Circle of Friends for American Veterans
Circle of Friends for American Veterans (COFAV), also known as "American Homeless Veterans," was a 501(c)(3) organization that supported veterans and related causes. It was founded in 1993 in Falls Church, Virginia by Brian Arthur Hampton. The charity has faced criticism for allocating only about 10% of its income to charitable causes, with the remainder being paid to fundraisers. COFAV partners with professional fundraisers who utilize paid telemarketers to solicit funds. This structure results in COFAV incurring costs of over half of every dollar donated. Of the remaining funds, a relatively high percentage goes toward executive salaries and deferred compensation. Charity watchdogs have unfavorably compared COFAV to its peers. In 2020, COFAV was dissolved, and Hampton was fined $100,000 by the attorney general of Virginia. Charitable activities Lobbying Hampton said he had "hosted more than 100 members of Congress across 196 veterans shelter-themed forums in 46 cities" in rallies for these non-profits. In the summer of 2015 Lauren Baghsarian, from Stockton University's Washington Center program served as the Circle of Friends for American Veterans' Program Coordinator where she "research[ed] the many issues our country's veterans face while reintegrating into civilian life." [She] met with Legislative Assistants of Congress and Senate. Direct financing to veterans "Over the years" COFAV "has written modest checks for over 30 transitional facilities" for veterans who are "drug-free, alcohol-free, well-groomed and willing to work". Political action By 2015, Hampton had established a sponsoring a veterans-focused political action committee Put Vets First PAC DBA Association for American Veterans and hired Outreach Calling to do the fundraising. According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), by 2018, the PAC had contributed $2000 in 2015 and $2000 in 2016. From January to September 2017, no PACs or politicians had received any funds from Hampton. However, Outreach Calling had raised $1.5 million for the PAC, keeping $1.3 million. Hampton paid himself $75,000 from the PAC. Related entities The founder of COFAV, Brian A. Hampton, founded the Center for American Homeless Veterans, also known as the "Association for Homeless and Disabled Veterans", another 501(c)(4) charity operating from the same address. He founded Put Vets First, a PAC, also operating from the same address. In 2007 Hampton began contracting with the professional fundraiser Outreach Calling. Hampton publishes the Veterans' Vision. COFAV and its related entities contracted with several professional fundraising organizations, including Outreach Calling, of Bloomfield, New Jersey and Charitable Resource Foundation, Inc. of Greenwood, Indiana. Outreach Calling Outreach Calling Inc is a for-profit fundraiser which was incorporated in 2009. It is headquartered in New Jersey with offices in Canada and the United States including a virtual office in Reno, Nevada. The firm's telemarketers solicit funds on behalf of not-for-profit charities. According to New York state regulators, "a wealthy 49-year-old New Jersey businessman", Mark Gelvan (b.1978), is the "driving force behind Outreach Calling." Outreach Calling collects money for "homeless veterans," "breast cancer survivors", "disabled police officers", and "children with leukemia", among others. According to a 2017 CPI analysis, "Outreach Calling, raised more than