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Families of some of the people killed in the shooting at a King Soopers in Boulder three years ago Friday are demanding more transparency from Colorado Healing Fund (CHF). The complaint is similar to one filed by survivors and families of those killed in the 2022 mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs.
This nonprofit fund raises money for victims of mass casualty events in the state. Although not affiliated with the state of Colorado, state and local leaders often encourage the public to donate to this organization as a safe and quick way to help those in need. .
Money donated to this group will be distributed through Colorado Victim Assistance Agency (COVA) as approved by the Colorado Healing Fund Board of Directors. This fund also keeps a portion of the funds raised to meet the long-term needs of victims.
Anita Bush killed her cousin in the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting. She is the founder of Victims First, a national organization formed to help victims of such violence, and is one of several supporters who asked the Colorado Healing Fund for more relief. . Detailed financial reports and audits.
“We want to know exactly how much money is in the Boulder Fund for every penny,” Bush said. “So where are their audits? They say they’re doing audits, they say they’re auditing us, but where are their audits?”
Provided by: Colorado Healing Foundation
In an email, CHF Executive Director Kevin McFatridge said that the 990s will be posted online (a form that some tax-exempt organizations file with the Internal Revenue Service) and will be posted on a six-monthly basis for each tragedy that generates donations. He said the combination of one-time public reports could provide a comprehensive review of the funds raised. And got paid. He said the Swiss Franc does not have the resources to provide further information, such as real-time fund accounts on specific dates.
“What we’re publishing is consistent with what our industry peers are sharing. I don’t know of any nonprofits that share that kind of financial data in real time. “It’s an interesting idea, but it’s completely impractical,” McFatridge said.
The Colorado Healing Fund’s latest biannual report on 2021 Boulder shooting recovery and disbursements covers July through December 2023. The report was only recently published, and McFatridge acknowledged there had been delays.
According to the report, CHF collected more than $4.8 million in total donations during the life of the fund dedicated to the Boulder victims. Donations are no longer being collected.
Of this $4.8 million, Swiss Francs retained approximately 4.6 percent, or $221,000, as management fees. A total of $3.7 million was used for what the organization deemed victims’ needs, with the bulk of the money given to COVA as cash to victims’ families and others named in criminal cases, according to the documents. Ta.
Still, the amount disbursed is down from the previous semi-annual report. McFatridge said that’s because of a reduction in the amount of money specifically pledged to the Boulder Strong Resource Center.
The fund originally planned to donate more than $950,000 to the resource center. That number is now $524,495, all of which is included in her $3.7 payout. But so far, just over $160,000 has been donated to the center.
“I think the BSRC decided that the original amount was higher than it needed to be,” McFatridge said, noting that the decision was made before he was director general.
‘Clean’ audit by CHF, but victims demand more transparency
Mr McFatridge joined CHF in July 2023 following the retirement of former Executive Director Jordan Finnegan in March 2023. Mr. Finnegan held the position for four years until his resignation.
McFatridge said the Boulder Fund has $1.1 million left, about 3 percent of which will go towards the remaining pledge to BSRC. CHF said it will use the remaining $830,000 to address immediate and long-term needs as they arise, according to its model.
Anita Bush said the plan was causing further trauma to the people it was meant to help because as long as there was money in the fund, people had to ask for it.
“People don’t want to be cared for by someone they don’t know their whole life,” she says. “They’re adults who pay their own bills and they know how to pay their bills. They don’t have to go and ask for money that was already supposed to be given to them.”
In addition to its bi-annual reports and 990s, CHF said on its website that third-party audits in 2020, 2021 and 2022 found its finances were “clean” and there was no evidence of wrongdoing. It has said. 990s details the public support the Swiss franc receives by year, but does not break down the group’s finances according to which funds were generated by mass casualty events. The twice-yearly report makes that distinction, but Mr. Bush and other victim advocates argue that the information should be provided more frequently than twice a year.
In November, Mr. Bush sent an open letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and six other politicians, calling on the state to close the Colorado Healing Fund and create a state-run fund in its place. Club Q, Sol Tribe Tattoo & Piercing, and 60 survivors or family members of victims of the Boulder King Soopers shootings signed the letter.
The letter highlighted what they see as inconsistencies between funds raised for various mass casualty events. Specifically, the letter said CHF does not retain funds raised after Club Q for long-term needs, even though it is part of the nonprofit model.
Mr McFatridge said the CHF board decided to release all funds raised for Club Q victims because it felt the immediate needs were greater than the anticipated long-term needs. There was a big outcry from some survivors demanding the money be paid, but McFatridge said that was not the main motivation.
He also said the organization is keeping funds for victims in Boulder in preparation for criminal trials. The suspected shooter in the Boulder shooting is scheduled to face a criminal trial starting in August. There were no criminal trials in the Sol or Club Q shootings.
“We anticipate that the event and extensive media coverage will cause further trauma to those directly affected by the shooting, and we are committed to the resources available to meet those needs. “We would like to have it ready,” he said. “When we raise money from donors, we make it clear that our model is to meet the immediate, medium and long-term needs of survivors, victims and the families of those who have died. We have an obligation to respect that.”
Mr. Bush argues that this model is problematic.
“When you experience a mass shooting, you feel like you’ve lost control. To regain your mental health, it’s important to regain that control. And they’re doing the opposite,” Bush said. said.
Jody Waters was one of 10 people killed in the Boulder King Soopers shooting. Chuck Hanker is the children’s father. He said the victims’ families had a right to know exactly how much money had been raised.
“We would like to see an audit,” Funker said. “And they should close the fund and distribute the money to 10 families. That’s what I want to accomplish.”
Funker said multiple attempts to obtain information from the fund were unsuccessful. He also wants clarity on how the Swiss franc defines “victims” in mass casualty events.
McFatridge said CHF is working with named victims identified by local police departments and the district attorney’s office.
“Is it the 10 families? The people named in the lawsuit? The King Soopers employees and the general public?” Funker said. “I think the 10 families should be the final recipients. No funds should be withheld,” Funker said. “The family needs closure on this part of the tragedy. That’s not what’s coming out of the courtroom.”
Meanwhile, Mr McFatridge said CHF strives to meet the needs of the people it serves. The fund said it is moving toward distributing large sums of money to victims, rather than piecemeal based on individual needs.
“These are changes we are making for future revitalizations and are in direct response to what we have heard from victims, survivors and families of the deceased,” he said.
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