Bono's Charity Defends Spending Half Of Budget On Salaries

Sep 28 2010 08:45 AM | Wes in Press Clippings

Bono's charity defends spending half of budget on salaries

Herald Sun

A REPRESENTATIVE for the global charity run by U2 frontman Bono defended the organisation after reports the group spent more on employee salaries and lavish giveaways than on actual aid programs.

"We don't provide programs on the ground. We're an advocacy and campaigning organization," ONE Campaign spokesman Oliver Buston said in response to a New York Post report that of the $15 million collected by the organisation in 2008 only $184,732 was distributed among three charities.

Buston said donations were used to promote the goals of the ONE campaign and raise awareness as opposed to funding actual programs.

Over $8 million of the 2008 budget was spent on salaries for the group's employees - which employs roughly 120 people worldwide.

The remaining funds were used for raising awareness with promotions like the mail sent to media before the UN "Summit on the Millennium Development Goals" in New York this month.

On behalf of the ONE Campaign, the press received, via messenger, multiple gift boxes that included a $15 bag of Starbucks coffee, a $15 Moleskine leather notebook, a $20 water bottle and a plastic ruler - which were all emblazoned with the logo of Bono's pet cause.

The 50-year-old Irish rocker co-founded the ONE Campaign in 2004 with 11 non-profit humanitarian organisations.

The stated mission of the group is to mobilise support to encourage leaders to fund more international development and relief programs.

Rxx
Sep 28 2010 09:10 PM

And the response from ONE:

http://www.one.org/c...ssrelease/3523/

Wes
Sep 28 2010 09:50 PM

Bono bashing is getting to unprecedented levels... facts don't seem to even matter anymore. there is a nice article in the guardian today defending him.... but read the poor misguided souls in the comments!

http://www.guardian....th-bono-bashing