The operation of the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation is being called into question by two independent watchdog groups according to a new report by ESPN.
CharityWatch and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy examined the Commanders' foundation's tax filings and said there are "enough apparent red flags to warrant attention from attorneys general" in Maryland and Virginia, Tisha Thompson of ESPN reported Thursday. The foundation receives upward of 75 percent of its donations from the team's fans and the public and its stated mission is to help needy children in the D.C. area.
ESPN's Tisha Thompson had more on The Hoffman Show:
ESPN begin to look into the foundation and its finances after a caller into Team 980's Russell & Medhurst told the story of how a $14,822 check a season-ticket holder received from the foundation for the 50/50 raffle bounced. The Commanders released a statement claiming the issue was a "bank error" and said the fan had received payment.
"There are so many red flags here, it's hard to keep score," CharityWatch's executive director Laurie Styron told ESPN.
According to ESPN, the review found the Commanders' charity: lacks sufficient independent oversight (with team co-CEO Tanya Snyder was the foundation's only voting member), failed to disclose a company it regularly lists as one it owes money to is owned by Dan Snyder, "included in its financial filings unusual transactions," and "made grants to organizations that are not in line with its stated mission."
After ESPN asked about Tanya Snyder being the sole board member, the Commanders responded that four additional members had been added, all of whom work for the team, including team president Jason Wright. For Aaron Dorfman, president and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, filling the board with employees of the Commanders was problematic, "The potential for abuse is really, really high."
Commanders spokesperson Jean Medina responded with this statement to ESPN: "The Washington Commander owners, players, donors, alumni, and staff have dedicated time and resources to helping others and we are very proud of the work that has been accomplished, while becoming even more integrated as a community partner in the Washington region."
The Commanders' website states its charity has given away more than $31 million since 2000. However, the number on the charity's government filings is $20 million. Medina told ESPN the website is the more accurate number and the government figure hasn't been updated since 2016.
"It's always a red flag when a charity's marketing doesn't reconcile with its financial reporting," said CharityWatch's Styron.
Read the full report on ESPN here.
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