Questions for Freedom Forum about its spending

Following are questions I asked the Freedom Forum journalism foundation, in an e-mail on Sunday to Mike Fetters, head of communications for the Newseum, the Washington, D.C., foundation's biggest project. (After submitting these questions, I uncovered an additional $37,700 in gifts to an adoption agency, Home At Last, that is a subject of my research. Also, Freedom Forum late this morning gave me a copy of its public 2007 Internal Revenue Service report.)

As I post this, Fetters has not replied to my questions.


Dec. 28, 2008

Mike:

I suspect you will not be able to answer all my questions listed below by my deadline, which is 5 p.m., Pacific time on Dec. 30. As you know, I am also keenly interested in getting Freedom Forum's Form 990-PF for 2007 overnighted to me, if possible.

In my defense regarding these questions, Freedom Forum has resisted all my previous attempts to get information. My back is now against a wall, as a result of Al Neuharth's reference to Home At Last in his column this past Friday.

Thanks,

Jim

Note: These questions are mostly arranged by subject, not importance.

AL NEUHARTH
What are his title and job responsibilities at Freedom Forum?

How much was his total compensation package in 2008 and in 2007? (And how did it break down?)

What authority does Neuharth have over Freedom Forum grants and other spending?

GRANTS
What is the foundation's grant making process, beginning to end?

What is the trustee initiatives program, including any annual spending budgets assigned to individual trustees?

The foundation's IRS information statements from 2000 to 2006 show many grants going to groups that do not appear to have any bearing on advancing free speech or a free press. For example, the statements show the foundation gave $23,000 in two grants in 2006 to the Whale Museum near Seattle. How does that reflect the foundation's stated focus on its three priorities?

The information statements also show the foundation gave at least $15,000 to the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League in two grants in 2001 and 2002. Naral is a fairly well-known lobbying group favoring abortion. On its website, it says: "Contributions or gifts to NARAL Pro-Choice America, a 501(c)(4) organization with MCFL status, are not tax-deductible." With this information, do these grants comply with the foundation's guidelines?

OTHER SUBJECTS
What is the current figure comparable to line 16 (total assets) on Form 990-PF for 2000? (It was $1.1 billion that year, the statement says.) Is the current figure $450 million -- the value of the endowment Charles Overby mentioned in recent interviews?

How long has Sen. Daschle been a trustee?

The foundation's 2000 annual report says the cost of the Newseum, including land acquisition, design and construction would be $250 million, and completion was expected in 2005. What was the final cost, and why was the project delayed?

HOME AT LAST
Florida state business records show Home At Last is an adoption agency in Cocoa Beach, Fla., owned by Dr. Rachel Fornes, a chiropractor; she is Neuharth's wife.

How many grants and what were the dollar amounts to Home At Last in 2008?

What about in 2007?

Which trustees participated in approving a series of nine grants to Home At Last between 2002 and 2006 totaling $23,000, according to the foundation's annual IRS information statements?

How did these $23,000 in grants advance the interests of the Freedom Forum's priorities?