The ex-head of an Olympia, Wash., nonprofit was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from the organization over three years.
Jacalyn Tobosa, who was appointed executive director of the Olympia Tumwater Foundation in 2007, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of second-degree theft. According to a report in The Olympian, the missing money was discovered when John Freedman, who was hired as an administrator for the foundation in 2008, discovered that multiple checks issued by Tobosa to her son’s landscaping business, which she hired to maintain Tumwater Falls Park. The checks were not supported by invoices in organizational financial records.
A subsequent audit revealed that Tobosa embezzled nearly $100,000 from the foundation between 2008 and 2011. She was fired in June 2011 and Tumwater Police Department began its investigation of the matter shortly thereafter.
In a written statement issued to The Olympian, Freedman noted that Tobosa’s theft had not affected the foundation's level of charitable work. Founded in 1950, the organization provides scholarships to local students, and manages Tumwater Falls Park and the Schmidt House.
Tobosa’s daughter, Kimberly Spada, is facing one charge of first-degree theft for allegedly stealing more than $5,000 from the foundation between June 2010 and May 2011. Spada had been hired by her mother to do bookkeeping in February 2011. She failed to show up for her arraignment on Sept. 11, and there is currently a warrant out for her arrest.
You can read the full story in The Olympian.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Forbes Selects NPT Jobs Career Center One Of The Best
Forbes magazine just selected NPT Jobs Career Center as one of the top nonprofit recruitment websites in the country. With more than 200,000 page views per month and 600 views per job posting, NPT Jobs Career Center is the place to consider when you are looking for a top executive or administrative position.
Unlike most media, our circulation is exclusively nonprofit executives and administrators. That means your recruitment dollars are aimed at the candidates mostly likely to have the experience and skill sets you need.
The NonProfit Times is now celebrating its 26th year and has won a number of journalism awards for its stories and in-depth coverage of nonprofits. You can take advantage of our reach through a variety of job posting packages that combine print and electronic media to find that unique person.
NPT Jobs Career Center is your direct link to over 300,000 subscribers to our e-newsletters, online and print publications. These subscribers represent over 200 titles in the executive and admin suites. Our posting packages are designed for a budget of any size and offer a range of posting options from print to online to interactive. With as few as 3 listings, the savings start adding up. And just as importantly, the number of qualified candidates will impress you. Most of our subscribers have bachelors and in many cases, masters degrees, with 18 years of nonprofit experience on average. Executive, development, marketing, financial and administrative categories are seeing the most growth.
We can reach the market immediately with our web and social media penetration and print where appropriate to get the most exposure for your job posting.
With the rebound in our economy, postings have increased and that means competition. Head to our nonprofit job posting packages page for more information.
Unlike most media, our circulation is exclusively nonprofit executives and administrators. That means your recruitment dollars are aimed at the candidates mostly likely to have the experience and skill sets you need.
The NonProfit Times is now celebrating its 26th year and has won a number of journalism awards for its stories and in-depth coverage of nonprofits. You can take advantage of our reach through a variety of job posting packages that combine print and electronic media to find that unique person.
NPT Jobs Career Center is your direct link to over 300,000 subscribers to our e-newsletters, online and print publications. These subscribers represent over 200 titles in the executive and admin suites. Our posting packages are designed for a budget of any size and offer a range of posting options from print to online to interactive. With as few as 3 listings, the savings start adding up. And just as importantly, the number of qualified candidates will impress you. Most of our subscribers have bachelors and in many cases, masters degrees, with 18 years of nonprofit experience on average. Executive, development, marketing, financial and administrative categories are seeing the most growth.
We can reach the market immediately with our web and social media penetration and print where appropriate to get the most exposure for your job posting.
With the rebound in our economy, postings have increased and that means competition. Head to our nonprofit job posting packages page for more information.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Khloe Kardashian: Husband's Charity Not A Scam
Reality star Khloe Kardashian has taken to the web to deny allegations that her husband Lamar Odom's charity is a scam.
A report on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program on March 31 alleged that many charities of top athletes don't fulfill their missions as stated. They cited Odom's charity Cathy's Kids as one of the examples, alleging that the organization hasn't given any money to cancer research even though it has raised nearly $2.2 million.
The charity was founded by Odom in 2004 and was named after the NBA star's mother who died from cancer. ESPN noted that the charity was supposed to raise funds for cancer research, but the report alleged that nearly 60 percent of donations has gone to finance two elite youth basketball travel teams and that there is no evidence that any of the remaining $900,000 went to cancer research.
The Huffington Post reported that on Tuesday, Kardashian took to her blog on the website Celebuzz to defend her husband from the allegations. She insisted that the Los Angeles Clippers star has personally donated "millions" of dollars to cancer research, and that none of the money from the charity went to help him or any member of his family.
She also sought to clarify the ultimate mission of Cathy's Kids, saying that the organization was founded with multiple purposes in mind including cancer research and helping underprivileged youth. "A decision was ultimately made that the charity should focus on one of those purposes — to help enrich the lives of underprivileged inner-city youth," wrote Kardashian. "It accomplished that goal. Cathy’s Kids helped fund multiple AAU basketball teams providing underprivileged youth with opportunities enriching their lives, providing financial support for coaching and travel to tournaments, helping inner-city youth on a path toward success and leading many participants to go on to college."
Aside from Odom's charity, the ESPN report also mentions alleged questionable practices by such well-known athletes as New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, whose foundation stopped filing tax returns five years ago, and NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, whose two charities allegedly spent no money on philanthropy in 2010.
A report on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program on March 31 alleged that many charities of top athletes don't fulfill their missions as stated. They cited Odom's charity Cathy's Kids as one of the examples, alleging that the organization hasn't given any money to cancer research even though it has raised nearly $2.2 million.
The charity was founded by Odom in 2004 and was named after the NBA star's mother who died from cancer. ESPN noted that the charity was supposed to raise funds for cancer research, but the report alleged that nearly 60 percent of donations has gone to finance two elite youth basketball travel teams and that there is no evidence that any of the remaining $900,000 went to cancer research.
The Huffington Post reported that on Tuesday, Kardashian took to her blog on the website Celebuzz to defend her husband from the allegations. She insisted that the Los Angeles Clippers star has personally donated "millions" of dollars to cancer research, and that none of the money from the charity went to help him or any member of his family.
She also sought to clarify the ultimate mission of Cathy's Kids, saying that the organization was founded with multiple purposes in mind including cancer research and helping underprivileged youth. "A decision was ultimately made that the charity should focus on one of those purposes — to help enrich the lives of underprivileged inner-city youth," wrote Kardashian. "It accomplished that goal. Cathy’s Kids helped fund multiple AAU basketball teams providing underprivileged youth with opportunities enriching their lives, providing financial support for coaching and travel to tournaments, helping inner-city youth on a path toward success and leading many participants to go on to college."
Aside from Odom's charity, the ESPN report also mentions alleged questionable practices by such well-known athletes as New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, whose foundation stopped filing tax returns five years ago, and NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, whose two charities allegedly spent no money on philanthropy in 2010.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Texas AG Investigating Cancer Foundation
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has reportedly launched an investigation into the nonprofit arm of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in an effort to determine what is happening to the money it has raised.
According to a report in The Austin American Statesman, the Abbott's office sent a letter to the CPRIT Foundation, now known as the Texas Cancer Coalition (TCC), on Friday to request that the organization cease all expenditures until the investigation is complete.
“Based on the preliminary information available to us at this time, we have serious legal concerns about the events that reportedly surrounded the formation of the TCC,” wrote G. David Whitley, the assistant deputy attorney general, in the letter.
TCC raised nearly $3.6 million over three years to supplement the six-figure salaries of CPRIT's top two executives and for conferences to fight cancer. The Foundation, however, was swept up in the ethical questions surrounding CPRIT. The state agency is being investigated by state prosecutors for allegedly mismanaging at least $56 million in grants. The investigation began after it was disclosed that CPRIT allegedly awarded an $11 million grant to a Dallas-base startup without any scientific or business review.
Abbott's office set its sights on TCC after it changed its name and mission. The attorney general believes the Foundation needed state authorization to make such a change. Craig Enoch, a lawyer for TCC, wrote in a response to Whitley's letter that state authorization was not necessary and that TCC leadership had discussed the potential change for months.
“The Foundation, in fact, is unaware of any authority requiring it to seek the Attorney General’s approval were it to actually dissolve and transfer its assets to another private charity with a similar mission,” wrote Enoch.
In terms of the funds raised, TCC spokesman Marc Palazzo told The Statesman that the money would be returned to the state once the organization pays its bills.
You can read the full story in The Austin American Statesman.
According to a report in The Austin American Statesman, the Abbott's office sent a letter to the CPRIT Foundation, now known as the Texas Cancer Coalition (TCC), on Friday to request that the organization cease all expenditures until the investigation is complete.
“Based on the preliminary information available to us at this time, we have serious legal concerns about the events that reportedly surrounded the formation of the TCC,” wrote G. David Whitley, the assistant deputy attorney general, in the letter.
TCC raised nearly $3.6 million over three years to supplement the six-figure salaries of CPRIT's top two executives and for conferences to fight cancer. The Foundation, however, was swept up in the ethical questions surrounding CPRIT. The state agency is being investigated by state prosecutors for allegedly mismanaging at least $56 million in grants. The investigation began after it was disclosed that CPRIT allegedly awarded an $11 million grant to a Dallas-base startup without any scientific or business review.
Abbott's office set its sights on TCC after it changed its name and mission. The attorney general believes the Foundation needed state authorization to make such a change. Craig Enoch, a lawyer for TCC, wrote in a response to Whitley's letter that state authorization was not necessary and that TCC leadership had discussed the potential change for months.
“The Foundation, in fact, is unaware of any authority requiring it to seek the Attorney General’s approval were it to actually dissolve and transfer its assets to another private charity with a similar mission,” wrote Enoch.
In terms of the funds raised, TCC spokesman Marc Palazzo told The Statesman that the money would be returned to the state once the organization pays its bills.
You can read the full story in The Austin American Statesman.
Monday, April 1, 2013
The April 1 Issue Of The NonProfit Times
Today is April Fools Day but it's no joke that the new issue of The NonProfit Times is now available.
Although the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013 Report is the highlight of our April 1 issue, there are other important stories included in this edition of NPT. Let's take a look at some of the top stories, including a new Special Report:
Special Report
Although the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013 Report is the highlight of our April 1 issue, there are other important stories included in this edition of NPT. Let's take a look at some of the top stories, including a new Special Report:
Special Report
- Business Value Boosted When Tied To Nonprofit: In this report, frequent NPT contributor Todd Cohen examines how corporations are moving beyond traditional philanthropy, trumpeting what they are doing to be good corporate citizens and promoting their social investments.
Articles
- Fundraising Via Mobile Apps Can Still Be A Challenge: There’s an app for almost everything, even in fundraising. With mobile devices reaching near-ubiquity, donors want to use their smartphones or tablets to give to their favorite charities. That doesn't mean it's easy to make this a reality for them.
- Americans Took More Deductions In 2011, Hitting $160 Billion: Americans took a collective $160.33 billion in tax deductions for charitable contributions in 2011, an increase of 1.4 percent compared to the $158.18 billion in 2010.
- Charities Push Senate On Restoring Deduction: Some of the nation’s most prominent charities and advocacy groups are asking the U.S. Senate Budget Committee to reconsider changes to the itemized deduction for charitable giving for fear that it would reduce giving by billions of dollars each year.
Columns
- 'Letter' Of The Law: NPT editor-in-chief Paul Clolery says sector leadership needs to take a firmer stand against Charity Navigator's new method for determining whether a charity is a good steward of donor largess.
- 'Y' This Is Important: The news that Medicare has agreed to pay the cost of the YMCA of the USA’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for up to 10,000 qualifying Medicare enrollees over the next three years, as reported on The NonProfit Times’ website, is not just good news for Y. It could benefit the American taxpayer as well, since the initiative is predicted to save Medicare an estimated $4.2 million over the next three years, and potentially $53 million over six years.
The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For In 2013
Each year, The NonProfit Times conducts a study to determine which nonprofits are the best for which to work. Many organizations come forward to see if they can be named the best, but only one can stake the claim as the number one Best Nonprofit To Work For.
The winner for this year's report, The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013, is the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), taking home the title home for the second year in a row. The veterans nonprofit was also named the overall best large organization, meaning it has 250 or more employees. Coming in second in that category was Alzheimer's Association, followed by Natural Resources Defense Council, American Heart Association, Year Up, and Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.
In terms of the overall rankings, WWP beat out by such well-known nonprofits as the LIVESTRONG Foundation (#19), DoSomething.org (#11), and Make-A-Wish Illinois (#30).
How do we come up with these rankings? It would seem that the things that make an organization great to work for are subjective, but there is a method to the process. Each year, NPT partners with Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Groups which conducts a survey of the nonprofits that wish to be ranked in the report. The survey studies all aspects of the organization including benefits and employment practices. Employees were also given a confidential survey of statements with which they could agree or disagree covering eight general categories: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training and Development, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Employee Engagement.
The average for all nonprofits that participated was 85 percent favorable rating; for those making the Best Workplaces list the average was 89 percent. The best averages came in Work Environment, 92 percent for all nonprofits surveyed and 94 for those making the list; Relationship with Supervisor, 89 percent of all and 92 percent for those making the list; and, Role Satisfaction and Overall Employee Engagement, each with 88 percent approval for all and 90 percent for those making the list.
Now that you know how the report was compiled, you can head to our website to see the complete list of the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013.
The winner for this year's report, The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013, is the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), taking home the title home for the second year in a row. The veterans nonprofit was also named the overall best large organization, meaning it has 250 or more employees. Coming in second in that category was Alzheimer's Association, followed by Natural Resources Defense Council, American Heart Association, Year Up, and Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.
In terms of the overall rankings, WWP beat out by such well-known nonprofits as the LIVESTRONG Foundation (#19), DoSomething.org (#11), and Make-A-Wish Illinois (#30).
How do we come up with these rankings? It would seem that the things that make an organization great to work for are subjective, but there is a method to the process. Each year, NPT partners with Harrisburg, Pa.-based Best Companies Groups which conducts a survey of the nonprofits that wish to be ranked in the report. The survey studies all aspects of the organization including benefits and employment practices. Employees were also given a confidential survey of statements with which they could agree or disagree covering eight general categories: Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training and Development, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Employee Engagement.
The average for all nonprofits that participated was 85 percent favorable rating; for those making the Best Workplaces list the average was 89 percent. The best averages came in Work Environment, 92 percent for all nonprofits surveyed and 94 for those making the list; Relationship with Supervisor, 89 percent of all and 92 percent for those making the list; and, Role Satisfaction and Overall Employee Engagement, each with 88 percent approval for all and 90 percent for those making the list.
Now that you know how the report was compiled, you can head to our website to see the complete list of the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2013.
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