[Cleveland.com] The IRS revoked the tax-exempt status for a Cleveland Heights charity founded by two high-profile Trump allies that drew national controversy after it held an event in Cleveland last December to give away $25,000 in cash.On the searchable non-profit portion of its website, the IRS writes the Urban Revitalization Coalition is among the organizations "whose federal tax-exempt status was automatically revoked for not filing a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years." The decision was posted earlier this month and is effective as of May 15. Form 990s, essentially tax returns, are a mandatory filing for non-profits in which they disclose basic information about their financial activities to the IRS and the public as a condition of being exempt from paying taxes. Without non-profit status, donors to the group cannot deduct their contributions from their taxes.
Urban Revitalization Coalition co-founder Kareem Lanier declined to comment for this story. But he told CNN the organization's offices were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, so it missed mailed notices from the IRS notifying them the group's tax-exempt status was in jeopardy. He also told CNN his organization would file paperwork with the IRS in the coming weeks to get its non-profit status re-instated.
| A sensible response. I’m sure a decent tax attorney will ensure everything is straightened out quickly. |
The URC drew widespread attention after they hosted an event, geared toward Black residents, last December at the Galleria in Cleveland, where they gave away $25,000 in small increments to audience members. Before the cash giveaway, they presented awards to two Trump administration officials ‐ Pam Ashby, a Cleveland regional HUD official, and Ja'Ron Smith, a White House official and Cleveland native – and to pro-Trump TV personality Geraldo Rivera
[really?]
| Show biz buddies, one imagines. |
A second Cleveland event, at which URC leaders said they planned to give away $50,000 on Feb. 29, was canceled for what the group said was safety reasons. The URC had planned other follow-up events in other states. But it has gone quiet during the coronavirus pandemic.....