WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) today filed a complaint with the Department of the Interior (DOI) requesting an investigation into whether the National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) improperly used federal grant funds for partisan political campaign donations.

NWF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and may not spend donations or grant money on political campaigns. NWF does, however, have a 501(c)4 Action Fund that can legally donate to or advocate for campaigns.

NWF received $872,887.50 on September 1, 2024, in DOI federal grant funds for work to be performed in Montana. Less than a month later the Action Fund spent $299,985 on an independent expenditure in Montana in support of Senator Jon Tester. NWF’s own audit showed that during that same time period, a suspiciously similar amount – $260,000 – was granted from NWF to the Action Fund.

Money is fungible and there can be no possibility that federal funds were used for impermissible partisan political purposes. Federal funds can in no way be filtered through related social welfare organizations which engage in partisan political activity. If this occurred, the NWF, acting through the Action Fund, may have violated both the terms of its taxpayer grants and the IRS rules governing 501(c)(3) and (4) organizations.

“NWF may have engaged in a serious violation of law by potentially misusing taxpayer funds linked to a donation to their affiliated 501(c)(4) Action Fund and its subsequent independent expenditure supporting Senator Jon Tester’s re-election. The American people are fed up with organizations that masquerade as charitable but, in reality, engage in partisan politics,” said CASA Director James Fitzpatrick.

 

“This raises concerns over whether NWF has in fact prioritized its own partisan political objectives in violation of its tax-exempt status and federal grantee obligations.”

About CASA

The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the safety and security of the American people. CASA educates and informs the public about the actions of their government and its officials that impact their safety; peace and security; democracy, civil rights, and civil liberties; and privacy.