CHICAGO (AP) — A newspaper report says a for-profit telemarketing company raised roughly $5 million at Chicago area call centers for U.S. charities, but the charities received a fraction of the money.
The Chicago Tribune cites government records covering 2008 to 2014. It found Safety Publications Inc. gave nonprofits dealing with causes including children’s health 15 cents of each dollar. Many charities spent on overhead, leaving little for those in need.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office accused the company through civil court allegations of misleading the public, failing to file required documents and hiring felons as callers despite an Illinois law prohibiting it.
Company officials said in a statement that professional fundraisers are heavily regulated and Safety Publications works hard to comply with Illinois laws and in other states where it solicits