CEO Compensation: $556,772
Total Income $2,660,138,000
Program expenses 2,435,461,000
Fundraising expenses $169,676,000
Administrative expenses $116,402,000
Total expenses: $2,721,539,000
Expenses in Excess of Income (-61,401,000)
Beginning Net Assets 1,593,810,000
Other Changes In Net Assets -546,736,000\
Ending Net Assets 985,673,000
Total Liabilities 2,250,133,000
Total Assets 3,235,806,000
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_abou...
$1 in every $16 spent is on fundraising. That seems a lot.
That said, the bigger question isn't the amount they spend on fundraising but how much good they do with the money they raise. And the Red Cross has decidedly mixed reviews at that.
Off the top of my head the formulas give the best rating if the total compensation of the board is less than 10% of income, the cost of fundraising is less than 35% of income and at least 65% of the income goes to the cause/projects.
Of course I am with you, if you have ever attended some of these non-profit fundraisers, its pretty disgusting, a ballroom full of people living the high life, taking beneficial tax deductions, and so full of self-congratulatory righteousness you'd have to ask them to save some room if you'd have any interest in patting them on the back.
I think the beef with Red Cross is that the money is not spent effectively. Take a look at the investigative links nearby for more. These dollar figures, although crisp and numerical, do not illustrate the real issue.