Wieder Urges Tighter Check on Operations of Charity Organizations

An Orange County ordinance passed 36 years ago to regulate solicitations for charity is doing little more than gathering dust and needs enforcement, Supervisor Harriett Wieder charged Tuesday.

“There is almost no enforcement of that ordinance--it has been almost dormant all these years,” Wieder said. “It is a part-time assignment of a secretary within the county’s Social Services Agency.”

The ordinance requires that organizations wanting to solicit in unincorporated areas of the county file a statement detailing the purpose, need and method of solicitation. They also must specify how much will go for administrative costs and how much for the charity.

Verification Lacking

Rod Speer, a Wieder aide, said the Social Services Agency secretary accepted walk-in filings and contacted groups that had filled out their forms improperly. But the secretary made no effort to verify that the information provided was correct, Speer said.

Earlier this year, Wieder also asked the district attorney to look at charity solicitors and requested that the Orange County Grand Jury investigate charitable operations within the county.

“My concern in this matter stems from the fact that the citizens are bombarded with requests to donate to charities and that it is next to impossible for someone to determine how that charity dollar will be spent--especially if the solicitor is less than forthright,” Wieder said Tuesday.

“We know that these problems exist,” she added, referring to temporary restraining orders secured by the district attorney’s office earlier this month against two allegedly fraudulent charitable solicitors.

Supervisors agreed to have the county administrative office find ways to improve enforcement of the ordinance on charitable solicitations. A report was requested within 45 days.

Speer said the Board of Supervisors has made sporadic attempts over the years to do something about charitable solicitations, but none has ever borne fruit. In one instance, nine years ago, there was a proposal to let the county’s consumer affairs agency enforce the ordinance, but nothing came of it, he said.

Wieder’s actions followed reports earlier this year that the United Way organization in Los Angeles County had loaned its executives money that had been donated to the charity. Two weeks ago, a citizens’ panel that examined the United Way’s internal operations concluded that top officials and volunteers used flawed judgment in authorizing several “improper” financial transactions.

A second inquiry into the agency’s finances is being conducted by Los Angeles County Counsel DeWitt Clinton.

Support From Riley

Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley told Wieder that he also has been researching the issue of raising funds for charity for some time. Riley said he has asked representatives from such charities as United Way of Orange County, the local chapters of the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society, and other groups to meet Oct. 30 to discuss the issue.

Riley’s letter to the charities noted that though many do good work, “unfortunately, there are other organizations whose primary purpose is not to help others. Their goals are too often focused on profit or self-indulgence. These organizations may deceive the public with false promises and illegal procedures.”

“I want to explore avenues to rid the community of these ‘fly-by-night’ groups and to preserve the integrity of the hundreds of respectable private, nonprofit groups at present serving Orange County’s needs,” Riley said.