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Monday, September 28, 2009

Mayor's Ball Just A Secret Santa

By Virginia Gillmer
Albuquerque resident
          How does a nonprofit agency apply for proceeds from the Albuquerque Mayor's Charity Ball? As a grant writer, I'm always looking for money for Albuquerque nonprofit agencies.
        I thought I'd ask the basic questions I would ask before giving money anywhere: Is this organization legitimate — a nonprofit? Is it the city? How does one apply for this money? Who decides where the money goes? How much of the money raised goes toward fundraising and event costs? Who are the donors? I requested this information for the 2007, 2008, 2009 Mayor's Charity Ball(s) using the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.
        It turns out the Mayor's Charity Ball is like a Secret Santa. The written response from Mayor Martin Chávez' office was this: There is no record of who makes funding decisions or how; there is no way to apply for this money; there are no audits; no record of donors, expenses or contributions. It is not a nonprofit nor is it an official government entity. It is a checking account. An aide and a city accountant can sign on the account. I received two hand-written Post-It notes, summary numbers and a column of donation figures, the only records for 2007 and 2008!
        Whoa! The city Web site and the Post-It notes suggest the Mayor's Charity Ball raised $750,000 over three years. This is serious money that merits credible accounting practices, especially in these lean times when everyone is hurting. Nope, it's private stuff.
        How was it spent? The 2007 papers showed receipts (from what?) of $257,000: $140,000 was given to three agencies. That's 55 percent of the money raised; where's the other 45 percent? (Some is reserved for next year.) The 2008 papers show $105,000 was distributed to two agencies. No record of donations, expenses, overhead. For 2009, the Web site showed an estimated $200,000 was raised.
        But there's more: Only 50 percent (my estimate) of the money went to entities dedicated to Albuquerque. The Post-It note for 2008 showed $20,000 went to the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation. An additional $85,000 went to the UNM Center for Development and Disability, which will again receive proceeds from the 2009 Mayor's Charity Ball. I thought this was for the many worthy Albuquerque nonprofits, not the big guys with independent assets, funding from the Legislature and big operating expenses.
        Can Mayor Chávez just give away money? If this were a government agency or a nonprofit, he would at least have to account for it. Other mayor's charity balls — St. Louis, Mo., for example — have an application process and show all revenues and expenses.
        If this isn't illegal it should be. There are many Albuquerque residents who need services, and many Albuquerque issues that are addressed through worthy Albuquerque-based nonprofit organizations. I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity to sign up for the Secret Santa!