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May 25, 2013
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Bulletin Boards -> Anything Else -> Charity Running Programs - What Do You Think

Message Category: Anything Else
Topic: Charity Running Programs - What Do You Think
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 		TNT's Overhead Costs
Lee
11/26/05 7:27:33 PM ET

During the early days of charity running, I had a discussion a TNT runner during which I asked him why he had not entered a fine little marathon I knew to be within 50 miles of his New Hampshire home instead of having the Leuekemia Society pay his way and that of his wife (who also was a charity runner) to Alaska to run in a marathon there. If they had run the local marathon the only expense to the Leuekemia Society would have been their entry fees and perhaps a little gas money thus allowing nearly all of the funds they raised to go to the leukemia programs. In attempting to defend his actions my correspondent was nice enough to supply the figures for the costs for his trip. He noted that he and his wife actually raised more than the minimum amount, that they shopped ahead for the best airline fares, and that as a couple they shared a room during their FOUR nights of paid lodging where generally charity runners require a room each. Even with the extra funds raised and the cost cutting measures, however, the cost for the Leukemia Society came to 26% of the funds they raised. This is not too far from the 25% claimed by some other posters to be the overhead limit established by TNT. However, contrary to what these posters stated, the cost of the TNT training program and administrative expenses were IN ADDITION to this 26%. I also pointed out that for an individual runner who just met the minimum fund raising requirement, required an individual room, and did not shop for the best airline rates (probably a more typical situation than his), the overhead cost would be about 32% of the funds raised, again plus the cost of the training program and TNT administrative expenses. I also mentioned to him that among the over 1000 charities included in our local United Way annual drive, the number with overhead expenses for fund raising of less than 5% was greater those with expenses in the 26 to 32% range and that in fact, very few charities had overhead fundraising expenses over 20%. I received no further communications from the TNT runner. Perhaps since that time the TNT runner, the Leukemia Society has taken actions, such as paying for only two hotel nights, to hold overhead to only 25% of the money raised. I also recognize that there are charity runners, such as some who have posted on this issue, who do chose marathons near their home or pay their own expenses. But the fact remains, in some cases at least 25 % of the monety a TNT runner raises could be going to pay for a nice running vacation for that runner. Now if the runner makes it clear to his or her donors that at least 25 cents out of every dollar they donate is going to send the runner on a vacation at a location that perhaps the donor his or herself can't afford to go to and if the donors are O.K. with that, then I have no problem with this. But I am skeptical that all TNT runners are that upfront and honest with their potential donors.

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