I’ve had some interesting conversations over the past, well, several years actually, about what’s up with various organizations in Mariposa County.
Just last week we reported a story about what appears to be high tension inside The Alliance for Community Transformations. People inside that organization are upset with how they perceive the leadership of the group.
There is certainly more to that story and I suspect it will be coming out over time.
But the larger conversation among many is the track record of nonprofit and charitable organizations in the county.
The list is long. From a youth sports organization to the Mariposa Museum and History Center to the Mariposa Friends of the Library and many more. Those involved theft of funds and, to be clear, the groups have taken major steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again. They have been public about it and say their books are open to the public.
The same cannot be said for the SPCA of Mariposa County, a group that refuses to open its books or even speak in public about the many questionable practices.
The Alliance situation is different, at least on the surface, because it is a much larger group that serves a large swath of the county’s population. It touches a lot of lives and if what those on the inside are saying is true, some changes need to be made. It is also a fact much of its funding comes from the taxpayers in the form of grants from the federal government that pass through the state.
All of this, however, does beg the question: “Is there something in the water around here?”
It’s hard to gauge if Mariposa County is unique to these issues. Certainly, there are theft of funds and abuse of power in groups all across the nation. Heck, just look at Washington, D.C.
But it sure does seem we have our fair (or unfair) share of issues when it comes to these groups whose main purpose is to serve the better good of the public. I’ve worked in journalism across the country and have written stories everywhere I have been about similar issues.
Here, though, it seems to happen quite frequently. The above list is just the tip of the iceberg. Many others have had problems and still others have decided not to report issues to law enforcement authorities and have just taken the losses.
One thing I do know is when these things happen, and this is not boasting, we are here to report on it. That is such a critical element in the overall system.
In many places, especially in the past decade, there isn’t anybody there to look into these issues and try to get to the bottom of what is happening.
But even that doesn’t explain the motivations about why this keeps happening in Mariposa County.
We know that some of it was excesses on the part of those who broke the law. Gambling and shopping addictions were said to be the issue in two of the cases. Maybe so, maybe not. I don’t think the entire picture is that clear when it comes to the reasons.
One thing that is clear is how the organized boards of groups handle their finances.
Poorly, in many cases.
Some of the groups that were victims have admitted that is the case. Pre-signed checks, trusting people to handle the finances without any checks and balances. That is the real root cause of much of what has happened.
I’ve been on the boards of charitable organizations most of my adult life. One issue that is critical is making sure the financial records are in order and independently verified. Any private business will tell you that’s job one when it comes to handling finances.
But in too many cases, boards rely on the small community atmosphere to trust those who are in charge of financing. Certainly, in most cases, those people are trustworthy and do a good job.
But not always. Sometimes, people can be smooth operators, appear to have the good of the community in mind and then steal them blind.
That circles right back to these organizations taking up the mantra: “Trust nobody.”
It’s unfortunate, but that is how it has to be to make sure everything is in order.
What is especially troubling when this happens to charitable organizations is the majority of the money comes from the public. Through donations, endowments and other means, it is the good will of the people that allows these groups to thrive.
This is especially true in small towns like Mariposa where “everybody knows everybody” and most don’t think for one second one of their own might do something illegal.
Again, it’s sad but that just isn’t the case.
People do bad things whether we like it or not. When they do bad things with the money given by good-hearted people, it takes it to that next level.
The real negative impact is that it makes other people decide not to give. They see the issues and the headlines and the court cases and simply decide not to give to any charitable organization. That’s the worst result when these issues become public.
It would be even worse, however, if these issues were not uncovered and made public. The rumor mills are awful — and powerful.
Keeping legitimate books and having them double and triple checked is an expense worth making. It’s also important for these organizations to throw their books wide open and let anyone take a gander.
If nothing is awry, what’s the harm?
There is no harm but some refuse to even think about doing that, which makes them look suspicious. I’m not saying they are doing anything wrong, but perception can become reality quite quickly.
Besides, if there is nothing “there there,” why wouldn’t a group not just offer to let anyone see their books but encourage it? As someone who does give to charity, I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask to see where that money is being spent.
What is sad in all of this is the people who volunteer for many of these groups are doing it to help fellow humans. In the end, that’s what it’s all about. They want to help others who may be having difficulty.
In many aspects, that’s the American way.
But as in anything the American way, as Ronald Reagan once said, “Trust, but verify.”
Good advice.
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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