Diabetes charity faces criticism over fund allocation
Diabetes Wellness faces scrutiny after financial reviews show only 23% of Swedish donations support research. The competing Diabetes Association directs 80% of funds to research. International money transfers raise additional questions about charity spending priorities.
Diabetes Wellness collects more donations than any other Swedish diabetes organization. Swedes donated nearly 290 million kronor ($27 million) to the charity over the past four years.
The organization's website urges visitors to 'support research.' But a review of financial documents reveals different spending patterns.
Large sums moved to the United States in 2022. Five million kronor came from Norway, 17 million from Finland, and about 25 million from Sweden.
Only 23% of Swedish donations to Diabetes Wellness went to research last year. The competing Diabetes Association spent 80% of its funds on research during the same period.
Charity officials defended their spending in a recent statement. They explained that international transfers support global research collaborations.
This funding gap raises questions about donor expectations. Many contributors likely assume their money primarily supports scientific studies.
The charity's CEO addressed criticism about marketing expenses versus research funding. He acknowledged the concerns but emphasized their broader mission.
Sweden has one of Europe's highest diabetes rates, affecting nearly 5% of adults. This makes transparent charity spending particularly important for public trust.