Grants by Mass. Governor’s Fund Questioned

Grants made by the foundation of Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies in Washington are being questioned by some critics who see the gifts as politically motivated, reports The Boston Globe.

While the donations are legal, some philanthropy observers say they raise questions about the foundation’s and the governor’s motives at a time when he is among several prominent Republicans eyeing a White House run in 2008, the paper reports.

The Tyler Charitable Foundation, the governor’s fund, gave thousands to tsunami relief in Southeast Asia and for aid after Hurricane Katrina. But Governor Romney also has spoken at the Heritage Foundation several times since 2004 and has worked with the organization’s analysts to create his health-care program, which has gained national attention.

A spokesman for Governor Romney says the governor does not make donations with politics in mind. “His charitable giving is done out of a sense of helping groups that rely on the philanthropy of others to carry out their mission,” Eric Fehrnstrom tells the Globe.

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