Nonprofit
Big costs and lack of oversight for southern California transit agency
Investigative Newsource in San Diego reports on the North County Transit District, which was overhauled and largely outsourced four years ago with significant consequences. Newsource reports that the “the turnover among upper management at North County Transit District has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and has, at times, put riders at risk.”
Read MoreAthlete charities often lack standards
“An ‘Outside the Lines’ investigation of 115 charities founded by high-profile, top-earning male and female athletes has found that most of their charities don’t measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money,” according to ESPN’s story.
Read MoreIn nonprofit game, athletes post losing records
“But an examination of the group’s financial records — part of a Globe review of more than 150 Internal Revenue Service filings by 50 nonprofits operated by professional athletes — reveals that just 37 cents of every dollar raised by the Josh Beckett Foundation went toward its mission to “improve the health and well-being of…
Read MoreThousands of California teachers missing needed credentials
According to an analysis from California Watch, nearly 1 in 10 teachers lack the necessary credentials for their positions. Using data from the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California Watch found more than 32,000 school employees lacked proper authorization between 2007 and 2011. According to the report, “The problem is greater at low-performing schools, where…
Read MoreLack of transparency, nervous feelings surround three Haiti mining permits
Haiti Grassroots Watch reports: “The population of Cadouche, a small village about 12 kilometers south of Cap-Haitian in Haiti’s North department, is nervous about three new mining exploitation permits granted last December in an opaque and secretive process.” Residents of the area, who told Haiti Grassroots Watch they are concerned the mining will poison their…
Read MoreDonors deceived, money meant for charity goes to telemarketer
Million of dollars in donations intended for charities have instead gone to the telemarketing firm soliciting the donations, an investigation from Bloomberg Markets found. InfoCision Management Corp. claims on its website to raise more money for charities over the phone than any other company in the world. But one-sided contracts leave the majority of money…
Read MoreHumanitarian institutions contributing to deforestation
“An investigation by Haiti Grassroots Watch (HGW) in the Upper Turgeau region of Port-au-Prince discovered that about 100 “transitional shelters” – often called “T-Shelters” –were donated to earthquake victims and built in places where, prior to the 2010 catastrophe, there were trees, bushes, or at the very least, no houses.” “Today, thanks to the donations…
Read MoreMajor increase in spending leads to concerns over health care costs
There’s no doubt that every city should have a children’s hospital, but what about three? Gilbert Gaul with Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with McClatchy, takes a hard look at why Orlando and other cities are building multiple children’s hospital, and who’s behind the push. The leading independent children’s hospitals are nonprofits, but you wouldn’t know…
Read MoreCharity’s director has felony past, including theft
Shaun Hittle, of the Lawrence Journal-World, investigates one charity in Lawrence, KS, and the man behind it. Andrew Gruber, The Purple Heart Veterans Foundation’s director who payed his brother’s fundraising business nearly a half million dollars in 2010 is now being investigated on past criminal charges. Among many other charges, Andrew spent time in a Kansas prison for…
Read MoreMaui nonprofit questioned after financial review shows high amount of unspent grants
The Wailuku Main Street Association, a nonprofit organization that supports and preserves small towns, has “accumulated more than $374,000 in unspent county grants.” The organization claims that it is “frugal” practices that have allowed the buildup of unspent money. Critics of the nonprofit also question why the organization isn’t required to show receipts or documentation…
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