Pro-Obama Group Ends Gift Diversion to Non-Disclosing Allies

The pro-Obama “social welfare” nonprofit Organizing for Action says it has revamped its fundraising policies to ban solicitors from directing potential donors to allied organizations that do not identify contributors, according to NBC News.

The 501(c)(4) entity, which advocates for the president’s agenda, is not legally required to identify its supporters but does so voluntarily. NBC previously reported on the group’s firing of a fundraiser who, after returning a $100,000 check because the contributor had a conviction for Medicaid fraud, suggested he give instead to a “partner” organization, America Votes, that maintains donor secrecy.

Organizing for Action officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NBC that on two prior occasions the group had steered donations it could not accept under its own policies to allied organizations.

Internal e-mails also show that Organizing for Action executive director Jon Carson helped arrange for a potential donor to meet with two administration officials. The group says it does not offer White House access in exchange for contributions. In a statement, Mr. Carson said the organization has “strengthened our policies to prevent an issue like this from ever reoccurring.”