Names such as Indiana Police Officers Association, Association of Indiana State Troopers, and others, which include names of police, fire or drug enforcement, are names that are trusted and respected.

Such groups are known to use solicitors to raise money. But many times most of the money never reaches the programs the donor is told about. A large percentage goes to the telemarketers.

So it pays to check further before making those donations to see where and how much of the funds are actually going to the organization you think your helping.

This is true not only for individuals, but for businesses.

Some of these organizations may not be what you believe, nor do the funds go completely where you’ve been told.

Three times in a six-month time period, an individual claiming to be with the Indiana Police Officers Association contacted the offices of The Papers Incorporated.

This individual, who gave the name of Mike Goode, would call the office and only speak with the owner/publisher.

He was seeking donations for the annual shop with a cop program, Kosciusko Kids Fund and most recently the IPO Respect for Law Camp at Notre Dame. He always stated all the funds would support Kosciusko County children.

While he would leave a phone number, calls would always go to voice mail. When he did call, he would want to set up a time to pick up the donation in person, stating he was a trooper and lived in the Leesburg area, so he could easily stop and pick up the donation, saving the company postage.

He would come with two pre-packaged flags and a receipt with the logo of the IPOA, an “IRS Not-For-Profit Tax ID” number, website information and return address: a post office box in Indianapolis.

This last time, he contacted the owner/publisher, the legitimacy was questioned and further checking was begun.

Contact was made with the Indiana State Police. No person by that name is or was on the department.

Further discussion with an ISP detective, revealed the telemarketer’s real name is John Michael Goode, who with his girlfriend/fiance Kim Leer work as telemarketers with Tom and Associates of Indiana LLC. What authorities have learned is when a business or individual does not make a donation the other individual will call with a different organization.

It was also learned Tom and Associates allegedly receive 40 percent of the donations, with the telemarketer receiving 40 percent. It is unknown where the remaining 20 percent is sent.

Officials have spoken to those at the Respect for Law Camp at Notre Dame following a complaint from a Middlebury company. It was learned the telemarketers allegedly sent their own children to the camp.

IPOA does have a website, but there is no contact information or address listed. It has been verified all names listed on the site are police officers. But unknown if these officers are affiliated.

Indiana Secretary of State’s website on information on businesses lists Indiana Police Officers Association (assumed) has an entity legal name of Tom & Associates of Indiana LLC with a Beech Grove, Ind., address. It notes the entity creation date was Jan. 21, 2013, and other names for this entity are Indiana Police Officers Association and Offer Teddy Program. The name of the registered agent is Adrian Algama, at the same address of the business.

So is the organization a not-for-profit?

A search for charities on the IRS website using its exempt organizations select check tool does not bring up the agency. This search can be done using the EIN, name, city, state, etc.

Using a nonprofit organization lookup site, MelissaData, does list the organization noting it is in care of John Jeffries, with a different post office box than listed on the receipt. It also listed contributions to this corporation are not deductible and it is not required to file Form 990 because its income is less than $25,000. Additional information shows this organization has been exempt since August 2001 and the last Form 990 was filed in December 2012.

While the only crime truly being committed by IPOA is falsifying information that donations stay within the county, authorities cannot pursue any criminal charges unless that statement or false information regarding being a trooper, are recorded or heard by law enforcement officials.

But don’t give up donating to a worthy organization. Give donations directly to the organization.

Local law enforcement agencies can be contacted to learn how donations can be given to various programs their organizations or affiliates may sponsor.