logo logo
Donate
    • Membership
    • Donate
  • Social Justice
    • Racial Justice
    • Climate Justice
    • Disability Justice
    • Economic Justice
    • Health Justice
    • Immigration
    • LGBTQ+
  • Civic News
  • Nonprofit Leadership
    • Board Governance
    • Equity-Centered Management
    • Finances
    • Fundraising
    • Human Resources
    • Organizational Culture
    • Philanthropy
    • Power Dynamics
    • Strategic Planning
    • Technology
  • CONTENT TYPES
  • Leading Edge Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Webinars

Nonprofit Newswire | Member of New Zealand Parliament Unapologetic for Double Dip

Rick Cohen
August 27, 2010

 

August 26, 2010; Source: New Zealand Herald | In U.S. coverage of nonprofits, we often fall prey to two kinds of American exceptionalism—the good and bad. One theme we’ve covered frequently is the penchant for U.S. politicians to, ahem, become “involved” with nonprofits.

This article from the New Zealand Herald suggests that there are “involved” counterparts elsewhere in the world. Five-term member of the New Zealand parliament, Roger McClay, was sentenced to 300 hours of community work for having defrauded two charities of $25,000, mostly by double dipping—from nonprofits such as World Vision and Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

Sign up for our free newsletters

Subscribe to NPQ's newsletters to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

McClay had charged the charities for travel expenditures when his travel was actually paid for by the government. He had been the chair of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, so the Judge decided that McClay’s community service should include picking up litter or cleaning graffiti.

For McClay, explanations and repentance aren’t in the cards. He neither apologized to the public nor the nonprofits for his inexplicable behavior. The man’s reputation and career are shredded due to clipping nonprofits for penny ante travel reimbursements. Go figure why politicians would risk all like this, in New Zealand or in the States.—Rick Cohen

About the author
Rick Cohen

Rick joined NPQ in 2006, after almost eight years as the executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Before that he played various roles as a community worker and advisor to others doing community work. He also worked in government. Cohen pursued investigative and analytical articles, advocated for increased philanthropic giving and access for disenfranchised constituencies, and promoted increased philanthropic and nonprofit accountability.

More about: Nonprofit News

Our Voices Are Our Power.

Journalism, nonprofits, and multiracial democracy are under attack. At NPQ, we fight back by sharing stories and essential insights from nonprofit leaders and workers—and we pay every contributor.

Can you help us protect nonprofit voices?

Your support keeps truth alive when it matters most.
Every single dollar makes a difference.

Donate now
logo logo logo logo logo
See comments

You might also like
Big Tech Comes to Tucker County, West Virginia
Laura Harbert Allen
What Happens When Your NSF Grant Is Canceled?
Nicole Walker
Amid Job Corps Cuts, HBCU Leaders Are Stepping Up
Rebekah Barber
New Tariffs Will Likely Deepen Economic Burdens for Women of Color
Rebekah Barber
Black Imagination as Strategy: Reclaiming Creativity in Nonprofit Leadership
Coniqua Johnson-Reed
With Major Sponsors Out, Who Is Stepping Up to Support Pride?
Alison Stine

Upcoming Webinars

Group Created with Sketch.
June 26th, 2:00 pm ET

From Performance Management to Mutual Commitment

Fostering a Culture of Joyful Accountability

Register
Group Created with Sketch.
July 24th, 2:00 pm ET

Organizing in Divided Times

The Relational Infrastructure We Need to Protect Democracy

Register

    
You might also like
Conservatives Attack Nonprofits on Capitol Hill
Isaiah Thompson
Glass-paneled exterior of the Microsoft building.
Microsoft Axes Free 365 Software for Nonprofits
Isaiah Thompson
US Capitol Building
Tax Provision Would Give Trump Administration Unilateral...
Rebekah Barber and Isaiah Thompson

Like what you see?

Subscribe to the NPQ newsletter to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

See our newsletters

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Copyright
  • Donate
  • Editorial Policy
  • Funders
  • Submissions

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

 

Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.