Russell Wilson

2023 - 2 - 9

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Denver Post"

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation responds to report ... (The Denver Post)

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation issued a statement after a USA TODAY report raised questions about the amount of money the organization donated ...

The USA Today story, in part, raises questions over the amount of credit Why Not You can claim for some fundraising efforts with partners. “Since founding the Why Not You Foundation in 2014, we’ve been blessed and fortunate to partner with incredible organizations to maximize our impact,” the statement began. Rodgers did not return a message seeking comment from The Post. More pertinently, it notes that the salary and benefits expenses include more than $200,000 a year for an employee who also worked for Russell and Ciara Wilson’s family office. “While the foundation raises funds and provides grants and gifts, our partnerships have allowed for more direct delivery and impact. [Want more Broncos news?

Russell Wilson's Charity Accused Of Fraudulent Activity (Vibe)

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation has allegedly raised millions of dollars, but only a fraction of the money has gone to charitable causes.

“Our focus will continue to be dedicated to education, children’s health, and fighting poverty while empowering today’s youth to lead with a ‘Why Not You’ attitude.” Wilson’s foundation was first founded in 2014. “Form 990 federal tax returns from the nonprofit’s inception through 2021 show it reported $7.5 million in revenue and $7 million in expenses during its first eight years of existence,” USA Today’s report reads. The remaining $4.2 million has paid for fundraising, administrative and management expenses, including the salaries of three employees, who have received $1.9 million combined.” [Russell Wilson](https://www.vibe.com/t/russell-wilson/) and his charity, the Why Not You Foundation, have been [ accused of fraud.](https://www.vibe.com/news/sports/shannon-sharpe-russell-wilson-attitude-teammates-1234722685/) [and his wife,](https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/ciara-jason-whitlock-comments-against-black-mothers-1234731141/) [Ciara](https://www.vibe.com/t/ciara/).

Report: Practices of Russell Wilson's foundation in question (Yahoo News)

Wilson's organization reported it spent almost $600000 benefiting charities in 2020 and 2021. But, spent nearly twice as much, $1.1 million, on salaries and ...

Russell Wilson faces horrible charity scandal (The Comeback)

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is the latest NFL QB to face major questions about their personal charity.

The investigation revealed that Wilson’s organization only spent 24.3 cents of every dollar donated to the foundation on charitable activities in 2020 and 2021. And the Why Not You Foundation looks as bad as any. [Russell Wilson](https://thecomeback.com/tag/russell-wilson) Foundation, colloquially known as the Why Not You Foundation, in 2014 with a mission to “empower change in the world, one individual at a time and one child at a time.”

Russell Wilson and Ciara's children's charity gives almost no money ... (SB Nation)

Russell Wilson is struggling as a quarterback, but he's absolutely rolling when it comes to scamming donors to his charity.

“While the foundation raises funds and provides grants and gifts, our partnerships have allowed for more direct delivery and impact. [but does show its board of directors](https://whynotyoufdn.org/about). “He has shown continued excellence on the field for nine seasons, but the work he has done to help youth and fight food insecurity through his Why Not You Foundation bolsters his lasting legacy. [On Wednesday night the “Why Not You? Furthermore, Wilson’s charity raises specific questions because it was used as a key reason Wilson won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2020, In total Russ’ foundation received $7.5M in revenue in through 2021, but only reported $2.8M being passed on to any charitable activities.

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation reportedly spent more on ... (Yahoo Sports)

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2020 partly because of his Why Not You Foundation.

'Major red flags' with Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation (MyNorthwest.com)

Russell Wilson has become an easy target in Seattle. But whether you love him or hate him, he usually evokes an emotion.

“Because that $10 million from Safeway and Albertsons does not appear on the Why Not You Foundation’s tax returns, they’re not (directly) responsible for that fundraising. Since founding the Why Not You Foundation in 2014, we’ve been blessed and fortunate to partner with incredible organizations to maximize our impact. Subscribe to the We are forever grateful for our dynamic relationship with Children’s Hospital over the past decade and the amazing kids we’ve been able to meet and impact. It is an issue with NFL players, the league, and the union encouraging these guys to be philanthropic with their most prestigious awards,” Wolf said. [USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/) investigation into athlete’s nonprofits and found that Wilson’s foundation gave about a quarter of all money raised to the people who need it. “That raises major red flags for people in the nonprofit sector,” Wolf said. Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. He noted that many athletes’ nonprofits pay about 25 cents on the dollar. In that time period, for every dollar the foundation raised, it donated just over 24 cents. There’s no doubt that the foundation does good. Some non-profits go as high as 90 cents on the dollar.

Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation scrutinized over financial ... (CBSSports.com)

In 2020 and 2021, Wilson's charity reported spending a combined $600,000 on charitable endeavors, according to federal tax records. That comes out to 24.3 cents ...

"Millions of dollars in funds raised by the Why Not You Foundation go through our partners who can deliver that money where it is needed more directly," Why Not You Foundation's chief financial officer Scott Pickett wrote in a statement to USA Today. That should be commended, but there are still outstanding questions about the Why Not You Foundation's finances. [Russell Wilson's](/nfl/players/1272242/russell-wilson/) charity, which does business as the Why Not You Foundation, is facing scrutiny over its finances.

Russell Wilson's Why Not You charity is using less than quarter of its ... (CBSSports.com)

Wilson's foundation generates millions in revenue, but only a small portion goes to charitable endeavors.

Russell Wilson's troublesome year continues as his charitable ... (The Seattle Times)

Athletes making innocent mistakes with their charitable foundations aren't unusual. Whether that's what happened with Russell Wilson remains to be seen.

That was also a takeaway from the accompanying USA Today article this week that looked at foundations started by 23 of the past 26 Payton Man of the Year recipients. I do know that the endless hours Wilson spent with patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital — virtually every Tuesday for the entirety of his 10 years here — were very real. I’d like to think Wilson was speaking from the heart. Furthermore, USA Today reported that some executives of Wilson’s foundation were paid far more than the industry average, and that one employee, chief strategy officer Ryan Tarpley, had a dual role working for the Wilson family office. Former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander told the authors, Danny O’Neil and Greg Bishop, “I believe that every athlete has their heart in the right place. Watt, a Payton award winner, told USA Today: “It’s not as simple as saying, ‘I want to help people.’ I wish it was. His ensuing nosedive with the Broncos has been well-documented, leading to an largely unfavorable reexamination of his place in the hierarchy of top quarterbacks. In two interviews conducted the next week expressly designed to talk about winning Man of the Year, Wilson used the platform for During the Super Bowl telecast in the wake of that award, Wilson was shown sitting between his wife, Ciara, and commissioner Roger Goodell, looking decidedly glum. It has always been evident that being regarded as an upright and honorable person is equally, if not more, important to Wilson. The Seattle Times did Your heart, dedication, and commitment to taking care of others is truly what sets you apart.”

Only about 40% of Russell Wilson foundation's expenses actually go ... (Denver 7 Colorado News)

The foundation argues it has raised millions through partnerships with Seattle Children's Hospital and grocery giant Safeway Albertsons – donations that ...

The statement made no mention of USA TODAY’s reporting. Why Not You, by contrast, paid a chief strategy officer, Ryan Tarpley, $208,625 in 2020. Whitworth’s foundation lists an executive director who was paid $12,000 annually. In 2018, the year Watt raised millions for Hurricane Harvey recovery in the Houston area, 99% of his foundation's expenses were charitable grants. [its expenses](https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/262456949_201912_990PF_2021061418340759.pdf)toward charity in 2018-2019 In 2020, Why Not You spent $256,519 on charitable grants while racking up $1.2 million in expenses, meaning only 21.3 cents of every dollar spent went to charitable efforts. [his foundation’s expenses](https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/273516574_202006_990_2021021917731563.pdf)went toward charity in 2019. [its overall expenses](https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/476329563_202012_990PF_2022082220288106.pdf)toward charity between 2018 and 2020. [its expenses](https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/270548555_201912_990_2021022417749824.pdf)toward charity between 2017 and 2019. Long’s foundation doesn’t list any paid employees, but did pay a consultant about $73,000 per year. [every dollar spent](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/341882628/202043159349303599/full)went toward charity from 2018-2019. [a months-long investigation by USA TODAY](https://www.usatoday.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fin-depth%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2F2023%2F02%2F08%2Frussell-wilson-why-not-you-foundation-nonprofit-spends-more-on-salaries-than-charity-nfl%2F11212270002%2F), which set out to investigate nonprofits founded by recipients of the Man of the Year Award.

Russell Wilson

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