Civic Development Group is America's largest professional fundraiser for non-profit groups like; the fraternal order of police, firefighter, veteran, cancer organizations, and many more. On average, 85% of funds donated through CDG do not reach the non-profit groups on whose behalf funds are raised. That's right, only 15% goes to the donors' intended recipient! Yes, it is legal. No, it is not right. CDG also uses unethical and misleading tactics like cross-tapping to raise funds for multiple organizations with similar names and programs. I know because I worked there on and off for several years, beginning in 1997. At that time, I was a high school student looking for a part time job. Later, in college, I put a website up about CDG to inform the public about their unethical and misleading tactics. They tried to shut my site down with intimidation and legal threats. They filed a domain name dispute against me, citing the fact that their trademark name was in my domain. Unable to afford an attorney, I defended myself against CDG's Manhattan law firm and I won the case. I am trying to use this experience to get into a good law school. I believe that CDG's fundraising practices are not in the public, nor in the non-profit sectors intersest. If I become an attorney, I will do my best to work in the public and non-profit sectors interest.
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