Unintended consequences of expense ratio guidelines: The Avon breast cancer walks

This case study examines how donor and rating agency focus on percentage-based expense ratios exacerbated pressures on the Avon Product Foundation’s breast cancer walks. Beginning in 2002, Avon changed its business and accounting practices in ways that eventually helped it report better compliance with charity monitor guidelines. However, the number of walkers and amounts of funds raised dropped; the new accounting practices are less transparent and of questionable conformity with GAAP.