Attorneys general in California and Massachusetts have released reports showing that professional solicitors pocketed much of the money they raised.

The California report says that professional solictors sent less than half of the money raised in the state in 2007 to charity and kept the remainder, reports the Associated Press.

The report says that 44 percent of the $162-million raised was actually given to charity. Professional solicitorsreceive a percentage from each donation or a flat fee. In some instances, fund-raising costs exceeded the amount raised for charity.

The state attorney general’s office in Massachusetts says almost two-thirds of all charitable donations collected in Massachusetts were directed to professional solicitors instead of benefiting charities, reports The Boston Globe.

Out of $284.5-million raised in 621 campaigns, $100.8-million went to the charities, according to the report, which is conducted annually.

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