MYTH: Clinton Foundation Does Not Follow “Best Practices” For Charities

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Clinton Foundation Ignored “Best Practices” For Public Charities. The Daily Caller News Foundation claimed Clinton Foundation officials “ignored virtually all” industry “best practices” for public charities. From the article:

Clinton Foundation officials have ignored virtually all of the “best practices” urged by good governance organizations for public charities, according to an investigation by The Daily Caller News Foundation. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Clinton Foundation Received An “A” Rating From CharityWatch

CharityWatch: Clinton Foundation Is “Top Rated” Organization. Charity accountability group CharityWatch gave the Clinton Foundation an “A” rating and listed it as one of its “top-rated” organizations in measures of transparency, governance, privacy and fiscal responsibility:

[CharityWatch.org, Accessed 7/22/16]

MYTH: Between Two And Five Board Members Control Organization

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Clinton Foundation Board of Directors “Unusually Small,” Ranging From Two To Five Members. The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that the Clinton Foundation's board of directors was “unusually small, ranging from only two to no more than five members.” From the article:

Most glaringly, for example, the foundation’s insular board of directors is unusually small, ranging from only two to no more than five members, all of whom are among President Bill and Hillary Clinton’s closest and richest friends.

The “good governance” movement in the nonprofit field has been gathering strength for two decades, but it clearly has yet to reach the Clinton Foundation. Most foundation boards have on average 15 members, according to a 2015 survey by Boardsource, a national organization working to strengthen nonprofit board leadership. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Foundation Has 10 Board Members

Clinton Foundation Lists 10 Board Members On Website. The Clinton Foundation websites lists 10 members of its board of directors: Bruce Lindsey, Chelsea Clinton, Bill Clinton, Frank Giustra, Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, Eric Goosby, Hadeel Ibrahim, Lisa Jackson, Cheryl Mills, and Cheryl Saban. [ClintonFoundation.org, accessed 7/22/16]

MYTH: Clinton Foundation Does Not Have An Oversight Committee

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Clinton Foundation Has No Oversight Committee. The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that “according to its Internal Revenue Service 990 tax filings,” the Clinton Foundation has no oversight committee. From the article:

Good governance groups also encourage well-managed non-profits to create dedicated oversight committees for audits, donations, governance, executive compensation and whistle-blower policy. The Clinton Foundation has none of those committees, according to its Internal Revenue Service 990 tax filings. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Readily Available Tax Forms Indicate That It Does

IRS Filings Show Foundation Has Oversight Committee And Whistleblower Policy. In the Clinton Foundation’s 2014 Internal Revenue Service 990 tax filing, the box that indicates whether or not the organization has an oversight committee is marked “X” for yes. From the 2014 tax form:

[ClintonFoundation.org, 11/16/15]

MYTH: Most Board Members Have Been Permanent Fixtures

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Most Clinton Foundation Board Members Are Longstanding. The Daily Caller News Foundation claimed that most Clinton Foundation board members “have occupied the same board seats for most of the controversial non-profit’s life.” From the article:

Term-limits are also recommended for board members to encourage fresh thinking in non-profit management. Seventy-one percent of all  public foundations today have term limits, according to Boardsource.

Most of the Clinton Foundation’s board members have occupied the same board seats for most of the controversial non-profit’s life. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Tax Forms Show Most Board Members Were Hired In Recent Years

Tax Forms Show Most Board Members Were Recently Hired. A comparison between 2013 and 2014 tax forms indicates that many board members were hired less than three years ago. ClintonFoundation.org, 11/14/14, 11/15/13]

MYTH: Most Foundation Board Members Are Not Independent

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Most Clinton Foundation Board Members Are Not Independent. The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that despite industry recommendations to ensure a majority of board members are independent, “that is not the case with the Clinton Foundation.” From the article:

Arms-length, independent boards also are considered the essential first step in good governance. The Independent Sector, a non-partisan good governance organization for nonprofits and foundations urge the creation of independent boards and said they should be in the majority.

“A substantial majority of the board of a public charity, usually meaning at least two-thirds of its members, should be independent,” the group recommended.

That is not the case with the Clinton Foundation. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Tax Forms Show 10 of 12 Voting Members Are Independent

2014 IRS 990 Tax Filings Show 10 of 12 Voting Members Are Independent. The Clinton Foundation’s 2014 Internal Revenue Service 990 filings state that 10 of 12 voting members -- more than 80 percent -- are independent.

[ClintonFoundation.org, 11/16/15]

MYTH: Gov. Terry McAuliffe, David Pryor and J.L. Rutherford Are Current Board Members

The Daily Caller News Foundation Names Nonexistent Board Members. The Daily Caller News Foundation identified Gov. Terry McAuliffe, David Pryor and J.L. Rutherford as members of the Clinton Foundation board. From the article:

The board consists of Bill Clinton’s tightest inner circle, including Democratic mega-fundraiser and now Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, former Arkansas Democratic Sen. David Pryor and the senator’s former aide, J.L. “Skip[”] Rutherford. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: None Serve On Board Of Directors

None Of The Cited Names Appear On The Foundation’s List Of Directors Or Tax Forms. In the Clinton Foundation’s 990 tax form, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, David Pryor, and J.L. Rutherford are not listed under the section that lists “officers, directors, trustees, key employees, highest compensated employees, and independent contractors.” [ClintonFoundation.org, 11/16/15]

MYTH: Bruce Lindsey Is The Current CEO Of Clinton Foundation

The Daily Caller News Foundation: Bruce Lindsey Serves As Clinton Foundation CEO. The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that Bruce LIndsey “now is back as CEO” of the Clinton Foundation. From the article:

Clinton loyalist Bruce Lindsey had served as CEO for nearly all of the foundation’s life.

[...]

Bruce Lindsey now is back as CEO at the foundation. [The Daily Caller, 7/18/16]

FACT: Bruce Lindsey Served As CEO From 2003 To 2013

Clinton Foundation: Bruce Lindsey Ceased Acting As CEO In 2013. Bruce Lindsey’s biography on the Clinton Foundation website states that Lindsey served as CEO “from 2003 to 2013.” From the Clinton Foundation website:

Bruce Lindsey serves as the chairman of the Board for the Clinton Foundation. Bruce joined the Foundation in 2001 as general counsel and served as CEO from 2003 to 2013. [ClintonFoundation.org, accessed 7/22/16]