I'm not sure about the thrift stores where you live, but in Nashville there are several pseudo charity thrifts that are the same way. A long time ago I worked for a Government Access Channel, where we would tape various government committees and air them back later. One of the committees was the Metro Charitable Solicitation Board which has to approve permits for solicitation for money in Davidson County, everything from Salvation Army Bell Ringers to "charity" thrift stores. There were a couple of them, I won't divulge names that were "Not for profit companies running the thrift store" yet managed to only donate 4% of the gross income to the named charity. I remember a few times the commissioners asking them point blank why the amount was so low. The thrift store people said that the amount was the best they could do and the laws of Tennessee did not specify what a minimum percentage was , therefore the Board had no choice but renew the permit. Logan
