AUGUSTA – Maine lawmakers are calling for a formal investigation into the Maine Community Foundation after alleging that millions of dollars donated for victims of the Lewiston mass shooting were diverted away from survivors and distributed to nonprofit organizations.
In a sharply worded letter to the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee, lawmakers accused the foundation of possible deceptive practices, conflicts of interest and self-dealing in its handling of the Lewiston victims fund.
The letter was signed by State Rep. John Eder, State Rep. Quentin Chapman, Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart and Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matthew Harrington. Rep. Chad Perkins was copied on the request.
According to the lawmakers, approximately $6.6 million was raised after the Oct. 25, 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, with donors reasonably expecting the money would directly support victims and their families.
Instead, the lawmakers allege that $1.9 million was distributed to 29 nonprofit organizations, including groups that did not provide direct services to victims.
The letter states that victims received an average of about $29,000, while each nonprofit received more than $65,000.
“This creates an appearance of deceptive practices, conflict of interest and self-dealing,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers also alleged that six members of the Maine Community Foundation steering committee granted funds to their own nonprofits, while another grant went to the spouse of a steering committee member.
The letter further claims the foundation used “one umbrella term for two funds within the victims’ fund,” allowing money intended for survivors to be redirected to nonprofit organizations.
One nonprofit, The Root Cellar of Lewiston, later returned its grant money through the national organization Victims First, saying that “funds intended specifically for victims and survivors should remain available to them.”
According to the lawmakers, The Root Cellar told the foundation before applying that its work would not provide direct services to victims or their families, but was encouraged to apply anyway.
The lawmakers also alleged that unrestricted victim funds were used for projects such as nonprofit office renovations.
The controversy has renewed questions about accountability, donor intent and public trust following the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history.
Lawmakers argue that donors gave money believing it would help survivors pay for funeral costs, medical bills, counseling, lost income and other direct needs following the massacre at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille.
Instead, they say many victims were left with limited financial support while nonprofit organizations received larger payments.
“If we do not investigate this apparent mismanagement of the Victims Fund, we risk eroding public trust in charitable organizations and dissuading future contributions to victims’ compensation funds,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers are urging the Government Oversight Committee to examine whether the Maine Community Foundation violated donor intent, state law or ethical standards in its management of the Lewiston victims fund.
It’s about time
Where’s Janet ?
Must be an election year.
The criminals in Disgusta got caught.
I say throw the book at them! Hard Time Nothing Less
What is there to investigate .
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED .
The Maine Community Foundation GIVEN THE JOB BY JANET MILLS gave the majority of the money to a bunch of NGOs who didn’t deserve any of it , ESPECIALLY the damn Somalis .
The money is gone and soon so will be Janet Mills . The Somalis have split too .
Nothing left to see here .
Thank Janet Mills .
“A sharply worded letter” means NOTHING unless someone at the Oversight Committee does jail time.
The grift a NGO in the country. and administrators that encourage it
How many of the non-profits that received money from this fund support Democratic Party re-election efforts/
ALL OF THEM .
But, but, but this is Lewiston! Surely the city Fathers and the Somalian leadership would never allow generously contributed funds to be distributed among themselves in the middle of a dark, dark night.
As a survivors’ of murder victims’ avocate, I was present at the Victims First meeting in Lewiston whenthe families and public were assured that all money donated, was dedicated for assistance to families of the Lewiston shootings murder victims, surviving wounded victims, and actual witnesses present at the murder sites. It was clearly presented thata Steering Committee could be trusted to oversee the distribution plan, which was on a scale dependent on the victims’ losses.
It was clearly not intended as a grab bag for non-deserving non-profits!
When it was disclosed that the steering committee ecouraged the fraudulant use of 1.9 million dollars to enrich their unrelated causes, at least one nonprofit, “The Root Cellar of Lewiston, later returned its grant money through the national organization Victims First, saying that funds intended specifically for victims and survivors should remain available to them.”
“According to the lawmakers, The Root Cellar told the foundation before applying that its work would not provide direct services to victims or their families, but was encouraged to apply anyway.
I can applaud the actions of The Root Cellar in the aftermath of knowledge of the intentions of the Lewiston Fund.
For the rest of the organizations who took the money and kept it, I put them in the same category of those who steal the public donation jars for local survivor victims, often seen and supported in community convenience stores!
Was Lewiston city councilor Chrissy Noble
working at New Beginnings when they received 67k of shooting victims funds?