Let's Get Honest! Absolutely Uncommon Analysis of Family & Conciliation Courts' Operations, Practices, & History

Identify the Entities, Find the Funding, Talk Sense!

Posts Tagged ‘“Notice the Disregarded Entities (LLCs) on Tax-Exempt Entities filing Forms 990

Got a Campaign, a Cause, an Advocate You Want (Me, Us, Others) to Promote, Support, Publicize or Volunteer For? FIRST, Understand “Entity” and Find Which One You’re Promoting. Investopedia, Defining “Accounting Entity” Shows The Risks of Failure to Comprehend the Concept. [Draft, Oct. 26, 2021, Publ. May 18, 2022: at 27K words…].

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ABOUT THIS LONG and LONG-DELAYED POST (You may want to read first!):
 
“WTF?”What’s going on here?


This is what’s going on: I’m in housing transition: I’ll be out of this place within the next 24 hours, literally, and still not exactly sure how to reach the next (safe place) destination about one state away. I know it will represent a blogging pause, so I went through my most recent drafts, looked for some which were most helpful, and least embarrassing in format. Three or four qualified, but I chose this one. The most embarrassing aspect is its obnoxious length. On the other hand, within the contents is plenty of useful information; people who may follow my writing will understand better. It’s focused on a key concept and I think illustrates it at length (literally…). It was drafted eight months ago — that’s a long time, but this is still a worthwhile post for the patient readers, or those who understand it may work better read in installments (some today, some tomorrow…).


Parts of it apply to different situations:  for example, (not its main focus, but) I see on scrolling through it today (5/18/2022), I’d shown the tax returns of what’s now called “Evident Change” but was then “National Council on Crime and Delinquency,” (inc. 1907 and I’d said, may just have been the model AFCC was following, only with family courts, not juvenile…)  NCCD began with associations of probation officers, definitely a focus on the juvenile (age group), which I’d just Tweeted on yesterday.  NCCD’s California Registry of Charitable Trusts “RRF” filings also show which governments — this usually shows which USA governments or government agencies — it was taking grants from. I still remember the shock of discovering, it was taking grants from a whole selection of governments OUTside the USA.  From yesterday’s Tweet, I recall (possibly post http://wp.me/psBXH-2KW, but check Twitter) I’d written in 2014 but (another long blogging pause, that time for family court aftermath litigation) only posted in 2017.  These delays happen at times, especially when your out put doesn’t keep up with your own research, which never stops…  NCCD (Evident Change) has an office not far from AFCC’s office in Madison, Wisconsin (by “not far” I mean, when I last looked, a very short WALK away, around the block).  I would say that’s an entity to watch although it’s not much in the news.  Learn who it’s been and what it wants to do:  this link will redirect:  https://NCCDGlobal.org


I may never get around to splitting or further developing the material on this post. I can’t see that far into my own future, but I hope its serious topic resonates with gut instinct that there HAS to be a better way to categorize and keep track of advocacy groups, and governments. Before 2022, VAWA Reauthorization and other media “events” and campaigns, this was where my blog was going: to revisit and re-emphasize the concept of “Entity.” (Without the entity you can’t track the money…Looking for them is its own set of lessons). Another example: I see I had a link to the California Secretary of State Business Entities Search site. This will redirect — the appearance and function of that state has since migrated into a whole new format; at some levels it has more functions, but in display, in many ways less, making communications on findings among (normal people) harder… Government (and private) databases migrating platforms and undergoing format changes will happen, but still important to notice as it happens.  “ENJOY…” //LGH May 18, 2022.


From California: (Businesssearch.sos.ca.gov website delineates what types can and cannot be searched on its main database, and how to find the other types of ENTITIES.

Post Title and Shortlink:

Got a Cause? Want to Promote an Advocate? Or Donate or Volunteer? Fine, but FIRST, Understand “Entity.” Investopedia Defines “Accounting Entity” and Why You Need to Get the Concept. (Oct. 26, 2021, Draft), Publ. ay 18, 2022 at 27K words. short-link ends -d2d even if this title may vary before I publish!

Let’s Talk “ENTITIES.”  Let’s speak “entity” and have some idea what one is — and isn’t.  This illustrates when someone or group of individuals, in self-descriptions (on-line) want to be seen as though “it” were.

Why Not Speak “Entity”? It’s the language of business, and government, of business doing business with government and/or with other businesses; it’s the language of governments doing business with other governments, and so forth, and it specifically deals with accounting.

That means, relevance to accountability.  And on this blog, we’re talking “family courts” which come under governments: that means accountability TO the public for use of things taken FROM the public, by consent or by force.


It just so happens that both businesses and governments are in the business of (are always) selling things: goods & services, and especially policies which sustain goods and services, and legitimacy.

The less most of us know about the language of entities, the easier such sales and the harder getting accountability will be. “A sucker [that is, a fool] is born every minute.” [Quote Investigator.com].

Why not talk entities when seeking policy change, or campaign funding for any righteous cause — like justice, instead of being foolishly “sucked in” by propaganda, i.e., accountability illiteracy or sloth (failure or stubborn refusal to fact-check presence or absence of alleged entity, or its profile indicators)?  


Most times, basically, a business search IS a business entity search.  Within the United States, Search websites in state after state make this clear.  The above example (image) is from California…. Search for (Google) “business entity search _______” and fill in the name of a state: or a country.  A variety of websites will surface; some search sties are run by private businesses, others government. Check the URL formats).  Either one could be charging fees to search, but most government sites don’t, at least for the very basic information.

On the other hand the types of data shown at least on initial level, changes over time and sometimes disappears from viewing and many state (and, generally, the IRS’s) entities’ search websites “summary results” are often NOT in formats conducive to taking screenprints to discuss with others in looking at or looking into who’s doing business where. In other words, functions may be added, while actual search fields are subtracted.  These changes are rarely explained or announced in advance: just show up the next time you visit the site.  Another reason I say, better to start looking before more data and data fields disappear or are buried even further from public access. 

But for now, databases do exist, and can and should be regularly searched for those concerned about any cause — because those causes will have driving entities promoting it, there will be some existing market niche (for most public policies) unless new ones are being carved out or spun off existing ones.


For California, (currently the search website is: BusinessSearch.sos.ca.gov), the word “entity” appears on both Business Search fields (and searchers, as in California, must choose which type of entity they are looking for) and in the search results, and on the Registry of Charitable Trusts ‘Verification Page.” One is run by the Secretary of State, (“SOS”) the other by the Office of Attorney General. 

The “Office of Attorney General/Registry of Charitable Trusts” (which will include search results with California entity numbers) web address is hard to remember/not intuitive, but If you can remember https://oag.ca.gov/charities, scroll down to “Resources & Tools” on right sidebar and click on “Registry Verification Search” This page and search results use the term “organization” not “entity” even when referencing the Corporate/Entity number (a searchable field) as you can see. I keep a link on my Twitter profile (@LetUsGetHonest).

Remember: these (state-level) government websites are not listing government entities but business ones, to monitor and control who does business or solicits funds/functions tax-exempt in a category which must register, within the state. It’s not a field to minimize or ignore.

To identify what government entities or authorities are in operation (at least USA), and knowing the which political jurisdictions define “USA”. Per Wikipedia, the United States is organized into:

…50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territories, 326 Indian reservations, and some minor possessions.[h]

Read the “minor possessions” link which further details incorporated territories and there are some helpful visuals. Rights vary among the parts that make up the whole called “U.S.A.”

When it comes to identifying “government entities (and their sub-parts),” for incorporated territories, all states, and presumably also the federal district (i.e., D.C.), there would be lists and organizational charts on each one’s annual “CAFR” (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report”) which is to be audited and posted for the public every year.  This awareness is helpful in any attempts to track finances or accountability among government and business entities.  There are also authorities (JPAs) etc. that cover more than one jurisdiction, i.e. government ENTITIES regionalized across state lines.  Example:  The Tennessee Valley Authority.


The word “entity” recurs throughout the financial statements (CAFRs) of the U.S. federal government, and on the Advanced Search (user interface) website  TAGGS.HHS.Gov on which one may search for HHS grants, at least from after about 1995 forward (HHS has existed under that name since 1980).

It’s a common word within businesses, especially ones doing business with governments.

Yet so many entities doing major, ongoing business with government in public-facing websites, and even government public-facing websites themselves (exception: on their own audited financial statements) use words interchangeably and inconsistently to the point of meaninglessness and to conflate non-entities with entities, public with private lists of the same, and to call non-entities in some lists ‘partners’ or “members” when by definition, they can’t be both at the same time.  

And that’s a shell game!

Thus anyone hoping to make sense of which is which on such public-facing websites, couldn’t figure it out by deduction.  The only way seems to be to have basic definitions going in, and then individually check out — for each name or label in a list — which and what it is.  Such an unnecessary burden IF there was a collective will for the public to tell its favorite charity (entity) from (a hole in the ground)!

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Bonus Content (Illustrations, More In-Depth Details) by Post, from Certain 2019 Posts, ‘Oct. 3 Clarifications’ and my FNAQs (Publ. Nov. 4, 2019).

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This post was assembled and written and published (about 5,000 words only) within one day, then tweaked the day after.

POST TITLE: Bonus Content (Illustrations, More In-Depth Details) by Post, from Certain 2019 Posts, ‘Oct. 3 Clarifications’ and my FNAQs (Publ. Nov. 4, 2019).  (Short-link ends “-bvP,” with last update to add headings and reformat some images, Nov. 7, now  about 6,500 words)

The top part (Pt. I, My FNAQs) is freshly written; the bottom two-thirds (now, Pt. II, Oct. 3 [2019] Clarifications and Pt. III, Extra Content) were moved/reallocated from another post, to air the content again, as explained below.  Pt. III has the most images and may be the longest.  I have a brief footnote, commentary on a previous “find” on the blog which only asking the FNAQs would’ve unearthed.  And an important one, too…

Pt. II, “Clarifications” summarizes my approach to this blog and links to footnoted content on  “Acknowledgements, Executive Summary” (Sticky Post #3 now).  I think those footnotes will be my next post.

Comments fields are open; let me know if this post raises questions you had, but hadn’t found answers to yet or questions you do not routinely ask when evaluating, assessing, or simply deciding whether to follow (read, support, engage with) a cause featured on a website or referenced in the media, but might consider asking from now on.  Or any other relevant question.

Going after the answers to certain basic types of questions for even ONE organization* immediately starts building [your] transferable skills in reading and assessing basic life situations and government, philanthropy, causes.  It’s a good habit!  I believe identifying certain basic facts (and using the vocabulary to express them: entity/non-entity; public/private; registered for-profit/not-for profit; home legal domicile (country, province, state or territory (if USA)…) should also be basic citizenship skills, necessary in keeping government honest. **when you hadn’t asked or even wondered about these things/asked yourself such questions before.

If you still think that’s someone else’s job, so long as you vote and read/listen to the news, please reconsider!

I haven’t been back to high school recently (or teaching in them), but I don’t see that asking these questions or providing the skills to answer them (or even the websites where they might be) is taught as basic part of “critical thinking” skills in at least (USA) public schools who are often the testing grounds for privatization of behavioral transformation efforts (etc.).

How could they be?  Public schools (categorically) are projects of the government specialized school districts which are government entities; finding their financial statements (CAFRs) would shed light on the entire assets to liabilities, revenues to expenses status of government itself, and how a Budget =/= a Balance Sheet, and how convoluted, in fact, are the programs contracting with and run in the entire operational infrastructure, often targeted by private collaborating foundations (tax-exempt, nonprofit, etc.) testing new technological, psychology, behavioral modification tactics, how to turn schools into social service centers, and at times, sad to say, also drugs.  (Texas TMAP, replicated, later whistleblower, in Pennsylvania, etc.).Many people may think public school financials come under county governments but typically they do not, and are reporting separately.

This also relates to the major asset investment platforms, i.e., institutional funds.

Meanwhile, locally, people are often encouraged to fund-raised for (separate) foundations (tax-exempt 501©3s named after the school districts without having ever looked to see what resources are actually available, and how they are being handled. I’ve seen this in both urban (inner-city) and wealthy (SF Bay Area suburban) areas.  Real estate values tied to quality of schools conceal how much extra money poured into them from outside supplements education quality, or how much extra effort parents (who can, often, afford this) put in to bring their own children’s performance levels competitive (for college…) with those in private schools in the same communities.  I’ve seen this as both a parent and a service provider to for what a public school budget, typically, eliminates, even in “good” school districts.

A few years ago I  wrote a series of posts (out of my own curiosity and where it overlapped with Family Court matters) on organizations focused on running programs for and through public schools, USA to close income and wealth gaps.  The same collaborations also pushing, heavily, for starting schooling at age ZERO; this will continually blend public and private revenues to places untrackable…


All this has to do with attention:  what you pay attention to, and notice when that information is absent in a presentation.   Much of this can be looked up on a cellphone.


Pt. I., My FNAQs

I decided to start with my persistent “FNAQs,” which Pts. II and III reminded me about).

FAQs are Frequently Asked Questions, according to whoever designed a particular website.  They are commonplace.

Here are many FNAQs (Frequently NOT Asked Questions) which I asked and sought answers to time and again over the years during my blogging, to the point most of them became a basic checklist and (when answers were not found) a mental note about the missing information to that entity (or, non-entity) as well as (verall) an ongoing irritant and motivator to keep looking.

I think they are good questions but sad to say, not routinely asked by the public regarding organizations they deal with, seek help from, donate to, or become aware their (respective) government entities fund.  In fact the first question is about identifying “Entity or Not?” when faced with these circumstances.

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Robin Hood Foundation (“RHF” 1989ff); Its Disregarded Entities incl. Robin Hood Holdings LLC (2001ff) The FBI & FINRA-prosecuted (2015, 2016 news) $1.4M Ponzi Scheme/ Securities Fraud involving a NC Broker Charles Fackrell  — and several “Robin Hood” entities;  RHF’s $11.6M 2008 grant to Single Stop USA (2007ff w/ board members in common)(of which claimed only $8.3M Total Contributions for 2008, “do the math”), not to mention ImpactMatters (2015ff in CT, although fka EvidenceAuditLLC). All this to help the poor, slash poverty and make the world a better place?

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Placeholder for a missing thumbnail, RHF leadership page

. . . .Take a breath for another LONG post title….
Robin Hood Foundation (“RHF” 1989ff); Its Disregarded Entities incl. Robin Hood Holdings LLC (2001ff) The FBI & FINRA-prosecuted (2015, 2016 news) $1.4M Ponzi Scheme/ Securities Fraud involving a NC Broker Charles Fackrell  — and several “Robin Hood” entities;  RHF’s $11.6M 2008 grant to Single Stop USA (2007ff w/ board members in common)  (which claimed only $8.3M Total for 2008, “do the math”), not to mention ImpactMatters (2015ff in CT, although fka EvidenceAuditLLC).  All this to help the poor, slash poverty and make the world a better place? Shortlink ends: “-7Ym” moved here 11/16/2017 after a day or two of incredulous look-ups…finally published (mostly as-was) March 23, 2018, at only 4,444 words.


At this point, I do not even remember which was the most recent parent post.  I remember making an off-hand reference to the “take from the rich to help the poor” (i.e. the fabled “Robin Hood” reference), already knew this was a significant progressive foundation involved with other foundations, and started looking at it and its tax returns.


~ ~ | | INTRO & 3/23/18 UPDATE STARTS HERE || ~ ~

After a month-long hold, a closely related post was published March 18, 2018. Its intro explains the long pause and includes this commentary:

Two related posts … were on hold for some months in Q1 2018 while I restructured blog home page, added some tables of content posts (for Q4, 2017, actually) and posted on more current events, and how “Community Development” as “expanded Real Estate Development” was expanding government costs and concentration, while placing many assets directly in the hands of private investors who needed low-income populations to test their behavioral modification and social science theories upon, globally. …

Post Title:  NYC’s largest anti-poverty organization (so it says) appropriates for its name a well-known 15th century British legend about a 12th century outlaw of noble character, a name preserved by Hollywood and a parade of famous actors for about a century– a name like many iconic “handles” often translated into business models (incl. “Anti-Poverty” ones) — hoping to absorb some of the glamour, reputed compassion for commoners, and in general, virtue. of this well-known hero. Such names are taken for the PR connotations and ALWAYS deserve A Closer Look, especially in this 21stC. I have been…. (case-sensitive shortlink ends “-8NN.” Moved here Dec. 8, 2017, being published March 18, 2018(!), still under 8,000 words)

And, “oh boy!” do these posts elucidate just how globally such demonstrations are, some programs (and software applications) originating (which by now should not be surprising) out of Harvard, MIT, and a new center at Rutgers University, typically with a variety of creatively named and name-changing nonprofits reflecting the global intents, and justification for continued control of major assets under multiple corporate names by anyone BUT the people whose wages help create them, while those subcontracting or otherwise collaborating as employees  with those who have great, innovative ideas (for example, getting MORE people on as many public benefits as fast as possible, digitally) participate in the “fees for friends” and “trickle-down” business of consolidating federal funding across all the various agency “silos.”

Except this intro, post is mostly intact as written. I’ll add tags soon….//LGH March 18, 2018.

Tags were added March 24…


I did add tags and images of a board of directors for “ImpactMatters” (viewed currently), but not much else except this introduction, between last look at this post (Dec. 2017) and today, and after re-reading it. Tags image posted here may help with its key entities and concepts:

LCM~FCMatters Tags for Mar 23 2018 post ‘RHF Disregarded Entities–all this help poor slash poverty make world better place?’

In my recent (+/- March 21) Tweets, responding to a user who complained about the Christian right’s treatment of women, HHS grants, Wade Horn, etc., I said, OK, but are you aware where progressives stand on the same issues?  I thought not and, with quick lookups, posted some links and images from Annie E. Casey Foundation and Open Society Foundations, referenced the “CBMA” (Campaign for Black Male Achievement) as a 2015 entity in which announcements were made ca. 2014 about how many (I believe the number was 40) major philanthropies were collaborating (i.e., putting heads and funds together).  See next six-image gallery.  The fifth (“Practice Network/Women in Fatherhood”) image wasn’t displaying clearly enough so is repeated individually below.  The sixth, a black-and-white table (no pictures) shows Board members, Titles, and (why I showed it) their respective affiliations  — Skillman Foundation, Casey Family Programs (CBMA itself), Harlem Children’s Zone (why I included it), and University of Pennsylvania Law School — at the newly-registered nonprofit, for short, “CBMA.”

However as funders starting in 2014 (at which time it was likely still an initiative of the Open Society Foundations — since 2008 was mentioned), you can see from the second (“Funding Partners”) image, a list of philanthropies/foundations contributing to this campaign shown there is:

  • Casey Family Programs
  • The California Endowment
  • Chicago Community Trust
  • The Heinz Endowments
  • Kapor Center for Social Impact**
  • Knight Foundation
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • The Skillman Foundation

**Having social “impact” is obviously a big sound-byte currently.  “Got IMPACT? Want More? Our nonprofit (software, etc.) will help your donations have greater impact / measure impact (etc.).  Case in point, 2015 spinoff* from Robin Hood Foundation in this post, “ImpactMatters, Inc.” [*see that section of this and related post for more details].


**The name “Kapor” here is associated with Mitch Kapor and Freda Klein Kapor; he invented Lotus 1-2-3 (she was working there).  It’s centered in downtown Oakland, California, and as happens, involves a certain property (with space for rent and an auditorium), a related “Kapor Capital” “Institute” (etc.).  A number of other nonprofits plus a Kapor Foundation are referenced in just the co-chairs (of Kapor Capital) bio blurbs.  I should blog separately – after locating the various nonprofits. I see among the projects is working to get users access to redeeming their food stamp benefits online (partnership with USDA), and more. For the record however– are any financials for any of the referenced entities posted under the main website?  (Apparently, No…) I looked up the Form 990PF (and at the 2016 filing) for Kapor Social Investments.  You’d be surprised at its funders, and where it’s holding about half its $35M (yes, Million) “Other Investments”*** assets, with next to no liabilities, and where its $1.9M of grants are — most of them — going. Hint $1.1M went to another named fund underneath another (local, and well-heeled) community foundation. ***Clue: NOT within the USA, or even North America.  And it’s a pooled investments hedge fund.


 


In non-slide-show image, they are all readable except I feel the second one, which is reposted by itself here:

The CBMA launched as a separate NY nonprofit (CharitiesNYS.com shows a tax return claiming NY legal domicile, but other paperwork says DE corporation), and — why it’s mentioned here on a post featuring the RHF (Robin Hood Foundation) — not too surprising, the push was for “Place-based philanthropy” and the initial treasurer was Geoffrey Canada of:  Robin Hood Foundation, Harlem Children’s Zone, and probably others.

Other than my additions of images for “ImpactMatters” Board Members and “People,” and I may also add some for Robin Hood Foundation’s Board (organization website profiles) and a minor update on ImpactMatters’ Form 990-N 2(016’s became available while this post was in draft status), the post is basically “as written.”  Outside of this introduction.

My focus is more on the character of multiple nonprofits and spinoffs of RHF than the NC Fackrell case which I wished to report and which I felt illustrates the problem with multiple entities per nonprofits, and nonprofits coordinated through funders’ networks and, in opaque money trails involving Do-Good Organizations targeting public institutions (which isn’t to include Fackrell in that category — but Robin Hood Foundation has certainly claimed that organizational purpose).

For more information on both ImpactMatters (and Single Stop, Innovations for Poverty Action, J-PAL, and RHF), see also that related post above, publ. 3/18/2018.
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NYC’s largest anti-poverty organization (so it says) appropriates for its name a well-known 15th century British legend about a 12th century outlaw of noble character, a name preserved by Hollywood and a parade of famous actors for about a century– a name, like many iconic “handles,” often translated into business models (incl. “Anti-Poverty” ones) hoping to absorb some of the glamour, reputed compassion for commoners, and, in general, virtue. Such names are for positive PR connotations, and organizations adopting them, like this one, ALWAYS deserve a Closer Look, especially in this 21stC. I have been….

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Two related posts (both named just below) were on hold for some months in Q1 2018 while I restructured blog home page, added some tables of content posts (for Q4, 2017, actually) and posted on more current events, and how “Community Development” as “expanded Real Estate Development” was expanding government costs and concentration, while placing many assets directly in the hands of private investors who needed low-income populations to test their behavioral modification and social science theories upon, globally.

Having worked so hard on this blog, I then visited Twitter after a very long break and saw ongoing questions that a more consistent reading of (at least) this blog with its many links to supporting information on nonprofits and the professionals (attracting parental complaints) who tend to set up and populate them would’ve answered and took some moments to Tweet and reply to some I’d been included in.   Here’s a link to a recent Tweet” (3/18/2018, username there is @LetUsGetHonest) with three attached images re: reunification camps [another December, 2017, blog theme] also my chance to practice that new (to me) technique) with, I think, very well-annotated exhibits on some of the same.  Some deal with equine therapy treatments and the “aftercare” models so the reunification indoctrination sticks better post-experience.  So perhaps it’s appropriate to say regarding the nine-year span this month of investigative blogging and consistent and ongoing acquisition of more in-depth insight through administering (and writing all posts on) this blog  you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him (or her) drink,” of people who just can’t be bothered to personally tangle with this scope of information.

And, “oh boy!” do these posts elucidate just how globally such demonstrations are, some programs (and software applications) originating (which by now should not be surprising) out of Harvard, MIT, and a new center at Rutgers University, typically with a variety of creatively named and name-changing nonprofits reflecting the global intents, and justification for continued control of major assets under multiple corporate names by anyone BUT the people whose wages help create them, while those subcontracting or otherwise collaborating as employees  with those who have great, innovative ideas (for example, getting MORE people on as many public benefits as fast as possible, digitally) participate in the “fees for friends” and “trickle-down” business of consolidating federal funding across all the various agency “silos.”

Except this intro, post is mostly intact as written. I’ll add tags soon….//LGH March 18, 2018.

Post Title: NYC’s largest anti-poverty organization (so it says) appropriates for its name a well-known 15th century British legend about a 12th century outlaw of noble character, a name preserved by Hollywood and a parade of famous actors for about a century– a name like many iconic “handles” often translated into business models (incl. “Anti-Poverty” ones) — hoping to absorb some of the glamour, reputed compassion for commoners, and in general, virtue. of this well-known hero. Such names are taken for the PR connotations and ALWAYS deserve A Closer Look, especially in this 21stC. I have been…. (case-sensitive shortlink ends “-8NN.” Moved here Dec. 8, 2017, being published March 18, 2018(!), still under 8,000 words)


Short version of that information?  This post exists to preview my upcoming (but previously written) Robin Hood Foundation post*** which just about wrote itself as I summarized the information and thought about the significance of the situation which had gripped my attention for several days.  Previously written, moved here.

***RHF post title and link, still in draft as of this writing, Dec. 4, 2017 [and at March 18, 2018] refers to:


That long title took some explaining, resulting in this post.

[This “Pep talk” section added after the move, I’ll mark where it ends]:

Please remember when I explain certain levels of detail on single (or single groups of) organization, it is still “show and tell” mode.

Many transferable principles (practices) can be seen in operation across different organizations, including organizations following even vastly different stated purposes.  Seeing these principles (common practices) also builds for the person looking IF he or she consistently fact-checks my statements, as I intend people should, transferable skills which, put into practice, build at least three valuable things:

(1) An growing and ongoing awareness that there are many and significant other places to look for information often not on an organization’s  [or university center’s] on-line advertising website,** and how to access them on-line and many, for free –**which term applies even if it’s a public-supported one and not soliciting donations — the websites still justify the existence and funding of the organization, and promotes the involved personnel (lead staff, boards of directors, etc.), and provide a story line to pull it together, while helping out friendly organizations through mutual referrals and mentions, i.e., “our funders” pages…), which once become familiar, is “communicable.”  And I do hope readers will acquire a “communicable awareness” which becomes contagious –others, by association, might get a case of it too.

(1a) With exposure over time, acknowledgement that the organization and functionality of these various places changes over time, does not easily compare across jurisdictions (when it comes to state-level registries), and


(1b) How flawed (not to mention, how consistently accompanied by disclaimers) and time-limited (how far back it goes) and these various databases are.  By “flaws” I mean both fields available on which to sort, and regarding lack of style consistency (i.e., quality enforcers to) the data input into them.


(1c) Some sites provided pdf images which show what appears to be hand-stamps (i.e., personal handling) and signed or show official seals (Secretary of State, Attorney-General’s Office, or, for example, with tax returns, received by the IRS, at which office), others don’t even show that level of detail, while at the state level, an emphasis on electronic filing occurs, bypassing human interaction and, it seems, screening.  Some websites (such as Arizona’s comes to mind) provided the pdfs in “barely-visible” font, etc.


(1d) given the distance between actual registered document, or an image of it, and user search input forms,  (unless the process is somehow truly automated and flawless) data entry errors or OCR (Optical Character Reading/ scanning process) affecting search accuracy (or flexibility) can occur at any level of search:  first results, second level leading to a summary page (for states or agencies that even have them), or anything which is not actually the document itself, but extracting information from it for display.

1a, b, c and d are important for acknowledging what is NOT there — reliably consistent and functional for the public (not just for grantseekers, grantwriters, or foundations seeking grantees) information about the commerce done (for-profit or not-for-profit) within individual (U.S.A.) states, across state to D.C. to territorial jurisdictions, and of course internationally.

(2) In the process an ongoing mental database and familiarity with/awareness of some of the key influences (translation:  major foundations, significant geographically-focused nonprofits they sponsor, and related government entities — not to mention key universities, private (esp.) and public); and

(3) Better 3D vision  – comprehension — while reading major media headlines, including to what is NOT being reported when the experts are quoted or key policies or organizations featured.

Of course people who never get to “fact-checking” or testing what I’m saying on, for example, some organization of more personal interest to the reader — don’t expect better comprehension. You’re probably content with hearsay mode from both MSM and my blogging and don’t value highly enough getting to the point of understanding if either one is consistently lying, or censoring information, which one it is.  In such case, I’d guess that may indicate satisfaction with the self-declared “thought-leaders” and acceptance of (their) designation of YOU as passive consumer, i.e., thought-follower.  That characterization of course doesn’t apply to people who are already experts in finance, investments, accounting, and helping their friends, colleagues and clients continue to raise funds, build resumes, and publish endlessly, with no real conscience about using everyone not in this class for (a) a financial resource (tax receipts, remember?) and (b) appropriate subject matter for increasingly sophisticated behavioral modification test subjects, individually and en masse.

If that characterization offends you, wait for the next three posts:  One, “The Money Maze” (where I moved this one from) on the Giffords Gun control lobby  incl. four or five “Americans for Responsible Solutions” entities, with the Super PAC started by recently deceased (through suicide, using a gun) megadonor Steven “Hurricane” Mostyn (and some on the much smaller foundation people are encouraged to support for a memorial, “Mostyn Moreno Education Fund” or similar name); Two, this post, and Three, the RHF post identified to just above which this one exists to preview.  In addition, I am finding the “facilitating” nonprofits (GiveWell, GiveDirectly, Good Ventures, Open Philanthropy Project, etc.) and yet more nonprofits (“Ideas42.org” with previous name “Behavioral Lab, Inc.” (or similar –details coming up) and its previous Harvard connection, although the two-cofounders of that MA entity with a NY address are now associated with MIT and Princeton…

So I do not believe readers’ time who may not be particularly interested in a New York anti-poverty organization with Ivy League university connections (when professors’ CVs are also considered, and in this one, a related university “center”) is really wasted time.

[End of “Pep talk” section added after the move]


The title I’m previewing, again:


I’ve split the explanation (of that long post title!) into three parts* (each labeled in blue) (*and this short preview — four more paragraphs [I numbered them <Para.1,2,3,4>] and one quote — leading up to those three named parts labeled in blue). The first part …(“Disregarded Entities…Ponzi Scheme”) raises some questions which aren’t fully answered yet but regardless of Yes/No answers as to RHF involvement, the possibility still demonstrates that the most important information about any organization (especially tax-exempt foundations, including those classified as public charities like RHF) even when truthful still cannot be found on an organization website, or considering even its charitable projects and benefits. Only by actually looking at the other evidence can whether it, or the charitable events and website “About Us/History” is more relevant to WHO the organization is, and what its agenda is individually, or collectively with other like-minded organizations and people!

<Para.1>The picture is always incomplete without an eye to the assets and connections to other wealth-building activities and where/how/if this also relates to the leadership’s outside activities.  RHF dates to (as I recall) about 1989, so it’s had time to develop those, form related entities, and buy and sell investments over time. RHF calls itself the “largest anti-poverty organization in New York City and is consciously looking to export its model practices further abroad (certainly at least nationally), yet they do not even post their own Forms 990 as I recall. The chosen popular folklore name also is associated with radical do-good activities and as though going after the perpetrators (those with stockpiled wealth) to help the exploited victims (the poor).  Whether it fits or not might bear a closer look, and if not, then the name could or should be considered an attempt to throw others off-track when tracking the “macroeconomics”of the organization and whom it networks with.  (Famous actors who have played Robin Hood in film (LA Times 2010 recounts (May 12, 2010, Susan King)* about the time a Russell Crowe version was coming out).  Not counting the animated, musical or comedic versions, also includes:  Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner). Said the LA Times article, though the setting was 12th century, the earliest ballads recounting it weren’t until 15th and 16th centuries:

*The legend of Robin Hood is firmly entrenched in British folklore — an archer and swordsman who, with his band of merry men, robbed from the rich and gave to the poor during the early 12th century in Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest. Originally portrayed as a commoner, Robin’s image changed so that he was later thought of as a nobleman who lost his lands and was cast out as an outlaw. …The earliest surviving ballads telling his story are dated to the 15th century or early 16th century.

<Para.2> When, and what cost, will we learn that corporate names can be mis-leading, and that there’s always more than one angle to what’s considered charitable organizations?  Even the best of them operate in a field which is vast, uncharted, and fast-growing, and whose collective economic impact is unknown and cannot be fathomed even in legitimate cross-sections within slice of time. One reason why: the potential for so many related entities per 501©3 (or ©4 or © 6 — that is, per entity), and lack of shareholder oversight because a nonprofit is by definition non-stock issuing.  But any nonprofit with assets can invest them in a variety of other companies (Public traded, private-traded, other investments, other assets are all categories shown in a standard IRS Form 990 Pt X Balance Sheet), and it can contract independently with all types of companies (private, public, or other tax-exempts, and corporations or LLCs  — and/or overseas companies according to their home country’s regulations), donate to other tax-exempts and government, take government grants (in essence, redistributing public funds), and likewise donate to a variety of other organizations (although most often it’s other tax-exempt private entities and/or government entities).  And, let’s talk universities — these donations to, investments in, subcontracting with university to serve the organization or vice versa, often come with professors or associate professors (whose careers have many times involved major grants from public, and/or private foundations; and universities in the USA also span the public and private sectors, and when private mostly as nonprofits often with their own companion or attached foundations(!!).  Some are organized at the state level and supported by people within the state, and typically commandeer significant institutional funds which can (“Go back to Square One”) be invested in a variety of vehicles both domestic AND off-shore, and employ many. … Also, leadership (board of directors, etc.) any public charity (501©3-filing corporation) leadership must declare “interested persons transactions” and business or family relationships — but simply having them is not prohibited.
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