And then there is this non-profit

From the National Veterans Service Fund, headquartered in Darien, Conn.: “Our records about (Mrs. R) are incomplete.”

A blurb at Charity Navigator says: “Founded in 1978, the National Veterans Services Fund, Inc. (NVSF), formerly Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Victims, provides case-managed social services and limited medical assistance to Vietnam- and Persian Gulf War- veterans and their families, with a focus on families with disabled children.”

In the latest Charity Navigator account, FY 2011, NVSF reported raising more than $11 million. It spent almost $8.3 million on fundraising expenses and more than $400,000 for administrative expenses, leaving $2.3 million – 21.1 percent -- for programs.

Eighty percent spending on programs is considered excellent. Seventy percent is OK. Twenty-one percent …

But it gets even better … or worse.

Included in the fine print of the recent letter is this information: “In the last fiscal year, NVSF raised a total of $9,111,243. Its expense distribution was 59.18% to fundraising, 11.39% to administration, 18.46% to program services and 10.97% to public education in conjunction with fundraising appeals.”

So, the non-profit, veteran-serving organization raised more money, but spent less on doing what it was organized to do.