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California nonprofits' money missing after watch organization closes office

Global warming, animal rights groups hardest hit

February 14, 2012

More than 200 nonprofit groups may have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations after the group that housed the money, the International Humanities Center, abruptly closed up shop last month. The International Humanities Center held money for small groups such as the Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid, Saving Wild Tigers, and Champions Against Bullying. The Los Angeles Times reports:

More than 200 nonprofit groups, from animals rights organizations to political activists, said most of their donated funds appear to have vanished after the organization that watched over the money suddenly ceased operations last month.

The International Humanities Center closed its offices, took down its Web page and informed its clients by email that it has ceased operation. The center served as an umbrella organization for small nonprofit groups, handling their donations and performing administrative duties.

Directors from two of the groups said the executive director of the center told them only $10,000 was left in the accounts his organization held when there should have been $1 million. A tally of potential losses compiled by directors of 40 of the groups comes to $877,000.

One of the groups that reportedly lost money, OpEdNews.com, is a left-wing online news publication run by provocative radio talk-show host Rob Kall, who says in the Times story that he "feels like (he) was robbed" by the International Humanities Center.

Published under: Nonprofits