Posts Categorized: Director Duties

Ex-Charity Head Faces Allegations of $3.8M Embezzlement

October 24, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Director Duties, News, Nonprofits

Russell Brace, the former head of United Mid-Coast Charities Inc, a social services organization located in Maine, is facing allegations in a civil lawsuit of embezzling $3.8 million from the organization. The organization alleges that over 13 years Brace deposited millions of dollars in donations intended for the charity into bank accounts he controlled. The …

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Is Preventing Poverty Charitable?

September 4, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Board, Director Duties, News, Nonprofits

According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the answer is No. CRA recently told Oxfam Canada that its mission to prevent poverty was too broad in that it could benefit people who are not already poor. The review was part of a standard filing to renew Oxfam Canada’s nonprofit status as required under a Canadian …

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Another Win for NY AG Schneiderman

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is following his big win earlier this month with a $522,000 pay out from a Brooklyn rabbi who collected hundreds of thousands of dollars for fake charities. Rabbi Yaakov Weingarten pled guilty in NY State Supreme Court to felony tax fraud for soliciting donations from thousands of donors …

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To Take Or Not to Take … (A Scandalous Donation)

America’s historically black colleges and universities are facing a hard choice: continue struggling for much needed funds or accept a donation from David and Charles Koch. From one perspective, this is a win-win scenario. The colleges get funding in the face of decreases in government funding and aid and the Koch brothers will perhaps attract …

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May is for Embezzlement Convictions

May 15, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Director Duties, News, Nonprofits, Scams

Yesterday was a good reminder for charities that any organization is susceptible to embezzlement. First, a man was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting he had defrauded charities by billing them for, but not delivering, prizes to be auctioned at fundraisers. The prizes included a walk-on role on Desperate Housewives and tickets to …

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How Does the Donald Sterling Scandal Affect Nonprofits?

Shortly after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced league sanctions against LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his recorded racist comments, UCLA announced that it was terminating its agreement with the Donald T. Sterling Charitable Foundation that would have brought the university $3 million in research funds. The Foundation had agreed to provide the money over …

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