Should Acorn be Penalized for Deception?
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 
Photo by C-Eight
Accountability and disclosure should not have to be debated on whether it is done. Self dealing, fraud and inappropriate actions a board and management must deal with openly. This New York Times article conveys very different approaches by two nonprofits.
If someone stole a million dollars from you would you keep them on the payroll? Acorn did just that. I guess the employee needed the money more than Acorn because there was no prosecution and they never got there money back. Oh, $200,000 was paid but was that with his payroll deduction for money earned by working at Acorn. Nothing like Acorn paying itself back for another persons crime. To what effect the stolen funds effected Acorns ability to meet its goals and outcomes has not been disclosed.
I would blacklist the nonprofit Acorn since I feel that the board has not taken enough action against those of management and the small set of board members whom deceived the organization. Donating to Acorn should be done only after such action is taken.
