Coakley Warns Bay Staters About Telephone Fundraisers

Only 34 cents of every dollar collected by professional solicitors in Massachusetts in 2012 ended up with the charities they were representing.

That's according to a new report by Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Professional solicitors in 2012 collected more than $266 million, but just $91 million ended up with the actual charities.

In 2011, according to the report, an average of 49 cents of every dollar collected by professional solicitors went back to charity.

The $266 million collected in 2012 is about $122 million less than collected in 2011.

There is no state requirement that a minimum percentage or amount of funds donated through a professional solicitation campaign be passed on to the charity.

Coakley urged donors do their homework to make sure their donations are going to a worthy cause.  (Associated Press)