AIDS Network was given ample opportunity to come clean with the ACT Riders, Donors and Crew.  Instead they chose to hide behind their stated 87-90 percent “return” to the agency language in all promotional materials.  They leave the impression with many that this was the amount that was used to fund client services and prevention efforts.

In an earlier post we revealed that the AIDS Network’s 2008 Financial Audit confirms that in fact 53 percent of dollars raised by AIDS Network (the bulk being ACT Ride receipts) went to  “Fundraising Costs” and 5 percent went to Administrative Costs. Only 20 percent went to client services and 12 percent to Education and outreach (prevention).

Last year’s numbers were not simply an aberration—a one time event.  It has been a pattern that ACT UP Wisconsin thought AIDS Network would have revealed by now in an effort to move beyond this crisis of confidence that the ACT Ride and AIDS Network have created.

Two more examples of what prior audits reveal:

2006:

The 2006 AIDS Network’s Independent Financial Audit shows $372,491.00 of Special Events Revenue.  Of the revenue reported $252,196.00 was from the ACT Ride.  The balance was from the Red Ribbon dinner, the AIDS Walk and a few other smaller fundraisers.

The 2006 financial audit, completed by Wegner, LLP, shows that 58 percent of the dollars raised went to fundraising costs; 6 percent to administrative costs; which shows a total administrative and fundraising cost of 64 percent of dollars raised from the ACT Ride and other fundraisers.  That’s right—almost two-thirds of all dollars raised by AIDS Network through the ACT Ride and other fundraisers were used to fund Administrative and Fundraising costs.  During this same year 19 percent went to client services and 16 percent went to education and outreach (prevention)

2004:

The 2004 AIDS Network’s financial audit, once again completed by Wegner, LLP shows that $382,028.00 was generated in special events income.  Of this total $275,366.00 was generated by the ACT Ride.

In 2004, 59 percent of income generated was used for fundraising costs and 19 percent was used for administrative costs.  All together the  total was 78 percent for Administrative and Fundraising costs.  Of the total amount raised, a mere 9 percent went to Client Services and 11 percent funded education and outreach efforts (Prevention).

Why didn’t AIDS Network simply tell the truth?  Why did the board of Directors keep the truth from the donors, riders, crew and the ACT Steering Committee?

Just take a look at what was being promoted during ACT 6.  The ACT Ride website contained suggested fundraising tips for riders.  The suggested fundraising strategy for ACT 6–the ride we confirmed in an earlier post reported a combined total of 58 percent of dollars raised went to fundraising and administrative costs.

WHAT $1,200 WILL DO

We have created this list to help you, and your donors, understand what the $1,200 ACT 6 fund raising minimum will do for AIDS Network and its clients. We encourage you to share this list with potential donors. And as you read it ask yourself this question: “If $1,200 can do this much, I wonder what doubling my donation goal could do?”

• $25 – One copayment for a dental office visit at ARCW’s HIV specialty dental clinic in Milwaukee
• $30 – Round-trip Badger Bus ticket to help a Madison area client get to/from Milwaukee for dental care
• $60 – one night’s emergency shelter in a low-cost hotel for a client seeking stable housing ** ($840 – two weeks’ emergency shelter in a low-cost hotel (lifetime per-client maximum)
• $150-200 buys legal services to help an HIV+ person create a will and Power of Attorney for Health Care
• $250 – comprehensive assessment interview with a Case Manager, enrolling a new client in services
• $400 – pay for one client to participate in 4-session substance use relapse prevention support group
• $500 – pay for specialized volunteer training for 4-6 Peer Educators who will in turn provide peer support to newly-diagnosed HIV+ individuals”

Source:  ACT Ride website/2008

Fortunately, the tip sheet was removed when I suggested to Karen Dotson that it was nothing but a pack of lies being used to dupe the public.  I include it in this post because it is instructive in exposed the agency approved tactics that have been employed in the execution of the ACT Rides. The blatant lies seen above in the “what your $1,200 will do” fundraising directives have been replaced with a softer, gentler ACT Ride website—one that implies a lot and answers nothing about the fundamental questions that ACT Riders, Donors and Crew have a right to have answered.

All of the questions asked have had no response from AIDS Network other than baseless charges that we are out to destroy the ride.  Transparency has been replaced with fear mongering; accountability has been replaced with closing the blinds even tighter to the truth and any modicum of good faith towards the Riders, Crew and Donors has totally flown out the window.

(note:  analysis of 2005 and 2007 will appear in a future post)