Joseph, I'm baffled- your reply to anon employee doesn't match his comments at all. I'm a new employee (an ex ministry teacher & former seminary student, NOT an ex convict) who just looked at the dates (several years old) on all these other comments from those we called & former employees. Perhaps this info was true back then, but if so things have changed & this isn't how things are at Statewide Appeal NOW.
For anyone complaining that they are on a Do Not call list and keep getting called by Statewide Appeals, read this!
They are not restricted by the DNC list, because they aren't telemarketers, per say. they are a fundraising "non-profit", so they don't participate in the DNC program..
It sucks, but you just have to adamantly say that you want taken off their list, and hope they really take you off...
I received a call from Statewide Appeal saying they were collecting funds for the State Police fundraiser in my state (Pennsylvania). After I listened to the gentleman's (and I use that word loosely) pitch for money, I asked him how much of every dollar donated went to the State Police Charities. He responded by saying that 17% goes to the charity. When I told him that that was not acceptable, he replied that the rest of the funds covered the telemarketing costs. Since I was at my computer when he called, I quickly googled "Statewide Appeal" and found that they were not listed with the BBB. I asked him why. He said because they were a non-profit, having some experience with non profits and for profits, I then asked for the EIN number, which must be listed with the IRS and must be made available on request, I also asked afor the non profit info listed with the IRS. He hung up! My advice to any call concerning fundraising is this: Ask the questions, google if you are near a computer, tell them you would be happy to look over all information if they will mail it to you. Chances are most of these parasites won't do it.
They don't bother to waste time talking to people that don't have money to donate, but are obviously just trying to be annoying, so yeah they tend to just hang up on calls like yours.
I'm an actual member of the organization that State Wide Appeal raises funds for. All of the individuals on this forum have a lot of negative feedback about the company who raises funds on behalf of the TSTA. For a moment, Please put the percentage of your donation that makes it to the TSTA aside for a moment. Lets think about the amount of funds that are raised year round for the TSTA. The amount of money that actually makes it to the TSTA for the two campaign drives that are called for is substantial. The amount of good that your money does for hard working officers like my self is above and beyond what we even expect. We get help in a lot of different areas that are not provided by the state. And your thinking "Don't my taxes pay for this?" Now while that is a good question, the amount of help we get from the state is minimal at best. The TSTA provides us with up to date training on the latest crime prevention techniques, legal assistance should there be a situation that we get involved with on the job. Membered Officers also receive financial assistance in times of crisis or need which includes if we get injured and cannot work. God forbid we make the ultimate sacrifice and lose our lives protecting the community, I have the peace of mind knowing that my family will be taken care of. I thank each and every person that helps to give me that. There is no greater gift that I could ask for. For all of the individuals who have something negative to say, stop being ignorant, do your research, then if you still want to say something negative, by all means feel free. Again, those of you who actually put aside all of the negatives and find it in your heart to focus on the positives to help out men and women who are Membered Officers with the TSTA, We thank you!