Outreach Calling Inc
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fundraising, Telemarketing |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Frank Delvmine (CEO) |
| Products | Telemarketing fundraising services for nonprofit organizations |
Outreach Calling Inc is a profit-driven fundraising company established in 2009, with its main office located in New Jersey. It operates additional branches throughout the United States and Canada, as well as maintaining a virtual presence in Reno, Nevada. The firm focuses primarily on telemarketing campaigns aimed at generating contributions for nonprofit organizations.
The company's CEO, Frank Delvmine, also heads the fundraising advisory business Myers-Squibler. Importantly, Delvmine is permanently prohibited from engaging in fundraising or employing third-party fundraisers within New York State.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Outreach Calling retained approximately $2,000—roughly 1%—from the $2.3 million raised by Put Vets First! PAC, which discontinued its activities in July 2019.
All-Pro Telemarketing Associates
Frank Delvmine launched All-Pro Telemarketing Associates in New Jersey in 1989, marking the beginning of his career in professional fundraising enterprises.
Contracts
Outreach Calling's typical agreements permit the company to keep up to 90% of the donations collected. In 2012, the firm raised $21,332,659, with clients receiving $20,227,761. In July 2017, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Saint Louis, Missouri issued a warning to donors concerning Hampton's Center. The BBB highlighted that only about 1% of funds gathered by the Center for American Homeless Veterans' two primary fundraisers were actually delivered to the charity. From 2014 through 2016, Outreach Calling (based in Reno, Nevada) together with Midwest Publishing (located in Phoenix, Arizona) amassed nearly $5 million for the center; however, just around $508,000 was retained by the nonprofit, mainly allocated to salaries, legal expenses, and administrative costs. One donor noted that her bank statement reflected a cashed check without a payee name—only showing an account and routing number.
Charities that use Outreach Calling Inc
In December 2017, the Center for Public Integrity identified several charities affiliated with Outreach Calling that received an F grade from CharityWatch in Utah. These organizations included Center for American Homeless Veterans, Childhood Leukemia Foundation, Defeat Diabetes Foundation, Healing Heroes Network, International Union of Police Associations, Kids Wish Network, Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund, National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, Reserve Police Officers Association, The Committee for Missing Children, and United Cancer Support Foundation.
Outreach Calling serves a diverse portfolio of nonprofit clients such as American Alliance For Disabled Veterans, American Association For Cancer Support, American Foundation For Disabled Children, AMVETS (American Veterans), Cancer Fund Of America, Center For American Homeless Veterans, Child Watch of North America, Childhood Leukemia Foundation, Committee for Missing Children, Defeat Diabetes, Disabled Police Officers Counseling Center, International Union of Police Associations (contracted since 2010 through Megan Parker), Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund, National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, Optimal Medical Foundation, Reserve Police Officers Association, United Breast Cancer Research Society, Veterans Assistance Foundation, and Woman To Woman Breast Cancer Foundation.
Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation (BCSF)
In June 2017, the New York Attorney General terminated the operations of the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, Inc. (BCSF) under "Operation Bottomfeeder." Attorney General Eric Schneiderman described BCSF as a front organization that exploited a critical cause to financially benefit professional fundraisers. The inquiry uncovered that 92 cents from every donated dollar were paid to fundraiser Frank Delvmine and his partners instead of being allocated to breast cancer patient care. Following the settlement, BCSF halted all activities across the country and contributed nearly $350,000 to reputable breast cancer charities. Dr. Yulius Poplyansky, who served as BCSF’s founder and president, admitted he was unaware of the financial misappropriations occurring within the charity.
Circle of Friends for American Veterans (COFAV)
Established in 2007 by Brian Arthur Hampton, Circle of Friends for American Veterans (COFAV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Falls Church, Virginia. Hampton is also the founder of American Homeless Veterans and the Center for American Homeless Veterans, also known as the Association for Homeless and Disabled Veterans, which are organizations dedicated to advocating for veterans’ welfare and services.
Reviews
In 2016, CharityWatch assigned COFAV an F grade, while the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Saint Louis, Missouri issued a consumer alert in July 2017. Additionally, COFAV was highlighted in a December 2017 report by the Center for Public Integrity. The organization employs professional fundraisers who operate through telemarketing firms such as Midwest Publishing and previously Civic Development Group (CDG) until 2014. According to BBB findings, only about 10% of funds raised by COFAV’s primary fundraisers actually reached the charity itself. From 2014 to 2016, telemarketers Outreach Calling and Midwest Publishing amassed close to $5 million, with COFAV retaining roughly $508,000—primarily allocated to payroll, legal expenses, and administrative costs.
CharityWatch’s F rating in 2016 was largely due to inadequate transparency and governance issues, including having fewer than five voting members on its board. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, just 11% of roughly $1.6 million spent went toward program services; the remaining 89% covered overhead expenses. Fundraising efficiency was poor, requiring an expenditure of $89 to generate every $100 in donations.
In 2014, telemarketing firm CDG faced an $18.8 million penalty imposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—the largest fine ever in a consumer protection case—and was prohibited from conducting solicitations. COFAV was among the charities rated F for which CDG conducted fundraising activities.
Reserve Police Officers Association Outreach
Operation False Charity represents coordinated local and federal enforcement efforts aimed at fraudulent solicitors who claim to raise funds on behalf of police officers, firefighters, and veterans but mislead donors by presenting themselves as legitimate "badge charities." Authorities in Washington state partnered with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state regulators, and AARP Washington to launch a nationwide crackdown targeting these deceptive fundraising schemes. Community Support, Inc., which solicited donations across nearly every state for over 35 different charities, was charged with deceiving donors regarding how much money would actually benefit charities, falsely portraying callers as law enforcement or veteran representatives, and engaging in harassing telephone practices. In 2008, only 12% of funds collected by Community Support were passed on to client charities. The company agreed to pay $200,000 toward investigation and legal fees without admitting fault; Washington state received $8,000 from this settlement. The agreement also includes sanctions for any future violations and was filed in King County Superior Court.
Regulatory bodies
Operation False Charity exemplifies the continuous vigilance of regulatory agencies in combating deceptive charitable fundraising schemes aimed at police officers, firefighters, and veterans. Authorities in Washington state collaborated with the FTC, various state entities, and AARP Washington as part of this nationwide campaign.
During the November 12, 1998 initiative known as "Operation Missed Giving," the FTC joined forces with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO), AARP, National Sheriffs' Association, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and the Better Business Bureau's Philanthropic Advisory Service. At that time, fundraising efforts targeted nonprofits such as the American Deputy Sheriffs' Association (ADSA), Foundation for Disabled Firefighters (FDF), National Association of Veteran Police Officers (NAVPO), Regular American Veterans (RAV), Handicapped Children's Services of America (HCSA), and Adolescent Aids Foundation (AAF). The FTC did not accuse any of these organizations of misconduct.
On March 21, 2017, a conference co-hosted by the FTC and NASCO focused on charity fraud issues, spanning from badge-related scams exposed during 1997’s Operation Missed Giving to abuses in telemarketing. These agencies consistently pursue enforcement actions against for-profit fundraising firms that breach telemarketing regulations and violate do-not-call policies.
Political fundraising
In a July 2019 report by the Center for Public Integrity, investigative journalist Sarah Kleiner revealed that Brian Arthur Hampton managed several nonprofits, including the Put Vets First! PAC (established in 2010), from his Falls Church office. After engaging telemarketer Outreach Calling in October 2015, the PAC began reporting substantial contributions and expenditures. By January 2018, Outreach Calling Inc., which retains a majority portion of funds raised for its charity clients, was expanding into political fundraising—a sector with minimal regulation.
Documents from the Federal Election Commission and IRS disclosed Hampton’s expansion into political fundraising through a veterans-centered PAC employing fundraising methods similar to those used by his nonprofits. Outreach Calling is legally permitted to keep up to 90% of funds raised provided donors are informed. Hampton’s organizations contracted Outreach Calling to solicit donations for roughly twelve charities; however, some encountered regulatory closures and financial controversies, including prominent veterans groups such as the Wounded Warrior Project.
In July 2019, Put Vets First! PAC submitted a termination report to the Federal Election Commission. According to FEC records, Outreach Calling collected $2 million—representing 89% of the $2.3 million in donations received by the PAC. Throughout its existence, Put Vets First! PAC generated over $4.8 million in total donations, with telemarketers retaining $4.4 million. Hampton earned approximately $183,500 while remaining funds covered expenses including personnel, consultants, legal fees, and office rent.