Donate with care

, and “Let’s save MOCA,” Opinion, Nov. 22

Teresa DeCrescenzo certainly brings many emotions to the surface about the plight of nonprofits in the recession. Certainly these organizations do noble, hard work for their clients and the community -- and they deserve even greater support.

However, while it may be easy to give to a charity based on emotion, what people need to know is that nonprofits are public-benefit “corporations.” Not only do they need government and charitable support, they must rely on sound management.

When you learn that staff or board members lend funds to their organization, draw down endowments or run yearly deficits, or that the nonprofit takes out mortgages to buy properties with little cash in reserve, then it is more than an “economic or funding” crisis that they face. Unfortunately, it even may be a bankruptcy crisis that perhaps could have been avoided by sound fiscal oversight.

Potential donors should review a charity’s finances over a number of years by requesting copies of their financial statements. The public also may learn about the finances and programs of many nonprofits at guidestar.org.

Give -- but give wisely.

Bill White

Beverly Hills

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Instead of bailing out MOCA to the tune of $30 million, perhaps Eli Broad should divert some of that money to help DeCrescenzo’s agency and others like it. We must get our priorities straight.

William Gutman

Los Angeles