The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "fundraisers" ...
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The Big Business of Breast Cancer
For the past 20 years, breast cancer has been the NFL of diseases, awash in money, marketing campaigns and endorsements deals. Each year, $6 billion is raised in the name of breast cancer, yet we are still no closer to a cure now than we were. Why is that? "The Big Business of Breast Cancer" is a powerful piece that exposes an uncomfortable truth about breast cancer fundraising; it's become a massive racket, overrun by scammers and profiteers.
Tags: breast cancer; fundraising; scammers; profit
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The Money Machine
The four part series about the Church of Scientology's vast and unusually aggressive fundraising aparatus reveals how the church collects tens of millions of dollars each year using tactics that intimidate and coerce the people it professes to help -- its parishoners.
Tags: Church of Scientology; funding; religion; church
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Deceptive Nonprofit
Investigation of "Stop Child Trafficking Now" nonprofit. Despite bold claims at its fundraising events, the investigation found SCTNow was not living up to its promoted message of taking child predators off the streets. In fact, the organization could not point to one case anywhere in the country where information gathered by "special operatives" had lead to an arrest or prosecution. It did not seem like much of a return on a $400,000 investment- the annual amount used to fund "special operative" teams.
Tags: Child Trafficking; Nonprofits
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Follow the Money: Congress & TARP Oversight
This series of watchdog stories look at spending in Congress and use of TARP funds. They used FOIA requests to gain access to TARP contracts and called into questions some questionable charitable work, sweetheart deals, financial disclosures, fund-raising, earmarks and more.
Tags: TARP; congress; oversight; economy; earmarks; Recovery Act; FOIA
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Wal-Mart Goes to Washington
This report offers a glimpse at how corporate America needs to pay lots of money to have influence in Washington. What makes this story stand out from others about how Washington works are videotapes of Wal-Mart's internal meetings where company executives pass the hat looking for money from store managers for Wal-Mart's political action committee. The videotapes actually show the viewer that Wal-Mart understands what they are getting for their contributions to legislators.
Tags: Wal-Mart; lobbyists; corporate lobbying; Washington lobbyists; political action committee; fundraising
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The high price of Rutgers sports
For a decade, Rutgers Univeristy pushed hard to become a college football powerhouse. But a six-month investigation of Rutgers athletics -- including a new review of public records the university fought to keep confidential -- found big-time college football came at a greater price than the school disclosed and still refuses to fully document. The investigation found that Rutgers has hiked tuition, canceled classes and eliminated six other varsity sports while doubling its football spending budget; hid millions of sports expenses, including salaries and charter flights, from public view; rushed into a $102 million expansion of Rutgers Stadium to retain coach Greg Schiano and refused to reveal several other financial and fundraising efforts.
Tags: Rutgers University; college football; financial records; private universities; expense reports; stadiums
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Donald T. Sterling's Skid Row Mirage
According to advertisements he distributed in the media, Los Angeles Clippers basketball owner Donald T. Sterling was building a new homeless center in downtown LA. But after L.A. Weekly did some investigating, they found he wasn't close to constructing anything. In fact, he was still looking for a homeless service provider to raise the $50 million needed to build the Donald T. Sterling Homeless Center.
Tags: homeless centers; celebrity; fundraising; construction; false advertising; wealthy; media scam; public relations
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Misdirected funds at Fresno State
Officials at California State University, Fresno, repeatedly allocated corporate contributions to athletics despite rules that limited the money to academic uses. Although the campus contends the misdirection was unintentional, it occurred for years, even after one company’s complaints spurred promises of reform.
Tags: education; university; fundraising; athletics; sports
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Scouts may be thrifty, but some leaders are well-paid
"While the Boy Scouts depend on volunteerism by adults to stretch funds and deliver most programs, top Scout executives are well paid. The top scouter in America received nearly $1 million in compensation in 2005."
Tags: boy scouts; nonprofit; finances; salaries; fundraising money
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Booster U.
"This project explored the growing influences of booster clubs in college sports, detailing how private donations to the largest athletics departments have grown sharply in recent years, eating up an ever-larger share of contributions to colleges."
Tags: booster clubs; donations; college finances; athletics; contributions; fundraising