NEW: EngageRI will Not Release Donor Names
Monday, January 07, 2013
EngageRI, the powerful pension reform advocacy group, will not release the names of its donors, the organization announced today.
In a press release sent this morning, the organization said it would “continue to follow the tax, lobbying and any campaign finance laws to which it is subject and continue to allow its donors to determine whether to publicly support the organization.”
State law allows any 501(c)(4) organization to keep its donors private.
“We believe that our supporters (financial and other) are proud of EngageRI and we encourage them to support us publicly. However, werespect the right that any donor to a 501(c)(4) entity has to remain anonymous, supporting a mission without being subject to the ‘political fray.’ Like most, if not all nonprofits, we’re willing to let our record speak for itself and accept the support of both those that wish to do so publicly as well as those that wish to remain anonymous,” said John Galvin, chair of EngageRI.
The organization has come under fire for refusing to release donor names in recent months and even General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, a major supporter of the group, has called for more disclosure.
“While boycotts and other forms of retribution have frequently been used to further legitimate and worthy social, economic and political goals, we believe that the harassment and boycotts inflicted uponsome EngageRI supporters like Collette Vacations, Crossroads, Family Services and a number of local chambers of commerce last year in an effort to intimidate them from taking a position on pension reform both crossed the line of fairness and is an understandable reason why some supporters may want to remain private,” Galvin said.
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Comments:
Thomas Lessio
4:13pm on Monday, January 07, 2013
Gina Raimondo should DEMAND her front-group to release its donors or tell the media who she knows the donors are, since she obviously knows who they are.
Edward Smith
1:50am on Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Why would Gina do that when she can just tell open government freaks to "shove it."
Wuggly Ump
9:58am on Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Although I don't think the names should be required to be made public, I find this to be hypocritical of those that fear boycotts.
If you are actively campaigning against a group of people, of course they wouldn't want to do business with you.
If you believe in what you are doing, you should stand behind it an face the consequences. Are you are getting that much business from Government workers? If you are then it would seem that you are also, by extension on the Government payroll.