the following categories: Full Credit: There has been no diversion of assets within the last two years. I wish I would have donated it to the homeless shelter, at least then I would have felt as good about donating it. The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. (BMF affiliation code: 3). This sounds a bit odd since its not beneficial to anyone outside their charity to be given a car- as a volunteer. The privacy policy must be specific to donor information. Kars4Kids does mention they will sell the car at the amount it sells for at auction, which is another red flag. Family and community support are essential to a child's healthy development. With our inclusive, big-picture approach, we bring together home, school and community to make a lasting positive impact on our children. to try again. Also, they invested their money in a Ponzi scheme. You can use Charity Navigator to find and support thousands of charities that align with your passions and values. Why is Kars4Kids a legitimate charity? So, helping kids sounds goodright? Waiting for your respond. These scammers need shut down and put in jail. 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.). I am quite sick of the kars4kids advertisement on Iheart radio, the former ClearChannel outfit has been under bankruptcy for a couple years and this jingle seems to be a time filler for unsold time when streaming online. Dividing a charity's total liabilities by its total assets yields this percentage. Again, I asked them to be more specific. Any unauthorized copying is strictly prohibited. As do organizations in other sectors, charities must be mindful of their management of total liabilites in relation to their total assets. I knew it was a scam!!! Since they have volunteers in every US state, they can move vehicles wherever they want once you donate your car to them. The reason that Kars4Kids is a legitimate charity goes back to 1995 when they were legally registered as a nonprofit organization. what? Takes 2 minutes. According to the Minnesota attorney general, between 2012 and 2014, Kars4Kids raised $3 million in the state through car donations. If you wish to donate, please refresh the page. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. 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. Our Jingle A big part of our national fame and growth is due to the Kars4Kids jingle. SAFETY NOTICE: ComplaintsBoard has analyzed Kars4Kids and determined that it has perfect credibility and is completely trustworthy, with a legitimacy rating of 91%. Is Kars4Kids a legitimate charity? I was going to give my car to Kars4Kids and cancelled the pick up. The website for Kars4Kids does have a rebuttal of sorts to offer those who are potentially worried about being scammed. . It is a shame. Kars 4 Kids is a charity organization which accepts donations of used cars. This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990. A diversion of assets any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. This is at least, from the perspective of who works in their organization. This is a positive sign, as it indicates that the website has been around for a while and may have a reputation to maintain. you tell me if you think its worth only $1, 800. They said it was too late. "Your car was sold for parts. While they do make a point of mentioning that these donated cars are being sold for scrap and through private auctions. The blue book value of the car is a guide as to what a car could sell for in the retail market but these cars are sold to dealers. $ 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. Stay up to date with the latest news about green travel, green cars and smart spending by subscribing. I am a used car dealer in Massachusetts and was told a few years ago by a large salvage yard in Waltham, Ma that dealt with this charity as the collector and disposal/sales agent for the actual vehicles, that they suspected this was a scam. 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. In this case, we deduct 7 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. Six months later NO SHOW. Thank you so very much for your comment and for being wise enough to find donate your SUV elsewhere when this group did not respond to your questions to your satisfaction. With Kars4Kids, this will happen immediately after you contact us, often even during the initial phone call. There are too many ridiculous restrictions and surcharges on this "freebie.". Our goal is to foster a generation of well-balanced, productive adults. 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. OUR MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH A STRONG NETWORK OF PERSONAL GUIDANCE AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, INDIVIDUALIZED TO THEIR NEEDS. Possible the worst in the history of broadcast advertisement. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. It also funds their education programs set up by Kars4Kids and Oorah. One of the country's largest vehicle donation charities,Kars4Kids, is the subject of a troubling report from Minnesota's attorney general that accuses the non-profit of misleading donors. I would be interested to know if theres anyway the money is going to a political party, I know you cant get tax exemption for political donations but what if one of them found a way around this by using tangible donations they can sell in order to let the donater get tax credit and the party still gets the money!! Where does Kars4Kids money go? . In March of 2021 we donated a vehicle, signing over the title to Kars for Kids and leaving it in the glove box for pick up, as instructed. Your commercials are like dog poo, they stink! One thing for sure is that this is not a legal tax deduction, and isnt part of vehicle charity whatsoever. The point of this article is to show that this charity spends less than 30 cents, the rest going to advertising. Kars4Kids, a non-profit 501(c) three organization, has simplified the car donation process for donors. We looked up Kars4Kids and found that the website is receiving a high amount of traffic. No Credit: The charity did not have its audited financials prepared by an independent accountant. What most people will find odd is that Kars4Kids also allows their cars to be given to volunteers who work for their 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 Opt-out: The charity has a written privacy policy published on its website which enables donors to tell the charity to remove their names and contact information from lists the charity shares or sells. Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer. In other words, they never evaluated my car's worth. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organizations overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned. Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has these governance practices in place. Here are a couple of FAQ's What does Kars4Kids do with the cars? My wife worked in Not- for- profits for over 30 years as a Development Director, so I understand fundraising. 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. Can I Donate Car with Expired Registration? We recorded the jingle in house, keeping production costs low. This could be a sign of a popular and trustworthy website, but it is still important to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of the site before sharing any personal or financial information. 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. Kars4Kids has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. Give the page a little longer to finish In the case of a dealer, the charity generally receives a flat fee per car, sometimes as little as $45 per car. 2. SHAME ON YOU! Kars4Kids is a well-known charity that has made a name for itself through heavy radio and television advertising. You're faster than our page! Or that the bulk of donation funds are transferred to relatives of the charity which gets your money. Was told it was going to auction that weekend. Waiting to see what's next as I see a lot of complaints about additional fees ie. This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH INVOLVES SCHOOL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP OUR YOUTH INTO PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE ADULTS. I agree , what can be done to stop these thieves. Our wide array of services is designed to maximize each facet of a child's development - academic, social and cultural. What Do You Do With the Title When You Donate a Car. Kars4Kids protects their ownership data, a common and legal practice. Desired outcome: 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. Learn more about our criteria and methodology. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customers satisfaction. We've stayed on top of the changes and adapted accordingly to ensure that the funds available for charity use were not impacted. KARS 4 KIDS, INC. FUNDS EDUCATIONAL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR JEWISH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 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. While Kars4Kids has a high level of trust, our investigation has revealed that the company's complaint resolution process is inadequate and ineffective. May 5, 2017 / 6:28 AM Land stolen from indigenous Palestinian people, villages once farmed by these innocent Arabs are now, bulldozed and made way for settlements. 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. 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. It was operational but had just failed my state's annual safety inspection and I decided not to invest in the front steering repairs but donate it hoping that some less fortunate family would benefit rathter than trying to sell it myself. Activation # Z329274 as of May 12, 2021 From Breakaway an e-mailed was send to me that they received my refund request. Just a few minutes worth of google searches will prove that its a total scam. The main argument is that there is very little transparency in how they are using these donations. "Since we are headquartered in the northeast, many of our programs and recipients naturally come from this area," the statement reads. I have called Mrs. Christin at [protected], Mr. Charlie Savin at [protected] and (813) 514-0413 which is the refund department. The car was never retitled and the person to whom they gave the car caused an accident in December. As for Minnesota's report, the charity said they have had conversations with the attorney general's office and are reviewing their suggestions. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. So, the money goes to sending Jewish kids to summer camp and ALSO to Israel trips where they can stay on OCCUPIED land. Since Kars4Kids is also now soliciting donations of real estate, you would be smart to think twice about donating to a group with $10 million worth of failed real estate investments. certificate # 551700 from KID. Americans' confidence in charities is around 60%, with 27% saying that they do not trust charities. Your donation attempt encountered a problem. Call me crazy but don't children of all backgrounds deserve help. Wishful thinking. If you live in Minnesota or Oregon and want to donate your car to support summer camps for Orthodox Jewish children in New Jersey, that is your right. This is one admission that missing from this page. KARS4KIDS CAR DONATION - 15 Photos & 144 Reviews - Los Angeles, California - Community Service/Non-Profit - Phone Number - Yelp Restaurants Auto Services Kars4Kids Car Donation 144 reviews Claimed Community Service/Non-Profit, Donation Center Edit Open Open 24 hours See hours Write a review Add photo Photos & videos See all 15 photos Add photo Youll need to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, scrolling past all the other info to get to the FAQ question: If further informs you that any money made from the sale of your donation goes directly to their organization and family members. 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. 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? What I can present, can perhaps shed more light on what Kars4Kids is really doing? Donate somewhere worthy of your contribution. Or worse yet, your classic car being driven around by one of their executives, who told you it only sold for a couple thousand dollars because the economy is bad. 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. A vehicle can be transported to an out-of-state auction site Kars4Kids prefers to sell through. Even the non orthodox Jewish community cant stand them. Today we received a letter from a lawyer mentioning legal action amounting to nearly $18,000.00 Since the initial invoice in December for towing and storage, Kars for Kids has told us to forward items to them, but we continue to be contacted and this obviously hasn't been resolved. Work [ edit] Kars4Kids offers financial assistance to students to help pay for private school tuition and GED testing. 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. Often at smaller charities, it falls within the responsibilities of the finance committee or the executive committee.) Their biggest defense happens to be the charity name itself since Kars4Kids is spelled with a K and not anything else. loading and try your donation again. Goal One: Establish streamlined operating systems throughout the organization. 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 formed this opinion based on all interactions with the charity If you call them about details of the free vacation or where the car money goes after they sell the cars, they just give you double talk. Just received a bill from their towing company for $350 to cover towing and storage! Don Ruggles of Texarkana. (Aberdeen, Md.) Child and Family Assistance. 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. You may have considered selling your vehicle, but be prepared for the headache, hassle, and time involved in that. It is important to be aware of potential risks and to use caution when accessing or engaging with such content. Maybe Hes misinformed. Most likely in New Jersey, but this may not be limited to several select locations. Partial Credit: The charity's audited financials were prepared by an independent accountant, but it did not have an audit oversight committee. "We believe Minnesota residentsappreciate that their generous donations to Kars4Kids help children both in and out of state.". In the same time frame, Kars 4 Kids spent about . 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. These organizations also supply givers with greater confidence by maintaining broad public support for their programs. They have never sponsored any event where homeless people who need a car to work ever received a car. Simply, the constant advertising eats into the amount of donation money left over to actually run the programs the advertising is promoting for any charity, and Kars4Kids appears to be more guilty than most. How much the Kids get versus the dealers and middle men is concerning. Look at how much real estate the "charity" has purchased in the last few years and now claims "investment . This also gave them the ability to offer what is called the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization classification. Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services. The Minnesota A-G has shared its 300-page report with Attorneys-General in other states and with the IRS, which could revoke Kars4Kids non-profit status if it determines theres outright fraud. Weve seen it before with US Military Veterans charities, and others that help sick and ill children, while others help the homeless and disadvantaged. I am going thru the same thing with them. How Does It Work? Kars4Kids has earned a 73% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. reached via our programs. They are definately spending more on advertising and office overhead than they are applying to the charity. Our means to accomplish this goal is to provide children and their families with a strong network of personal guidance and educational resources, individualized to their needs. But that is not the point of this article. I am Jewish and I also give to Christian groups. How Much Tax Credit Do You Get for Donating a Car? Kars4Kids has claimed the domain name for kars4kids.org for a long time, which suggests that the website is established and has a history of being in operation. Learn more about us. One interesting feature is their website dedicated to classic and collectible cars that have been donated to them. Kudos to you for donating both to Jewish and Christian groups. OUR MEANS TO ACCOMP How to Donate Food and Prevent Food Waste. You also should contact the Frauds office of the Attorney-General in your state. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER A GENERATION OF WELL-BALANCED, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS. This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us. They picked it up and then sent a letter saying there was a lien. They also provide a tax-deductible receipt, vacation coupon, and the warmth of helping children. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. Donating a vehicle thats not working, and not worth the cost to repair, is a cheap way of having somebody else pay to tow it away, to be sold for parts and scrap. They can be cars, trucks, boats, and not limited to land or property. One Car, One Difference . The Nada value was $12, 260-$14, 000. Numerous calls from them telling me the vehicle has an outstanding lien on it, its been paid off over 16 years now. 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. A convenience for them but a problem for you. You dont have any control over its appraised value, or getting what the car is worth at market value. Initially just got a email receipt for $500 without my VIN or anything to identify my vehicle. Countless other groups get peanuts for their underfunded youth programs. Follow the simple instructions below: Have you been searching for a fast and practical solution to complete 990 Form - Kars4Kids at a reasonable price? However, in many cases donated cars will be sold en masse, either by the charity itself or by a dealer to raise funds for the charity. 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. While there is nothing wrong with paying for a widespread advertisement for their charity, some states have begun to question their legitimacy. 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. I live in the town next to Lakewood Nj. In 2009, Kars4Kids paid settlements in Oregon and Pennsylvania after those states charged the charity with misleading donors. The ditty ends with: "We're a. Enjoy smart fillable fields and interactivity. - they refused to allow me to discuss my complaint with anyone higher than the help desk assistant manager. We check the charity's last two Forms 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets. Not once in this snippet of information do they mention they are helping people directly outside their organization. Please enter valid email address to continue. 1. OUR WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO IMPACT EVERY ASPECT OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ACADEMIC TO THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL. And we think that, too, is something important for people to know," Swanson said. Only just a few minutes ago i was watching MSNBC when an ad came on for Kars for Kids. What this article will help uncover is whether or not Kars4Kids is a real charity or an elaborate scam. They are breaking with the tax-exempt status by offering vacation vouchers. This measure reflects what a charity spends to raise money. "My main concern about Kars4Kids is that people don't know what's really happening with this charity," said Daniel Borochoff, the president of CharityWatch. Best Items to Donate to an Animal Shelter, Donors Prefer Charities that Earn All Four Beacons. Kars4Kids is well known to attorneys general in Oregon and Pennsylvania who investigated the charity for leading donors to think the charity benefited a broad group of children, not a "narrow. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Do not make up your mind based on an infectuous radio or TV jingle you hear over and over and over. See the metrics below for more information. When I called dispatch, they said that their drivers don't carry receipts. The tower gives us an invoice at the end of the month for all the cars combined. How to fill out and sign vii online? Texas Can! I wouldnt mind but they are the one who promise it, so I now insist on it. - 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 Not the answer I was looking for!! You dont even have to do a lot of research. While Kars4Kids advertises and accepts vehicle donations in all 50 states, its sister non-profit, Oorah receives 90% of operating funds. Have you contacted the police to make a report? PS Thank you for your service to society. OUR WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE EACH FACET OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT - ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL.KARS 4 KIDS'S 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. The POA does not mention their agency at all on the paperwork. Most likely for car collectors to see before an auction takes place. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting, Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website, Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website. Full Credit: The charity's audited financials were prepared by an independent accountant with an audit oversight committee. Kars4kids is recognized by the IRS as a licensed and registered 501 (c)3 charity. If you're thinking of donating to them, please reconsider, do your research (I did mine too late). Like much else at Kars4Kids, the jingle is thanks to a small group of creative volunteers who composed the lyrics and set it to its catchy tune. Do some research on kars4kids and you may realise its 1 of the biggest scams going. 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.
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is kars4kids a legitimate charity
