The Center for Investigative Reporting, the Tampa Bay Times, and CNN have spent a year investigating charity organizations and their contributions.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/worst-charities/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
They've identified the 50 worst charities that hire for-profit solicitors and often pay out only ~2% to charitable works. For example: Kids Wish Network raised $127.8 million in the last ten years and spent only 2.5% to charitable works.
Once charities start raising money, oversight is largely left to the states. Honest foundations submit complaints often, but states fail to control this activity. The IRS does not go after these organizations because they don’t pay taxes. Please urge the White House and Congress to take action to stop this this fraudulent activity.