Two independent watchdog groups found that the Commanders Charitable Foundation, which "receives upward of 75% of its donations from fans and the public," is "operating in a manner that calls into question whether it is upholding its charitable mission responsibly," according to sources cited by Tisha Thompson of ESPN.com. CharityWatch and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy said that there are "enough apparent red flags to warrant attention" from attorneys general in the two states where it operates, Maryland and Virginia. Attorneys general "regulate nonprofits on the state level" and have "authority to levy civil penalties." The Commanders' charity, whose stated mission is to "help needy children in the D.C. area," raised $2.1M in "contributions and grants in fiscal 2020, giving away more than $697,000." In FY 2021, during the height of the pandemic, it "raised $927,992 and gave away more than $471,000." A review of the tax filings found the Commanders' charity:
- Lacks sufficient independent oversight. Commanders co-CEO Tanya Snyder was the foundation's sole voting board member beginning in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, through April of this year.
- Failed to disclose that a company it regularly lists on governmental filings as one it owes money to is owned by owner Dan Snyder.
- Included in its financial filings unusual transactions, including how it accounts for ticket donations and the labeling of a $6,000 payment to a for-profit company that provided marketing services to the foundation as a "donation."
- Made grants to organizations that are not in line with its stated mission (ESPN.com, 12/22).
