Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-28
Low Cost of the Chest.

Not only was Washington's first Com
munity Chest drive conspicuous sue
cess in that the National Capital went
well over the top in amount of money
subscribed for the fifty-seven charitable
organizations, but the chest plan of
raising funds again proved its efficiency
by the extraordinarily small outlay for
the big return. More than one million
and half dollars was raised by the
chest, yet only two and seven-tenths per
cent of this amount, or slightly more
than forty thousand dollars, was re-
quired to operate the campaign. 1t Is
freely conceded that If the various
agencies involved had succeeded in COL
lecting the one million and half dol
lars after individual drives the cost
would have Appropriated fifteen per
cent, or total of two hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars. And while
all the expenditures for this years chest
have not been made, 1t is a virtual GER
tainty that the mark of six per cent of
the total VIII not be exceeded, and that
at least nine per cent, or approximately
one hundred and thirty-f1ve thousand
dollars, will be saved to Washingtonians
by the chest.
Some PERSONS, unfortunately, in the
course of the past drive enormously be-
lieved that the chest method was an ex-
travagant means of raising money for
the local charities. This argument is
clearly refuted by the figures Just an
nounced. Whereas it would have cost
more than two hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars to raise the one million
and a half, according to the old method,
it will cost only about ninety thousand
dollars by the chest method. This ninety
thousand dollars Is used to cover the
cost of the preliminary organization and
preparation in the latter months in
1e2s-the salary Of the director, the
necessary expenses of sending acknowl-
edgments and statements to contribu-
tors, keeping lists of givers and pro-
spective contributors and the year-round
operation of the chest. No commissions
Of any kind were paid to outside indi-
viduals or organizations.
There appears to be reason to believe
that even the low six per cent figure can
be reduced in future campaigns. The
chest was an experiment this year and
the public had to be educated to its
merits. Now that it has so conspicu-
ously demonstrated its efficiency, con-
tributions should be easier to get, and
correspondingly less work should fall
upon the organization. Also, as the
various employees of the chest become
familiar with their duties it would seem
logical that any confusion or delay
which might have appeared in the first
campaign would be absent from those
following. with direct saving in the OPP
Grafton of the chest.
So, with the 1929 chest having con-
WINGED Washingtonians that 1t is the
logical method of raising funds, the
community may look forward to other
chests in the future with that pleasur-
able sensation that comes with the
knowledge that the proper means Of
dealing with the eyer-present question
OF philanthropy has been found and put
into operation. Over one hundred and
thirty-fve thousand dollars has gone
direct to those who need it by the chest
method this year, more than would have
been possible under the old arrange
ment, and that fact alone should appeal
to the business sense Of every one of the
generous givers who provide the where
withal to make the wheels OF charity
On r0,Ind