« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Ted Stevens Foundation Late To Register, Pay Fees
The Ted Stevens Foundation was founded in 2000 aiming to serve a variety of admirable causes and work on "educating and informing the public about the career of Senator Ted Stevens." The extent of its charitable work now looks questionable and after filing a FOIA request with Alaska, the Sunlight Foundation discovered that the group has failed to pay its dues and register with the state for last three years.
A shortage of money isn't their excuse. Back in 2005 The Ted Stevens Foundation, which was renamed North to the Future Foundation last year, had net assets of $1.7 million in 2004 and $2.3 million in 2005.
Besides spreading the word about Stevens' accomplishments, the group also aims "to make grants to other public charities and to provide programs which educate, encourage communication, relieve poverty and promote community welfare throughout the state of Alaska and the United States.”
How successful has it been at giving out money? According to Sunlight's research:
Between 2003 and 2005 the foundation has spent more than $380,000 on fundraisers but has given out only two grants: one for $40,000 to the Smithsonian Institute in 2004 and $10,000 to the Anchorage Rowing Association in 2005, according to the 990s.
So, then, what does this non-profit actually do? Back in 2004 The Washington Post ran an editorial taking a guess at the real purpose: to shake down lobbyists for the benefit of sitting politicians.
At an event held at the Capital Hilton in 2004, The Ted Stevens Foundation aimed raise $2 million with tables going for $50,000 each. Some lucky donors had a VIP at their table -- one of the two thirds of the Senate members that attended. At the time, Stevens was the chair of the Appropriations Committee and lobbyists were happy to donate to his "charity" for a little time by his ear.
The Washington Post editorial cuts at the heart of the problem with this kind of a "non-profit":
When foundations like this are set up for the benefit of sitting lawmakers, requests for contributions have the inevitable air of a shakedown: What lobbyist with an interest in appropriations matters would fail to give to Mr. Stevens's charity? Meanwhile, the money can come from corporations that are prohibited from giving directly to the senator's reelection campaign, and in far larger denominations than ordinary campaign contributions. All of this activity is subsidized by the taxpayers, since contributions to the fund are tax-deductible. Most disturbing of all, the Stevens foundation -- unlike some of the other charities with ties to lawmakers -- doesn't plan to disclose its donors or the amounts they give.
Comments (11)
Jake D. wrote on July 24, 2007 5:56 PM:WOO HOO! Something other than Gonzales today.
Seriously, when is TPM going to move off of Alaska Republicans and get to the next State, Alabama, the hotbed of GOP corruption and humidity?
johnnydoughey wrote on July 24, 2007 6:00 PM:This is an important person, and prison for an important person who commits a crime is extreme punishment. Just the consequence of losing importance is overwhelmingly cruel.
On the other hand, unimportant people who commit fraud deserve all the punishment they will inevitably get.
I can see it now:
OkieFromMuskogee wrote on July 24, 2007 6:27 PM:yes, Senator Stevens has committed a crime, and is extremely sorry for his actions, and because this patriot has served his country for 40 years, he deserves leniency. His fall from power has taken a great toll on him and his family and blah...blah...blah...
The Ted Stevens Foundation AKA the North to the Future Foundation filed IRS form 990 for 2005. It can be viewed at guidestar.org.
According to its Guidestar page, the purpose of this foundation is: TO ASSIST IN EDUCATING AND INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CAREER OF SENATOR TED STEVENS, TO MAKE GRANTS TO OTHER PUBLIC CHARITIES AND TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS WHICH EDUCATE, ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION, RELIEVE POVERTY AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY WELFARE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALASKA AND THE UNITED STATES.
In 2005 they gave a $10,000 grant to the Anchorage Rowing Association. The rest of their $108,000 in expenses included a $61,854 fundraising event, over $25,000 in legal and accounting fees, and a bunch of administrative stuff.
It sounds like a fine organization, doesn't it? Would anyone like to contribute?
Jane wrote on July 24, 2007 6:32 PM:What ?!? You mean the North to the Future Foundation's commitment to the charitable purpose of "educating and informing the public about the career of Senator Ted Stevens" does not allow it to contribute to the Stevens LDF?
Snark, Snark, Snark.
We have Stevens dead to rights and someone wants to change the subject.
Dave Bowman wrote on July 24, 2007 6:49 PM:Sounds like the Ted Stevens Foundation would be the perfect organization to hit up for funds to build the Ted Stevens Minimum Security Prison for White Collar Criminals in Anchorage.
Stevens and the Dukestir could sit in adjoining cells and regale each other with their long and distinguished acts of selfless servitude to the people...and share remodeling and decorating tips!
Nelly Bly wrote on July 24, 2007 8:39 PM:The '02 to '05 Ted Stevens Foundation 990s are available online at the Foundation Center's 990 Finder (no registration required - link below). The EIN# is 92-0172512.
'02 and '03 fundraising was light. '04 was the big year - the foundation took in $1.9 million versus $652k in '05.
Also in '04, the foundation donated a desk worth $40k to the American Indian Smithsonian Institute and incurred $21k in legal fees to do so.
Odd.
ryan wrote on July 24, 2007 9:21 PM:Sorry Jake our local guys are way more corrupt than AL and our congressial delegation is way more powerful. God I can't beleive I'm trying to argue that I live in the most corrupt state in the nation.
What?! wrote on July 24, 2007 10:16 PM:...gee, under IRS law, if charity is primarily used for the advancement of a political candidate, it isn't a charity...and may be liable for a 35% excise tax.
Some sharp reader out there ought to read IRS publication 557 and file the IRS complaint form and MAYBE you'll get a 5% finders fee on the tax the IRS hits em with!
Anonymous wrote on July 25, 2007 12:15 AM:This just in....
Ted Stevens and Don Young just earmarked soft three -not two- ply toilet paper AND 600 thread count sheets for all U.S. Federal Prisons
WoW
concerned citizen wrote on July 25, 2007 4:18 AM:I am all in favor of exposing this kind of thing. I wonder how many other lawmakers have established similar shake down rackets.
Utah eagle wrote on July 25, 2007 10:16 AM:Let's see....a $40,000 desk. I wonder if the individual that donated this to the foundation took a writeoff for the full appraised value or just the 'assessed' value. Of course, with Trevor McCabe on the foundation board I'll betcha that it took some heavy consulting to steer this through the loopholes. Ooops...Nice consulting gig for the folks at Phoenix Consulting.