Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, Federal Tax Returns

Previously I looked into the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance only to discover they are not on record in the state of North Carolina. It's as if they don't exist. But the City of Greensboro says:

"The Economic Development office works with our partner, the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance (GEDA) to promote Greensboro as a place to locate and grow your business. The services of Economic Development also assist to coordinate available properties or redevelopment or development and determine if any City incentives are available."

Is the City of Greensboro working with ghosts?

So I looked up their Federal Tax Returns and found nothing. Best I can tell the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance has never filed a Federal Tax Return. Go ahead, look for yourself and tell me what you've found.

Computer glitch? Maybe, but who knows? But why 4 different names, Action Greensboro, Greensboro Partnership, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, for the same non profit entity?

Continue to page 37. Downtown Greensboro Incorporated, Federal Tax Returns.

Action Greensboro Inc, Federal Tax Returns

Previously I looked into Action Greensboro but didn't find many answers. Well I took a little break and looked around for more records to search and while I'm unable to unearth any grand conspiracies, the tax returns for Action Greensboro did bring up a few more questions to which I haven't found answers.

The American Judicature Society:

"Founded in 1913, the American Judicature Society is an independent, non-partisan, membership organization working nationally to protect the integrity of the American justice system. AJS’s diverse and broadly based membership --including judges, lawyers and members of the public-- promotes fair and impartial courts through research, publications, education and advocacy for judicial reform. The work of AJS focuses primarily on judicial ethics, judicial selection, access to justice, criminal justice reform, and the jury system."

Not that the American Judicature Society is a bad thing but why did Action Greensboro Inc. donate $75,000 to AJS in 2005. The link is to Acton Greensboro's 2006 Federal Income Tax Return. And where did Action Greensboro get that money? How much money did the City of Greensboro give Action Greensboro that same year? And why is Action Greensboro donating to a non profit located in Des Moines, Iowa? Anyone?

From IRS Form 990, Part IV. Reason for Non-Private Foundation Status:

11a. "An organization that normally receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or from the general public .
Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (Also complete the Support Schedule in Part IV-A )"

And why a 2003 donation of $102,178 to the Inception Micro Angel Fund, LLC? I'm just askin'.

You can view all of Action Greensboro's Federal Tax returns here.

Something tells me I'm going to have to look up the tax returns of the American Judicature Society and a whole bunch more.

By the way, do you think it strange that the Bryan Foundation pays Action Greensboro to pay Grassroots Productions to hire Downtown Greensboro Inc to manage City Center Park and bill the City of Greensboro when DGI (funded by the City of Greensboro) Action Greensboro, The Greensboro Partnership, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and Greensboro Chamber of Commerce are all one in the same?

Continue to page 36. Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, Federal Tax Returns.

Bill Knight On The Greensboro Chamber Of Commerce

Any investigation of the Greensboro Partnership has to include the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. You see, the Greensboro Partnership, Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Action Greensboro, Downtown Greensboro Inc., Downtown Greensboro Improvement Corporation, Downtown Greensboro Foundation, Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, and any number of area non profits are, for all intents and purposes, one in the same. Many even share the exact same boards of directors.

From a recent conversation between John Hammer and former Mayor Bill Knight:

"He said he spent a lot of time on economic development and would love to see the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce take a more active role in economic development and with existing businesses like it does in other communities.

He said he was surprised to see how little the chamber knows about some segments of business in Greensboro."

You see, as a non profit, the Chamber Of Commerce has no need to know about private business. The Chamber exists on handouts, taxpayer dollars and donations just like the downtown panhandlers who are forced to get permits before they panhandle. They don't do business, they beg. Since when did we put beggars in charge of business?

So maybe, just maybe the point of my investigation shouldn't be the infractions I've found thus far. Maybe it's simply inept management?

Continue to page 21. Greensboro Beautiful Inc Board Of Directors.

Downtown Greensboro Incorporated Board of Directors

After failing to find different boards of directors for Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Greensboro Partnership I thought I'd take a look at some of the other non-profit organizations involved in the governmental and civic operations of Greensboro, North Carolina beginning with DGI, aka Downtown Greensboro Incorporated. From the DGI website:

"How is DGI funded?

The major funding source for the organization is a Municipal Service District or Business Improvement District (BID), that levies a special assessment on Downtown business and property owners to provide enhanced services and programs that benefit the ratepayers. This district was created by City Council in 2005 after a petition process demonstrated support by over 60% of the property owners. These funds are governed by state law and are intended to enhance, not replace, government funding to Downtown.

The City of Greensboro and Guilford County contributes to DGI through annual contracts for economic development and other services for the area. These contracts have specific, quantifiable outcomes that are targeted to growing the community's tax base. DGI also receives contributions from its Annual Fund Drive. Contributors include the Guilford Merchants Association, local foundations and dozens of individual supporters."

So we've established that DGI is taxpayer funded. With a name like Downtown Greensboro Incorporated, one would assume they have a board of directors just like any other corporation and the DGI website even shows they have a Chief Financial Officer whose name is Kate Phillips and a CEO who is said to be, Ed Wolverton. As it turns out their 2011 Annual Report does list a 33 member DGI Board of Directors but the current board isn't mentioned. You see, I know the current board isn't the same as last year's board because DGI board member and former Greensboro City Manager, Rashad Young skipped town a few months ago. So who is currently seated on the board at DGI?

No conspiracies here so I decided to do the usual searches. DowntownGreensboro.net is registered to an unknown entity. Why? I don't know. My search of the NC Secretary of State website tells me that DGI's registered agent is The Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce but like other non profits DGI is not required to file annual reports and has never done so. Interesting note: If you go to this page and click on " THE GREENSBORO AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INCORPORATED" you will be directed to this page And while you're on the second page, try clicking on "DOWNTOWN GREENSBORO INCORPORATED" and see where that takes you. As with most things involving the Greensboro Partnership, I have no clue as to what that means so you're free to speculate anything you wish.

Update: DGI's board can be found here.

Continue to page 9. synerG Board Of Directors.

Action Greensboro Board Of Directors

After yesterday's discovery that internet searches for the boards of directors of Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce all lead to the Greensboro Partnership I thought I'd spend some time trying to find out who runs the 3 non profits that run the non profit Greensboro Partnership. So far I've been unable to locate a board of directors for Action Greensboro.

According to the NC Secretary of State, the registered agent for Action Greensboro is April Harris of 317 South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC. 27401 but no directors are listed so I decided to check Action Greensboro's required filings only to find no new filings listed since 2008. Is the State of North Carolina 4 years behind in listing filings or is Action Greensboro operating illegally?

According to Action Greensboro's original Articles of Incorporation, Action Greensboro is a 501(c)(3) non profit "charitable corporation" whose purpose is charitable and educational purposes and for the purpose of making distributions (giving money) to organizations that qualify as 501(c)(3) non profits.

In 2004 the Action Greensboro Articles of Incorporation were amended to state that Action Greensboro has but 1 member, that being The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Funny, I thought any interested party could become a member of Action Greensboro. Still, no mention of any board of directors.

A 2008 amendment simply noted that April Harris is the registered agent and executive director.

Are 501(3)(c) non profits required to have boards of directors? Are they required to make their boards public? Does the public have a right to know who controls tax exempt funds? Are laws being broken? And why is the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce listed as the only member of Action Greensboro?

Where is this going? I don't yet know, I'm just digging holes until I strike the mother load.

Continue to page 7. Greensboro Economic Development Alliance Board Of Directors.

Interesting Notes About The Greensboro Partnership

If you attempt to sign-up for e-mail alerts from the Greensboro Partnership you get redirected to the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce newsletter.

Jason Cannon, VP Governmental Affairs controls the Partnership's Twitter feed but has so far been uncommunicative.

The Greensboro Partnership is run by Action Greensboro, the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. A search for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce board of directors takes you to the Greensboro Partnership as the #1 search result. A search for the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance board of directors also shows the Greensboro Partnership as the #1 search result. A search for Action Greensboro board of directors returns the same results. Are all 4 of these publicly funded non profit organizations really one in the same?

To be continued as I learn more.

Continue reading page 4. Conflicts Of Interest Cripple Greensboro Economy.