The Washington Soccer Staff is successfully shuttering the charitable basis that proprietor Daniel Snyder based in 2014 to help Native American communities.
Washington confirmed in an announcement Wednesday that it’s ending its relationship with the Unique Individuals Basis, which shares a authorized handle with the staff and has lengthy relied on it for funding.
The transfer comes 4 months after Washington retired its earlier staff title, which had been criticized as insensitive or racist.
“As part of our evolution right into a franchise of the longer term, the Washington Soccer Staff’s new management is reviewing our philanthropic technique,” the staff mentioned in its assertion. “As a part of this assessment, the Washington Soccer Staff will focus its philanthropic and charitable work by its personal basis, and will now not make a contribution to the Unique Individuals Basis.”
Whereas the Unique Individuals Basis continues to be technically energetic, in accordance with state information, the staff’s choice successfully leaves it with out funding.
Based on an audited monetary assertion obtained by USA TODAY Sports activities in July, the muse reported $528,000 in income throughout the fiscal yr ending Feb. 28, 2019 — the latest yr for which information are publicly obtainable. Of that quantity, $520,000 got here instantly from the staff.
The muse had additionally utterly stopped giving. Based on the monetary assertion, it distributed $zero in grants to Native American causes throughout that very same fiscal yr.
Washington mentioned Wednesday that along with ceasing its monetary contributions to the Unique Individuals Basis, it has requested that the nonprofit “take away any use of the Washington Soccer Staff title, model, or brand.” Based on state information, the muse lately modified its title to “The Washington Soccer Unique Individuals Basis,” after first being integrated as “The Washington Redskins Unique Individuals Basis.”
The Washington Publish first reported the staff’s transfer Wednesday as a part of its story about harassment allegations that had been levied in 2014 in opposition to the muse’s govt director, Gary Edwards. Edwards declined remark to The Publish.
Snyder introduced the creation of the Unique Individuals Basis with bombast in 2014 amid ongoing criticism of the staff title. He touted the creation of the nonprofit as an indication of his dedication to serving to Native American communities, a means of offering “significant and measurable sources” and creating “real alternatives.”
Tax information present the muse distributed $3.7 million to Native American causes in its first yr of existence, however solely a complete of roughly $2.5 million within the 4 years thereafter — together with $zero within the fiscal yr that lined most of 2018.
The Washington Soccer Staff mentioned it would proceed to help Native American communities by The Washington Soccer Charitable Basis, a separate nonprofit that was based in 2000.
Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
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