[bestbits] Accountability group puts Google in same league as big oil and big tobacco

[Becky Lentz]

Re Parminder¹s recent posts concerning NGO funding transparency:

This issue is much more complex than what is being represented in this most
recent go-between/rehashing of a topic that affects not only the BB
community but also every other NGO issue sector (see
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Money-History-Billionaires-Radical/dp/0385535597
). That said, NN is one area where transparency is critical: see

> https://m.theregister.co.uk/2017/07/03/net_neutrality_rage_hits_academia/
> 
> http://www.computerworld.com/article/2838972/secretive-funding-fuels-debate-ab
> out-net-neutrality-astroturfing.html
> 
> https://openpolicyresearch.com/2014/10/28/astroturfing-in-the-net-neutrality-d
> ebate/.

Having worked in philanthropy and now researching and teaching about its
complex/contentious role in policy advocacy
(http://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/6399;
https://lbj.utexas.edu/spring-2017-61510-pa388l-advanced-topics-management),
I offer two comments.

First, EFF is to be applauded for making its 990 form accessible on its
website: https://www.eff.org/document/public-990-fiscal-year-2015. From this
form one can see that there is an endowment along with several income
streams. In other words, this is more here than simply grants; there are
resources indicated that seem independent from donor influence. Would other
civil society groups in the BB community concerned about transparency in
funding consider posting their tax filings as a resource for civil society
researchers?

Second, these resources are available for researching the financials of
US-based non profits:

> https://www.guidestar.org/Home.aspx
> http://foundationcenter.org/find-funding/990-finder
> https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-forms-990-n-filed-by-smal
> l-tax-exempt-organizations

Please feel free to email me off-list for additional information and
questions and also how to research the financials of non US based NGOs. Also
feel free to contact me if you would like to consider participating in an
emerging research project related to this topic.

Cheers,
B. Lentz, McGill University





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