Dozens of N.Y. Charities Made Political Donations
March 17, 2009
A New York Times review of campaign and tax records shows that at least 81 charities have given contributions to New York State legislative candidates since 2005, an apparent violation of federal law.
The donations by museums, churches, hospitals, and other tax-exempt groups generally flowed to incumbents who helped the charities secure state money, the Times reports.
Officials with several nonprofit groups said the donations came in the form of tickets to political fund-raising events that they did not realize counted as campaign contributions. Others said the contributions were in recognition of general good work, not specific help for their charity.
