Kerry Kennedy

RFK Human Rights I've worked in the international nonprofit sector for quite some time, and RFK Human Rights is, by far, the most dysfunctional organization I have ever been a part of. Financial management is a veritable disaster (as evidenced by the routine budget shortfalls and family friends routinely bailing it out w/ multi-million dollar donations). There is no strategic direction whatsoever and the lack of forward, creative thinking among decision makers is, quite honestly, a joke. The extraordinarily high executive staff salaries are absurd, comprising well over half of the organization's expenditures. A considerable amount of the remaining budget is allocated for travel for executive/senior staff and rolling out the red carpet for ?celebrities? who attend their fundraising events that are always more vapid glitz than actual substance or impact. Opportunities for professional development are nonexistent and the organization invests zero capital in junior to mid-level staff. RFK Human Rights preaches human rights and respect for basic dignity in public, but often treat their fellow colleagues with little respect and outright disdain. There is no management structure, not one competent financial professional on the payroll, and a nonexistent human resources department. I worked at the organization for several years, and during that time, had one performance evaluation that lasted all of five minutes. Work plans are drafted, but not followed or otherwise respected by senior/supervisory staff. Instead, the whims of the President are given absolute precedence-- and those whims are often counterproductive and expensive, both in terms of dollars spent and staff time. The overall waste of resources is staggering and the related lack of accountability and transparency should warrant serious misgivings about ever joining the organization. Staff morale is consistently low and the chasm between junior staff and ?senior staff,? who often have less experience and credentials than those ostensibly below them, is evident. For these reasons, and many more, the organization annually "restructures," is forced to "lay off" the few good employees it actually has in order to "save money" and has gradually become a laughing stock in the industry. Prediction: RFK Human Rights will cease to exist in five years.