The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "tax-exempt organizations" ...
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Tax-free agencies get little scrutiny
The state of South Dakota depends on sales tax for a large portion of its revenue. But the state has also issued thousands of tax-exempt licenses to nonprofit organizations. The question about these organizations is whether they are actually providing relief to others and if they even still exist. But these questions might not be answered because the state doesn’t track the transactions, even though they are losing revenue.
Tags: sales tax; revenue; South Dakota; tax system; nonprofit organizations; tax-exempt; tax laws; state tax
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Takings Initiatives Accountability Project: The Center for Public Integrity investigates ballot initiatives that would radically change land-use and environmental regulation in five Western states
The [non-partisan]Center for Public Integrity investigated 2006 "ballot initiatives that were designed to radically change land-use and environmental regulation in five Western states. They discovered that a trio of "secret donors" accounted for 99% of the propostions' bankrolls, and some of the initiatives did not comply with campaign-finance and other regulations. Then the Center revealed that 85 percent of the funding was coming from a single wealthy real estate investor and Libertarian activist, Howard RIch All but the Arizona inititative failed at the ballot. The Center for Public Integrity set up a stand-alone website-- www.takings initiatives.org-- and filed more than 50 articles on it. "Our general practice-- and a novel one as far as we can tell-- was to mount verbatim transcripts of the interviews on our website, including audio recordings where available. We sought to allow proponents, opponents funders and experts to have a chance to present their side of the story in their own words." The Center also checked with state and federal regulators for compliance of relevant laws and regulations.
Tags: Takings Initiatives; takings clause; ballot initiatives; land-use regulation; environmental regulation; tax-exempt organizations; Howard Rich; Andrea Millen Rich; Council for Responsible Government; William A. Wilson; state campaign-finance filings; public records requests; state freedom of information requests; America At Its Best; Americans for Limited Government; John Tillman; Howard Ahmanson; Fieldstead & Company; property rights; prefessional signature-gatherers; Colorado At Its Best; term limits; nonprofit advocacy organizations; Sam Adams Alliance; Sam Adams Foundation; Legislative Education Action Drive; Parents in Charge Foundation; Social Security Choice.org; Illinois Charitable Trust Bureau; educational vouchers; tuition tax credits; National Taxpayers Union; First Class Education; Susquehanna International Group; Jeffrey YAss; Cato Institute; Alliance for School Choice; Decision Education Foundation; Eric Brooks; Susan Mitchell; Pete Sepp; Kern Family Foundation; Generac Power Systems, Inc.; Milton Friedman; Taxpayer Bill of Rights; TABOR; Laird Maxwell; This House is MY Home; John Whitehead; Lower Manhattan Development Corporation; Exoxemis, Inc.; Family Farm Preservation Pact; Citizens for Community Protection; Kelo v. City of New London; eminent domain; New York Millionaires Assistance Act; Wallace Global Fund; Nicholas C. Dranias; PRNewswire; Eric O'Keefe; getliberty.com; George Soros
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Helms Center Amends Tax Returns
"When Jesse Helms pledged thousands of his papers to Wingate College in 1987, he triggered the creation of a nonprofit foundation to preserve them. Now, The Jesse Helms Center Foundation has $11 million in assets, including a $3.3 million building...But an Observer examination of the tax=exempt Center's IRE filings show that it spent far more on overhead -- more than 70 percent in some years -- and less on programs than recommended by organizations that monitor nonprofits."
Tags: 990s; nonprofit; tax; Guidestar; library; Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
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Jackson's protests benefit his family, friends
The Sun-Times reports on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's questionable finances and deals. The investigation reveals that Jackson "has been able to parlay his crusade for minority empowerment into lucrative contracts for his close friends and even members of his family." The main findings are that: Jackson blessed major telecommunications and media mergers after his, as well as his friends' organization received multi-million-dollar contracts from the industry; that Jackson's sons received one of the most lucrative distributorships from Anheuser-Busch, the company that their father boycotted in the 80s for its record on race; that the sons will not say how many minorities work at their business; that Jackson received $50,000 from the state of Illinois for a Civil Right Library that was never built; and that Jackson paid through his nonprofit organizations $110,000 to a mistress who bore him an out-of-wedlock child.
Tags: FOI requests; fund-raising; tax-exempt; nonprofit; charity; civil rights; minorities; affirmative action; Ameritech; Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
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Spending the tobacco money
The Star-Tribune reports on the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco, an organization created in 1998 to help smokers quit smoking. The investigation finds that the organization is spending most of its money on advocating smoking bans in bars and restaurants. A database created from court documents, which shows the connections between the organization and grant recipients, reveals heavy insider funding. MPAAT shifted course from the voluntary cessation oriented program even though its "own statewide survey (...) provided evidence that the smoking ban strategy would never work."
Tags: CAR; lobbying; public health; smoking attitudes; nonprofit; tax-exempt status
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Operation Safety Net
The Greeley Tribune reports on "how Sal Salazar, a well-known local nonprofit organizer, spent more than $100,000 in state grant funding." The story reveals that Salazar, who operates a program for troubled youth, cannot document what he did with the money. Though a few local youth group report receiving help from Salazar's organization, neither they nor he can remember specific amounts. City and state officials have failed to supervise the spending of the grant.
Tags: Colorado Open Records Act; FOI request; IRS; tax-exempt status; children; teenagers; gangs; crime; Tony Grampsas Youth Services
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A Whole New Game
The Columbus Dispatch explores the Ohio High School Athletic Association's "power and priorities, driven by its increasing wealth and influence." The four-day series reveals that "the nonprofit organization, known for its by-the book enforcement of rules, operates without scrutiny." as its spends the money collected through "big-money sports tournaments and exclusive ball contracts." The investigation details how the association "has taken a hands-off approach to monitoring expenses, student transfers and academic standards affecting 225, 000 athletes throughout Ohio." The report uncovers an internal audit warning of "potentially unethical and illegal activity" and showing that "the association could be jeopardizing its tax-exempt status."
Tags: schools; student athletes; state government; insurance; stadium; contracts; championships
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Christian 'PAC' blurs church-state separation
This pre-election story examines "whether involvement by area churches in local political races potentially violated rules governing tax-exempt organizations." The reporter details the activity of "a political committee largely staffed by area clergy, who have litmus tests on politico-religious views" and have publicly endorsed local candidates. The story reveals that the church group - called Community Impact Committee - has been formed "in an apparent effort to get around the constitutional wall that separates church from state."
Tags: churches; tax-exempt; elections; voters; clergy; federal law
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American Heart Foundation
KCCI-TV investigates an individual who started his own charitable organization called the "American Heart Foundation," which sounds strikingly similar to the well-established American Heart Association. He filed for tax-exempt status and opened the Bonanza Bingo parlor in Des Moines to fund the foundation. The investigation found that the AHF's founder/executive director can't account for any members, never funded any heart research, exposed the fact that he didn't hold seminars he claimed he did in state documents, and that he funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to his own for-profit company.
Tags: TAPE; Greenwood American Heart Foundation-Bonanza Bingo Contest entry Charities Scam IRS FOIA
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No title (id: 13061)
Many nonprofits look and act like normal companies-running businesses, making money. U.S. News & World Report looks at why they are not paying Uncle Sam. Included is a list of executive salaries paid and a graph showing the dramatic growth in revenues and assets of non-profits in the last 15 years. Organizations investigated include National Geographics Explorers Hall, the PGA Tour, Alta Bates Medical Center, the Humane Society, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and Underwriters Laboratories. (Oct. 2, 1995)
Tags: Pound Cohen Loeb CAR Tax Exempt Income Tax IRS 990 Charities 10 pgs.