‘Three Cups’ Author’s Nonprofit Reports Fundraising Rebound

The Central Asia Institute, which saw donations plummet following the scandal over in founder Greg Mortenson’s memoir Three Cups of Tea, has seen an uptick in giving over the past year, the Associated Press writes.

The Bozeman, Mont.-based charity, which builds schools and promotes education in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, said contributions so far this year are about $100,000 higher than the $1.7 million the organization had collected at this time in 2014.

More than 1,270 donors who stopped giving to the institute in the past two years have returned, according to the charity. Contributions to the organization plunged from $22 million in 2010 to $2.7 million in 2013 after Mr. Mortenson was accused of fabricating much of his bestseller and using the institute’s money to promote himself and his books.

Following an investigation by Montana authorities, Mr. Mortenson was ordered to repay $1 million to the charity, and he has given up day-to-day management of the group.