New Focus Stabilizes Police Charity

After being accused of playing favorites with donors, a police charity in California’s Silicon Valley had to seek new methods of raising money, providing an example of how to redirect the mission of a charity, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The CHP 11-99 Foundation, which provides scholarships and other benefits for highway-patrol troopers, had long offered lifetime membership for donors who gave $1,800, and members received a special license-plate holder marking them as donors.

But word spread among donors with flashy cars that membership was insurance against speeding tickets, despite a lack of statistical evidence as well as anecdotes from some members that they got tickets anyway.

Regardless, the perception of favoritism harmed the charity, so when Robert Teal took over as its chief executive, he simultaneously increased the membership fee to $5,000 and updated the CHP 11-99 Web site to make it easier for people to give small amounts.

Over all, the number of new memberships has declined, but revenue has remained steady, and public perception has improved, the newspaper says.

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