# Charity board makes donations to cover funding shortfall

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/12/23/charity-board-makes-donations-to-cover-funding-shortfall/
- Published: 2019-12-23T23:07:07+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Members of the board of the Ireland Funds America have each donated an extra $
10,000 to cover the losses suffered from an alleged embezzlement, according to the
Irish Times.**

Board members normally donate $10,000 each year to the charity. This year Funds 
chairman John Fitzpatrick asked board members to make a one-off additional payment
for the same amount to generate an extra $500,000 in response to the alleged fraud
and loss. Not surprisingly he described 2018 as a “difficult year” for the Funds.

He praised the board’s move for showing “true commitment and philanthropy at its
very best”. 

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## Alleged embezzlement

[According to the Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/ireland-funds-board-agree-to-donate-extra-500-000-to-plug-fraud-gap-1.4121007)
filings for the New York-based charity indicate that $711,875 was allegedly embezzled
via its Dallas office between 2015 and 2017. Legal and other professional costs 
incurred in dealing with the alleged fraud have totalled $1 million.

The Funds are [attempting to recover damages](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/american-ireland-funds-sues-ex-employee-for-embezzlement-1.3653306)
of $958,000 and exemplary damages of $1.9 million against a staff member who has
pleaded her fifth-amendment right under US law to protect herself against self-incrimination.

The filings showed that the Funds’  revenue fell by 12% last year to $28.9 million.
During the year the charity donated $20.1 million via 684 grants.

 

## New chairman

Mr Fitzpatrick is stepping down as chairman pf the [Ireland Funds America](https://www.facebook.com/IrelandFundsAmerica/)
having served two terms. He is being succeeded from 1 January by New York-born former
banker Eugene McQuade, who has been involved with the charity for the past 25 years.

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