MADD Canada has frozen its telemarketing fundraising activities in response to reports alleging 80 per cent of its donations go to professional fundraisers.

Across the country, branches of the non-profit grassroots organization are calling for a full outside audit after the Toronto Star reported that only 19 cents of every dollar raised actually goes towards combating drunk driving or toward victim services.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving brings in $12 million a year.

Leading volunteers are furious that MADD has agreed only to an internal review of the charity's finances and won't heed their demand for an outside firm to look at the charity's books.

In British Columbia, Bob Rorison, president of MADD's Greater Vancouver chapter, denied the allegations, but agreed an audit should be carried out to restore public confidence in the charity.

"We have to do the right thing. We have to be totally transparent to the public, the public that have donated in the past — and the public that are considering it in the future," he said.

"We need to be 100-per-cent transparent we will do that and make the public confident that we are absolutely doing the right thing."

Rorison said there is no time frame for the completion of the internal audit.

The Star article reported that most of the money raised goes to administration costs, telemarketers and door-to-door canvassers seeking donations.

But Andrew Murie, CEO of the organization, said the Star article "mischaracterized" MADD's efforts.

He said the apparent misdirection of funds is because MADD considers fundraising to be part of its charitable work, since MADD mixes its appeal for donations with public education. Murie said the practice is approved by the federal regulator.

Karen Dunham, the organization's national president, also defended the accounting practices.

"The telemarketer plays an important part in the role of MADD Canada," she said. "When they're asking the donor for money, they're also educating the donor that impaired driving is the country's No. 1 criminal cause of death."

Door-to-door and collection efforts will continue in local branches.