Donald J. Trump Foundation

Donald J. Trump Foundation

The Donald J. Trump Foundation was a private charitable foundation established in 1988 by Donald J. Trump, a businessman and television personality who later became the 45th President of the United States. The foundation was headquartered in New York City and participated in philanthropic disbursements, public relations activities, and fundraising, while intersecting with high-profile figures and institutions across the United States. Over its existence the foundation engaged with hospitals, universities, cultural institutions, political candidates, and media enterprises, and later became the subject of investigations, litigation, and regulatory scrutiny culminating in court-ordered dissolution.

History and founding

The foundation was founded in 1988 by Donald J. Trump during his career at The Trump Organization and after media exposure from programs such as The Apprentice (American TV series). Early donors and board interactions linked the foundation to institutions including New York University, Columbia University, Brooklyn Law School, Mount Sinai Health System, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and arts organizations like the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the foundation reported grants to nonprofits such as Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Red Cross, and various scholarship funds affiliated with individuals like Norman Vincent Peale. Publicity events tied the foundation to venues such as Trump Tower and to political gatherings involving figures like Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg (businessman and politician). The foundation’s filings identified corporate donors and entities connected to business ventures including The Trump Organization, Trump National Golf Club, and entertainment collaborators such as NBCUniversal.

Activities and programs

Grantmaking attributed to the foundation included donations to medical centers like Johns Hopkins Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and Dana–Farber Cancer Institute; educational grants to schools including Georgetown University, Harvard University, Yale University; and support for cultural programs at theaters such as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and museums like the Museum of Modern Art. The foundation sponsored events with charities such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. It also engaged in disaster relief contributions tied to responses involving agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency and nonprofit coalitions including Feeding America. Publicized awards and honoraria sometimes accompanied philanthropic gestures, intersecting with figures like Oprah Winfrey, Billy Graham, Tony Bennett, and board members from corporations including Walmart, ExxonMobil, and Goldman Sachs. In addition to grants, the foundation issued in-kind donations, matching contributions, and sponsorship payments connected to fundraising galas at sites such as Mar-a-Lago and auction events involving celebrities like Tom Brady and Tiger Woods.

Governance and finances

Board administration and financial management involved named officers and trustees from private business and family circles, including Donald J. Trump and associates tied to The Trump Organization, as well as executives such as Allen Weisselberg. The foundation filed annual reports with state charitable authorities and the Internal Revenue Service, claiming tax-exempt status under provisions governing private foundations. Its balance sheets recorded assets originating from individual donors, corporate checks, and transfers associated with ventures like Trump Shuttle and hospitality properties. Financial controls and governance practices were scrutinized in relation to self-dealing rules under the Internal Revenue Code and New York state charitable law, with attention to transactions involving campaign entities such as the Republican National Committee and political figures like Hillary Clinton (through rival donations), alongside business relationships with vendors including Deloitte and KPMG.

Investigations and legal actions

The foundation became the subject of investigative reporting by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and ProPublica, prompting regulatory inquiries by the New York State Attorney General and examination by the Internal Revenue Service. Legal actions included civil litigation alleging improper use of charitable assets, breaches of fiduciary duty, and coordination with political activities involving figures such as Michael Cohen (lawyer) and entities linked to campaign committees like the Trump–Pence Campaign. Court filings referenced purported self-dealing transactions benefiting properties such as Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster and payments tied to personal events featuring celebrities including Ivana Trump, Melania Trump, and advisors like Steve Bannon. Investigations examined donations influenced by foreign nationals or businesses from jurisdictions including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China, and raised questions about compliance with state statutes such as the New York Not-For-Profit Corporation Law. Litigation involved prosecutors including Eric Schneiderman and judges from the New York Supreme Court.

Dissolution and settlement

Following prolonged investigation and litigation, the foundation agreed to disband and dissolve under court supervision, with a settlement overseen by the New York Attorney General's Office and implemented through the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division. The settlement required dissolution of the foundation, distribution of remaining assets to approved charities including Habitat for Humanity, Doctors Without Borders, and Feeding America, and the imposition of monetary penalties. Prominent legal outcomes included admissions or findings related to misuse of funds, injunctions against future operation, and requirements for compliance monitoring by state authorities involving trustees such as Donald J. Trump and executors including corporate officers. The resolution closed a complex chapter involving nonprofit oversight, political finance scrutiny, and litigation among entities like Citigroup, Bank of America, and assorted philanthropic recipients.

Category:Defunct charities in the United States