The veterans’ nonprofit that tried to construct golf programs in Jonathan Dickinson State Park final summer time has modified its pledge to donors after a TCPalm investigation discovered it had overstated how a lot cash went to charity whereas spending on salaries, social membership dues and a personal jet for its CEO.
The Folds of Honor Basis is an Oklahoma-based nonprofit with 38 U.S. chapters and reported belongings of $105 million and $62 million in donations, in accordance with its 2023 tax types, the latest accessible.
Since its 2007 inception, Folds mentioned it has distributed 62,000 scholarships for the households of disabled and deceased service members and first responders, together with 4,500 to Florida college students and 45% to minorities.
Its web site used to say, “91% of donated funds go on to scholarships,” however TCPalm discovered it was 61% in 2023 and averaged 68% over 5 years since 2019. That is as a result of Folds consists of salaries, promoting, occasions and first-class journey in its calculations.
Dan Rooney appears to hit an strategy shot on the second gap in the course of the first spherical of the 20225 Ally Problem at Warwick Hills Golf And Nation Membership on August 22, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Since TCPalm’s investigation printed in March, Folds modified the advertising and marketing on its web site to learn “91% of annual bills help our scholarship program.” This alteration doubtless occurred between April and early Might, in accordance with Wayback Machine, a nonprofit web archive.
Folds Spokesperson Glenn Greenspan, who lives in Stuart, didn’t reply to questions on why this alteration occurred or what the brand new language means.
Greenspan informed TCPalm in February Folds’ calculation will not be unlawful and is commonplace follow. A number of nonprofit specialists informed TCPalm its advertising and marketing is deceptive.
“It could not be right to say Folds spent 91% on direct grants for scholarships,” CharityWatch Govt Director Laurie Styron mentioned on the time. “The legal guidelines governing how charities are allowed to spend their cash are extremely permissible. You possibly can’t usually belief what charities inform you of their advertising and marketing.”
Nonprofit watchdog rebukes Folds of Honor declare
Jack Nicklaus and Air Power Lt. Col. Dan Rooney talk about American Dunes Golf Membership, a course in Grand Haven, Mich., Nicklaus redesigned to assist the households of fallen army members.
Folds’ tax types not solely present it spent much less on scholarships than it marketed, nevertheless it additionally spent an undisclosed quantity on its executives’ social and well being membership dues and a leased personal jet for its CEO, Lt. Col. Dan J. Rooney.
The nonpartisan nonprofit watchdog group CharityWatch famous these findings in an article it printed in April after TCPalm’s investigation, titled, “Folds of Honor Basis Does Not Spend 91% of Donations on Direct Scholarships.”
CharityWatch beforehand gave Folds a prime score for spending 91% of its whole bills on packages, nevertheless it took concern with what the nonprofit was contemplating “packages.”
In 2023, for instance, Folds spent $14.7 million — or 30% of that 91% — on bills akin to:
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$5 million on whole workers compensation, together with $122,165 for a senior golf director
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$3.8 million on promoting
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$1.6 million on receptions and occasions
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$458,759 on journey and first-class airfare
“If the charity is lucky sufficient to obtain a donation of a measurement giant sufficient to cowl the prices of a personal jet and first-class journey, that cash may doubtless be higher spent on offering extra life-changing scholarships,” Styron informed TCPalm. “A public charity’s cash doesn’t belong to the individuals operating it, however to the general public.”
Ties to the Trump administration
Palm Metropolis resident Dan Bongino is a conservative pundit along with his personal radio present, podcast and TV present, “Unfiltered,” set to premiere on Fox Information Channel on June 5, 2021.
When plans to construct golf programs in Jonathan Dickinson State Park have been leaked to the general public in August, the opposition was swift and bipartisan.
Days later, data revealed Folds of Honor was the group pushing for the controversial plan.
One determine advocating for Folds was Dan Bongino, who lived in Sewell’s Level working as a conservative podcaster on the time earlier than turning into FBI deputy director for the Trump administration.
Bongino will not be solely a promoter and fundraiser for Folds, however a private buddy of Rooney’s. They’ve ceaselessly appeared on Fox & Mates collectively.
TCPalm investigation: Folds of Honor overstates donations to scholarships for veteran, first-responder households
Dan Bongino: ‘I solved an issue’: How nationwide conservative pundit received tied to state park golf course
After it grew to become public Folds was behind the golf course plans, Bongino issued an announcement confirming the nonprofit had backed down, and that “they only did not perceive the native ardour for JD Park. They heard us and did the appropriate factor.”
“I do not understand how this factor began,” Bongino informed TCPalm in September 2024. “All I do know is I dwell right here, and I donate to an unbelievable charity that mentioned to me precisely what I put of their assertion.”
Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1345, or observe him on X @JackLemnus.
This text initially appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Folds of Honor nonprofit modifications pledge for veterans’ scholarships
