For the first time in THON history, the group's fundraising summary has been released to the public.
For the 2009 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon fiscal year -- July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 -- THON raised a total of $7,596,744.90 through donations and pending pledges, according to a press release issued Tuesday by THON officials.
Of the fundraising total, 94.55 percent -- $7,093,777.66 -- went directly to the Four Diamonds Fund, a rate experts said is exemplary.
"As our total continues to grow, we've contributed more of our total growth to the Four Diamonds Fund," Overall Chairwoman Caitlin Zankowski said.
According to the Better Business Bureau -- a group that aims to advance "marketplace trust" -- 65 percent of a philanthropic organization's total expenses ideally should go to the charity. Sarah Durham, an expert in philanthropy and founder of Big Duck, a Brooklyn-based communications firm focusing on non-profits, said THON is doing a great job.
"In terms of credibility, those are really good numbers," Durham said.
THON uses 5.4 percent -- $408,827.74 -- of its total donations for expenses, including THON
store inventory, pre-THON events, THON weekend, THON informational material, direct mailing campaigns, donor stewardship initiatives, postage, office equipment, space usage and other general administrative expenses, according to the THON Web site.
To be considered up to Better Business Bureau standards, 35 percent of a philanthropic organization's total should go to fundraising expenses, according to the group's Web site.
"Those numbers are great, and anyone supporting the event can feel confident," Durham said of THON.
The released figures also showed THON did not receive $94,139.50 in pledged donations, but this figure was not calculated into the fundraising total announced during THON weekend. Both Zankowski and Durham said it is typical for a fundraiser to not receive all of its pledged donations.
Zankowski said there was no specific reason for THON's decision to break from its past practices and release its 2009 figures, but she said THON will continue to release its numbers in years to come. She said the figures show how hard everyone involved with THON 2009 worked and that it really does go straight to the kids.
"We thought it was a great time to share the story, and it's only going to get better," she said. "It's been a success story, and people like to know they've been a part of something that's really making a difference."
