Are There Lessons for Donors in the Story of Steve Bannon and We Build the Wall?
Steve Bannon and others have been charged with defrauding donors as part of a campaign to support the construction of a border wall. It’s an atypical story, but... Read more.
Slowly Moving Forward: An Update on the Lawsuit Against the Trump Foundation
Nothing of substance has yet been decided in the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit against the Trump Foundation. But make no mistake: the suit is still moving... Read more.
Crossing the Line? A Closer Look at the Alleged Related-Party Transactions of the Trump Foundation
Among the claims of the New York AG’s suit against the Trump Foundation is that it engaged in transactions with related parties which are prohibited by private... Read more.
Dangerous Grey Zones: The Trump Foundation’s Political Activities
It’s pretty clear that Trump used his foundation to benefit his political campaign as president. What can other donors learn from these charges against the foundation?... Read more.
Sloppy Bookkeeping: More Ways the Trump Foundation Ran Afoul of Nonprofit Law
Part the New York AG’s suit against the Trump Foundation focuses on its flawed internal policies. The suit spotlights potential trouble spots that all private... Read more.
Fine Print: Trump Foundation Suit Shines a Light on Compliance Issues That Are Often Overlooked
Many people with private foundations operate them too informally. A review of some of the charges leveled against the Trump Foundation by New York State highlights... Read more.
Private Foundations and the Law: The Trump Case as a Learning Moment
The State of New York’s unusual action against a private foundation will likely serve as a wake-up call to many families and individuals who make use of these... Read more.
Dept. of Bad Ideas: Why Charitable Schemes to Offset the New Tax Law Won’t Work
States are looking to create charitable organizations that residents can donate to in lieu of paying state and local taxes. Here's why these schemes are doomed to... Read more.
When Can Museums Sell Their Works of Art? Lessons From the Berkshires
The planned sale of a significant portion of the artwork collection of the Berkshire Museum raises questions for both other museums and many nonprofits. ... Read more.
When Donors Back Out: Are Charitable Pledges Legally Enforceable?
We continue our three-part series on collecting charitable pledges. First, we asked if a charity should even try to collect from deadbeat donors. Now we ask if they... Read more.
How Much Can Donors Really Know About a University’s Finances?
Deep murkiness surrounds the fundraising and finances of higher ed institutions, especially those that raise money through supporting foundations. The result? Donor... Read more.
Written in Stone? Not Quite. Another Interesting Naming Rights Story
Donors may be gone, but they can't be forgotten. We look at a case at Brown University in which a building is renamed in favor of a new and wealthier donor. Does... Read more.
What Is Philanthropy? And Are These Stars Engaged In It?
Is the measure of a philanthropist only what he or she donates to charity from their own personal assets? We look at that question amid claims that many celebrities... Read more.
A Reasonable Game Plan? About That Tom Brady Charity Story
There's no big scandal here, as some media reports might imply. But fundraising arrangements involving Tom Brady and a nonprofit he's backed for years raise some... Read more.
Blowback: When Big Donors Turn Out to Be Shady Characters
A crazy case involving a wealthy family and a Massachusetts college raises a sticky question: When charities want to distance themselves from the tarnished reputations... Read more.
Can a Charity Spend Donated Money Any Way it Wants?
When we donate to an organization, it's implied that our gift will be used to advance its mission. Is it legal when nonprofits divert donated funds to other purposes? ... Read more.
Beyond the Accountant: What a Philanthropy Advisor Does
Individuals give more to charity than foundations by a factor of four to one. Yet individuals frequently undertake insufficient due diligence or follow-up. How can... Read more.
Here’s a Reminder of Who Really Controls the Money in Donor-Advised Funds
Donor-advised funds are growing ever more popular. But a downside is that donors don't have full control of their money, as one couple learned the hard way. ... Read more.
Giver Beware: Yet Another Reminder to Investigate Before You Donate
A new charity scandal out of Nebraska reminds us that, with state watchdogs largely asleep when it comes to policing nonprofits, it's up to donors to do their own... Read more.
What Do Trump’s Tax Returns Tell Us About His Philanthropy?
Is Trump more generous that some media reports suggest? That's one possible takeaway from new revelations about his tax liabilities over recent years.... Read more.
What Do Trump’s Tax Returns Tell Us About His Philanthropy?
Is Trump more generous that some media reports suggest? That's one possible takeaway from new revelations about his tax returns.... Read more.
Whatever About the Rule of Law: Naming Rights and Sleeping Watchdogs
Squabbles over revoking naming rights from long ago gifts may not seem like a big deal. But these controversies offer a window into the weak and ad hoc enforcement... Read more.
At the Witness Table in Congress: University Endowments
Earlier in the year, Congress asked for endowment information from America's 56 wealthiest schools. Now it's holding hearings as part of an ongoing investigation.... Read more.
Forget the Critics. If a Donor Owes You, Collect—Even If They’re Dead
After taking heat for trying to collect an unfulfilled pledge by a donor who suddenly died, Duke University withdrew the claim. Here's why that was the wrong move.... Read more.
Come One, Come All. Is It Good the IRS Has Made It Easier to Form a Nonprofit?
Now that it's easier to form nonprofits, will we see more fraudulent charities? And maybe even worse, more duplicative groups in a crowded sector already infamous... Read more.
Dept. of Fine Print: What Does “All Proceeds Go to Charity” Actually Mean?
Questions over Donald Trump’s charitable claims have spotlighted an issue of surprising murkiness, one with both practical and legal implications for fundraising... Read more.
Bad Governance, Big Losses: What Went Wrong at the Schwan Foundation
Bad investment decisions wiped out much of the wealth of a $1 billion endowment. The litigation that has followed shines an important light on foundation governance.... Read more.
Watch Out, Universities: Congress Is Asking Hard Questions About Your Endowments
“Despite these large and growing endowments, many colleges and universities have raised tuition far in excess of inflation.” So went the opening salvo in the... Read more.
Don’t Forget the Fine Print: Another Case of a Restricted Gift Gone Wrong
A funder is suing a university for not living up to its end of a major gift. This unhappy case is sure to hinge on whether there was a concise funding contract—which... Read more.
Your Big Benefactor Just Died. Now What? Collecting a Pledge from a Donor’s Estate
We've been digging into the legal enforceability of charitable pledges. Here, we look at how a whole new set of concerns and circumstances emerges when a donor passes... Read more.
