Bono's anti-poverty foundation ONE is under pressure to explain its finances after it was revealed that only a small percentage of money it raises reaches the needy.

 

The non-profit organisation set up by the U2 frontman received almost £9.6million in donations in 2008 but handed out only £118,000 to good causes (1.2 per cent).

 

The figures published by the New York Post also show that £5.1million went towards paying salaries.

 

While the organisation's gameplan has never been direct handouts on the ground, many who admire the Irish rock legend may be surprised by the figures.

 

Bono was playing Brussels last night with U2 as the world's leaders - so many of whom he speaks to directly - were meeting at the UN assembly in New York to assess the progress, or lack of, in reaching the Millennium goals they set.

 

The Post revealed it had received a number of gifts from ONE in the run-up to the event, such as leather notebooks, bags of coffee and water bottles.

 

In the UK, the organisation has laid on a series of high-profile, celebrity-supported events since it launched in 2002 to fight poverty in Africa and Aids worldwide.

 

In 2009, the group campaigned to have enshrined in British law a commitment to development assistance abroad.

 

ONE spokesman Oliver Buston has now defended the way the organisation is run, insisting the money is used for promoting its campaign and raising awareness rather than being given straight to those who need help.

 

He said: 'We don't provide programmes on the ground. We're an advocacy and campaigning organisation.'

 

Another spokesman in New York today dismissed the notion of lavish salaries being paid to its 120 members of staff and said the organisation was highly efficient in its raising of awareness.

 

ONE said it took no money from the public and that most of its funding came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314543/Bonos-ONE-foundation-giving-tiny-percentage-funds-charity.html#

 

Just a few weeks ago it was revealed that Bono's fashion label Edun has moved its factories from Africa to China. The U2 frontman was heavily criticised for the change, as Edun was originally set up to alleviate poverty in Africa.

 

http://www.omgmusic.com/news/bonos-one-foundation-slammed-for-giving-just-1-of-funds-to-charity

 

Bono has been seen as one of the shining lights of music industry's social conscience, but does the way funds are being handled change your opinion of him? Does the lack of press on this story discredit its importance or is ignorance bliss when if comes to charities. Should we be weary of how all charities are run now?

 

Personally, I will not donate to the ONE foundation again, although I prefer local charities and organizations anyway. I just cannot believe that charity workers are benefiting from this.

 

 

NOTE: Since Bono is a music figure, I posted this here. If you feel that it's better suited in off-topic feel free.

Seems a little fishy when you only get those two numbers. I'd like to see what the cost was to run this organization (outside of salaries) and then I will judge.

NOTE: Since Bono is a music figure, I posted this here. If you feel that it's better suited in off-topic feel free.

 

I think it fits a bit better there :) And the thread will also get more activity there.

 

Moved. :shades:

Hehe, this reminds me of the South Park episode with Bono.

 

I don't trust charitys too much.

And this article is a bit short, i would want more numbers and facts.

I can't say I'm really suprised, I've always found bono hugely hypocritical.

 

It's quite suprising what some charities get up to and don't tell you - for example the Red Cross has similar problems.

I can't say I'm really suprised, I've always found bono hugely hypocritical.

 

It's quite suprising what some charities get up to and don't tell you - for example the Red Cross has similar problems.

 

Ugh, the Red Cross.

The boss for that organisation in my country had 800k as a yearly salary (until that came out in the media earlier in the year).

Seems a little fishy when you only get those two numbers. I'd like to see what the cost was to run this organization (outside of salaries) and then I will judge.

 

That's one of the biggest problems with this story. I heard about it initially on the radio, but when I tried to look for it on the web, I couldn't find anything on a major news site.

I always knew he was a piece of crap.

 

 

 

The casino my older brother works for gives more to charity (as a percentage and as a dollar amount) than this.... I think I'll frequent that more often with a clean conscience.

Charities are all the same. People don't want to help people unless they're directly doing a difference or getting paid to do it.

Honestly, that is seriously appalling. Putting money into raising awareness for their 'charity' would be fine if the money gained from that awareness went to anything good.

I've never liked the ONE campaign, they always came off to me as an over glamorized charitable organization marketed towards young adults who want to feel involved. This article doesn't surprise me though, I would really like to see a complete breakdown of that 9 million euro and after a quick good search of the New York Post article the author mentions the data was collected from the organizations tax return.. Would be interesting to get a breakdown of other major charitable organizations too for a fair comparison.

Ah, what people will do for their next buck.