WESTFIELD – In a world of fraudulent charity organizations and anonymous, digital advertising, you can never be too careful who you donate to, even if your money appears to be going to a good cause.
A Westfield resident, who preferred to remain unnamed, recently reported that he received a call from a non-profit identifying itself as the New England Veterans Liberty House (NEVLH). The group was asking for donations. The suggested method of contribution was for the donor to tape an envelope with a check to their front door. The resident decided to donate $50, stating that the organization presented itself as a local charity.
The next day, the envelope was gone. On the front steps was a receipt from the NEVLH, listing its office in Methuen, a town north of Boston on the Massachusetts and New Hampshire line.
The charity has a website where they have posted their mission statement: “New England Veteran Liberty House is an organization of veterans serving veterans by providing a safety net of life, health and safety services, without cost or wait. We stand behind the ones that stood up for us.”
Their only office is listed as being located in Lawrence, a city that shares borders with Methuen.
Michael Cunningham, Chairman of the Veterans Protection Committee, a watchdog committee on veteran non-profits, at the Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association (MVSOA) acknowledged that they had received a few complaints about the NEVLH in the past couple of years. The committee has helped break up four fraudulent veterans charities since 2006.
“You always have to be wary,” he warned. “Illegitimate groups often hide behind the phrase ‘veterans serving veterans’. It can be an excuse not to hire qualified employees.”
Financial records of non-profits in Massachusetts are a matter of public record. Anyone can access them, either through the Attorney General’s website or through other web-based monitoring groups.
The NEVLH’s 990 and 990-EZ forms, required by the IRS for non-profit agencies, detail the organization’s budget. The NEVLH has existed for just over two years, so records are only available for the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years.
In 2012, only $1,961 circulated through the NEVLH, all of it raised through “contributions, grants and gifts” and spent on “professional fees”, “independent contractors” and “other expenses”. The next year that number vaulted to $303,348, also all received through contributions. Expenditures that year amounted to $244,093, most of which was spent on “professional fundraising fees”. The rest of the money was either listed under “other expenses” or “net assets”.
Susan McGibbons, a member of the NEVLH’s Board of Directors, stated that all the charity’s funds come from private business and individual donations.
“We were founded by a combat veteran,” she explained. “When we first started we were operating out of an office. We didn’t even have a phone. But once you begin applying for corporate donations and even start getting donations from local veterans that want to help, that’s what happens. Veterans start rallying for services.”
When asked why the NEVLH would be active in Westfield, McGibbons responded, “It’s not uncommon that we’d make a call out that far. We believe in keeping connections around the state. Veterans can move around. It’s important to preserve those connections.”
Though some questions still remain, Cunningham seems convinced that more investigations will follow.
“At this point, they’ll be going on a Do Not Support List,” he said. “If you have any questions regarding donations to veterans charities or how you can best support your local veterans, please contact your local veterans agent.”
