Tainted donor, tainted money? How to handle controversial contributions

Description

Abstract: In 2019, as waves of lawsuits accused Purdue Pharma of knowingly contributing to the opioid crisis, numerous nonprofits announced they would no longer accept gifts from the Sackler family, several members of which owned the company. Situations like this put nonprofits in a tough position. They may desperately need funds, but accepting such gifts may result in negative attention. This article examines what nonprofits should do if a donation turns out to be “tainted.” A brief sidebar discusses due diligence on those offering substantial donations.