My previous post: https://thedonald.win/p/Fz6S3yVN/please-readshare-regarding-blm-a/
According to some new information coming out, the "Black Lives Matter Foundation" (the 501c3 charity I linked to in my last post) is completely separate from the BLM Global Network/blacklivesmatter.com.
BuzzFeed article: https://archive.is/V8gKF FactCheck article: https://archive.is/V2JmX
Here are my takeaways:
- Proof positive - BLM Global Network is not a nonprofit. They have allegedly filed to become one, but their 501c3 status has not been approved. Instead, all of their donations are managed by Thousand Currents. This means they're not required to file a form 990 or make public their expenses.
Cade, the ActBlue spokesperson, confirmed that the donations made through ActBlue go to Thousand Currents for Black Lives Matter.
Benjamin Leff, a law professor at American University who specializes in the regulation of nonprofits, told us by phone that “the sponsoring organization is responsible” for ensuring “that the sponsored organization spends the money in a way that is consistent with the law.” He said the sponsored organization does not have to file its own Forms 990.
- According to the 2019 Thousand Currents audit, of the nearly $1.8 million that was released to BLM Global Network, only $89,879 (JUST 5%) was spent on grants. $433,453 was spent on payroll. $193,159 was spent on "travel and meals". $829,540 was spent on "consultant fees" (????)
See page 7 under "Fiscal Project" column: https://thousandcurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Thousand-Currents-06.30.19-FS-FINAL.pdf
- The BLM Foundation (501c3 nonprofit) and the BLM Global Network (nothing??) claim to have no affiliation, but there is a $62,000 cash grant from Thousand Currents to the BLM Foundation in 2017.
See page 50: https://thousandcurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/THOUSAND-CURRENTS-2017-990-PDC.pdf
- Because BLM Global Network is not a 501c3, they are not bound by the IRS restrictions that prevent them from engaging in political activity or verbal/written political endorsements/opposition. And according to a recent press release, they have every intention of using that convenient loophole to their advantage:
Beginning in 2021, BLM Global Network Foundation will roll out its education platform, developing curriculum around its contributions to media, as well as a political education program.
- The BLM Foundation came first. It was registered in 2015, while the BLM Global Network was registered in 2017. Despite this, BLM Global Network is trying - with great success so far - to get all assets to the BLM Foundation frozen and donations diverted back to them. This is significant because their stated goals are completely opposite of one another.
Although the names are similar, the organizations have very different stances on police relations. While the Black Lives Matter movement has advocated for the "national defunding of the police" and reinvestment of money into Black community resources, Barnes’ foundation wants to "help bring the police and the community closer together in an effort to save lives."
This is awesome. Quick question - when you look at the Thousand Currents audit, how do we know that the numbers only represent BLM? Is it possible that they could represent other organizations as well and this number is an aggregate?
So the audit itself is for all of Thousand Currents' expenses. That first column ONLY is what represents BLM.
I feel pretty confident in that because the financial/administrative director for Thousand Currents said as much (shown in the 2 paragraphs quoted in the image). He said they released nearly $1.8 million to BLM and that their expenses were broken down in the "fiscal project" column.
The rest of the columns represent other projects/organizations/expenses that Thousand Currents contributed to unrelated to BLM.
Got it, thanks!