Charity Peeved It Accidentally Donated To Richard Spencer

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By Daniel J. Solomon March 23, 2017

The largest source of monies for white nationalist Richard Spencer’s National Policy Institute used to be a Georgia nonprofit that was not aware of the man’s politics.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area contributed $25,000 to NPI between 2013 and 2014, quite the departure from the anodyne charitable causes, including the Masters golf tournament, than the nonprofit group generally donates to.

“In no way did our organization, its board or its staff actively know or support the mission of this organization, and I don’t want it to be construed that we ever did,” said the Foundation’s head Shell K. Berry. She told the Los Angeles Times that Spencer had gotten the money through a donor-advised fund, in which the Community Foundation forwarded the monies to Spencer on behalf of an unnamed donor and absent independent vetting. The revelations came from tax returns for NPI that were obtained from Spencer.

Spencer’s finances have drawn greater scrutiny as the white nationalist and his fellow “alt-right” devotees have gained more attention with the election of President Trump. Spencer cointed the term “alt-right,” which is the label favored by contemporary white nationalists.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

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