Bottom line - people are MUCH better off contributing to a charity directly, not through this fundraising company.  Check ratings on http://www.charitynavigator.org/ before you give money to anyone.

It also saddens me that those we call or fellow employees might mistakenly think we're all ex-convicts who can't find any other work or that we're scammers. I have held other, more prestigious higher paying jobs in the past but was laid off due to reduced funds (lower contributions due to the recession). I understand firsthand that all non-profit organizations have high overhead expenses & must every day make heartbreaking business decisions about which programs to start or continue based on their budgets & member donations.  They all have employees to pay, buildings & equipment to buy & pay to maintain. I like to think of this as an opportunity I've chosen because funding non profit organizations are a cause I truly believe in, not that I lack other choices because no one else would ever hire me again. And, I'm not being paid to post any of this, I'm doing this off the clock at home because I want us telemarketers & our company to be fairly & accurately represented here. I understand those we call don't personally know us, are unfamiliar with our company & don't like being bothered at home but please don't make false allegations against our character because of some news reports about a couple bad apples out there you've heard.

Joseph, I'm baffled- your reply to anon employee doesn't match his comments at all. I'm a new employee (an ex ministry teacher & former seminary student, NOT an ex convict) who just looked at the dates (several years old) on all these other comments from those we called & former employees. Perhaps this info was true back then, but if so things have changed & this isn't how things are at Statewide Appeal NOW.

I currently work here as a caller. I'm truly troubled by many of the complaints I read on here both from those we call & other employees because I feel they are overly negative & unfairly represent our organization. Our supervisors & boss closely monitor us & record our calls to make sure we follow all the laws. They urge us to make sure we promptly place on the do not call list those who request their name to be removed. We never call people between 9PM- 9AM their time. Our bosses stress to us the importance of telling the truth even when our honest answers or script aren't what customers want to hear & refuse to donate any $ as a result. Our boss performs a thorough background check & has us consent to drug contesting. We aren't allowed to share personal info we have with our callers or store any financial info in our computers for future use. We don't share or sell personal info to outsiders & since everything is stored in computers we don't even have the opportunity to take call lists or financial info home with us. I even had 1 unemployed man I called tell me I made his day when I told him that we're hiring. I'm grateful to have a job working for an honest & ethical employer when so many that I call are unemployed or underemployed in this economy.

Say there Joseph, i work for this company and been reading your post here about convicted criminals. Seems you have a grudge against people who want to change in life and with your arrogant, ignorant mouth seems like your not that far behind them. Get off your high horse. Your not God and remember you are definitely not the judge and when your judge, i really hope he forgives you of your shameless acts of aggression towards any one of his people.

Were you paid to do this? Sounds alot like the answers from the scripts..

They don't bother to waste time talking to people that don't have money to donate, but are obviously just trying to be annoying, so yeah they tend to just hang up on calls like yours.

Worked there while attending college, as a small part time job, thank you for making those calls so much easier.

How many times have you gotten the bonus? That sounds a lot like the scripts answers, I hope your not taking them out of the office, that wa prohibited.. Besides most of the managers smoke weed, not the greatest job I've had, also are you one of those convicts??

There a nonprofit organization, so that doesn't apply to them, simply ask to be taken off the list or to be placed on the do not call list.

Just ask to be removed of the list or to be pit on the do not call list. Usually works.

Lol!

Or you can simply ask to be put on the do not call list, nicely and chances are the convicted felon(who you are probably speaking to) might do that.

The amount that is actually donated to the troopers ranges from 12% to 20%, the rest does indeed go to the company.

Ask them if there a state trooper themselves! Chances are you're speaking to a convicted felon! they are a legitimate company, and not much can be done, but to just ask to be removed off the list. And for the record YELLING will not work, if anything, once you hangup, and if your really pissed them off, they'll put you on the call back list.

They don't really do much when you report them, my manger would laugh about people threating to file a complaint report.

I also worked there, and we had to use "special scripts" when calling PA. Considering your state has some if the stricter laws.

The "membered officers" really only get a atleast 12% to 20% of ALL funds raised!

So true, worked there for 3 months, until I realized I worked with 10 convicts! They do pay minimum and my experience working there wasn't so great..

I'm an actual member of the organization that State Wide Appeal raises funds for. All of the individuals on this forum have a lot of negative feedback about the company who raises funds on behalf of the TSTA. For a moment, Please put the percentage of your donation that makes it to the TSTA aside for a moment. Lets think about the amount of funds that are raised year round for the TSTA. The amount of money that actually makes it to the TSTA for the two campaign drives that are called for is substantial. The amount of good that your money does for hard working officers like my self is above and beyond what we even expect. We get help in a lot of different areas that are not provided by the state. And your thinking "Don't my taxes pay for this?" Now while that is a good question, the amount of help we get from the state is minimal at best. The TSTA provides us with up to date training on the latest crime prevention techniques, legal assistance should there be a situation that we get involved with on the job. Membered Officers also receive financial assistance in times of crisis or need which includes if we get injured and cannot work. God forbid we make the ultimate sacrifice and lose our lives protecting the community, I have the peace of mind knowing that my family will be taken care of. I thank each and every person that helps to give me that. There is no greater gift that I could ask for. For all of the individuals who have something negative to say, stop being ignorant, do your research, then if you still want to say something negative, by all means feel free. Again, those of you who actually put aside all of the negatives and find it in your heart to focus on the positives to help out men and women who are Membered Officers with the TSTA, We thank you!

I received a call from Statewide Appeal saying they were collecting funds for the State Police fundraiser in my state (Pennsylvania). After I listened to the gentleman's (and I use that word loosely) pitch for money, I asked him how much of every dollar donated went to the State Police Charities. He responded by saying that 17% goes to the charity. When I told him that that was not acceptable, he replied that the rest of the funds covered the telemarketing costs. Since I was at my computer when he called, I quickly googled "Statewide Appeal" and found that they were not listed with the BBB. I asked him why. He said because they were a non-profit, having some experience with non profits and for profits, I then asked for the EIN number, which must be listed with the IRS and must be made available on request, I also asked afor the non profit info listed with the IRS. He hung up!  My advice to any call concerning fundraising is this: Ask the questions, google if you are near a computer, tell them you would be happy to look over all information if they will mail it to you. Chances are most of these parasites won't do it.

For anyone complaining that they are on a Do Not call list and keep getting called by Statewide Appeals, read this!

They are not restricted by the DNC list, because they aren't telemarketers, per say. they are a fundraising "non-profit", so they don't participate in the DNC program..

It sucks, but you just have to adamantly say that you want taken off their list, and hope they really take you off...

The fool would be anybody who gives money to this scam organization, they keep 80% of the funds raised. If you really wanted to help the DPS, buy them lunch or send money directly to the DPS. 20% is just not enough of a cut to warrant a donation.

You are making a fool of yourself, Legit or not, the organization only gives a lousy 16% to the State trooper organization, all else goes in theri greedy pockets,,4GET THIS COMPANY AND GO WITH A MORE WORTHY FUND RAISER  IS MY ADVISE!

I got a call from 210-424-6579 claiming to be State Wide Appeal.  I tried calling back, but keeps geeting a voice message / answering machine.

Yeah, statewide appeal is just a legal pyramid scam. They are calling trying to get you to pledge money to send them in support of the Texas State Troopers Association. I can assure you that at the most only 20% of your donation will go to help the State Troopers Association if that. Keyword Association: Not the state troopers in general. This is a group of about a few hundred troopers. Just ask them, they're required to tell you that 80 percent goes into the pockets of the managers. So yeah, its a charity alright-for them. Then i guess they throw the TSTA a small piece in order to keep this bull going. These people do give felons and other unskilled people the opportunity to work, however they treat most of there employees like crap and try to keep them earning them as much money possible while paying the bare minimum. They dont want to pay for postage to just send you info without the harassing calls, so  they choose to call you instead. If you want them to take you off their call list, you're suppose to specifically request you be taken off their call list. However, many people have requested that and still receive several calls a day. Most of the errors are probably because they use equipment from the '80s. The employees are underpaid while the management somehow makes six-figure salaries. And if you do want to help them, they dont accept donations under $15...so much for beggars cant be choosers.

It is legitimate.  StateWide Appeal has been in business since 1989.  Look at Statetroopers.org, Google StateWide Appeal, they raise money for the American Association of State Troopers, which is an organization open to the Police and State Troopers for a yearly fee.  AAST provides insurance and benefits for the members  and their children.  Do your research before you make a fool of yourself.

Hey, we at SAI are not "morons" and are we smart people and nice at that to. We work 12 hr shifts like everyone else and yet you will feel like crap, because people treat us like s***, and we cant say anything to you about it,we have to be nice and respectful of you and go to the next call. We go threw 100's of calls every hr and yes there those people who are straight up rude and there people who are nice. dont you remember the golden rule: do unto others us you would to them? yes the TSTA is a great foundation, I gave to it. and there is more than one telemarketing comp out there, In Texas all you have todo is be nice and say"put me on the Do Not Call List" and say thank you and hang up,easy as that

you have to say "place this number on your Do Not Call List." Not "TAKEMYGODDAMNNUMBEROFFYOURLIST!"-click-

What a pile of crap. Get a whistle and give the subhumans a good BLAST. If they're still stupid enough to call back REPEAT.

You don't need any "magic" words with morons like this, the whistle will do. Airhorns work too!