Not all tax dollars are treated equally.
Did you ever stop to think about how much of your money is being funneled into the hands of nonprofits by way of grants? Of course, we know that governments contract with third parties for services rendered. But oftentimes we only consider the work of corporate vendors and private companies who hold federal and state contracts to provide certain services.
The fact is that every year here in Tennessee, millions in taxpayer funds are made available to Tennessee nonprofits for a variety of issues ranging from art, education, healthcare, transportation, emergency services, and the list goes on. But have you ever stopped to consider what is actually happening with your money?
Something to consider is that while nonprofits who receive taxpayer dollars in the form of grants are required to file a report to the state as to how that money was spent (in most cases), those reports leave much to be desired in terms of transparency. But unlike a government entity, those same nonprofits are not subject to public records requests. So, consider that you have nonprofit entities operating on tax monies but with no accountability from the taxpayer.
Some would say this is a sweetheart deal for the state when they want to forward dollars to certain activities but may not want to be accountable for those activities to the citizens who are funding them.
I recently met with a handful of lawmakers pitching an idea for legislation that would make nonprofit organizations that take in tax dollars for their operations subject to public records requests. Makes sense, right? Shouldn’t citizens have full access to information about how their money is being spent, and why?
Not so much to my surprise, that idea was met with some resistance and pontifications about the First Amendment and such. Interestingly, Tennessee lawmakers seem more interested in nonprofits who advocate for policy being transparent to the state. But when people want transparency from the nonprofits who are working on behalf of the state, they cry, “First Amendment!” Seems that their desire for transparency only goes one direction.
This is not a new or novel idea. In South Carolina for example, nonprofits who take state dollars indeed are subject to FOIA (public records) requests due to a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling. In their state, a “public body” includes “any organization, corporation, or agency supported in whole or in part by public funds or expending public funds.” (Greenville Journal, 2017) Meaning, if a nonprofit receives grants from the government, it is considered a public body and therefore subject to public records requests just like the government.
Let me go on the record stating that we deserve the same kind of transparency right here in Tennessee
I will give you an example.
My wife recently received an ad on her Facebook feed called “Take your best shot,” promoting the COVID-19 mRNA shot. Normally, we would just scroll on by. But this ad was sponsored by the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, and frankly, that name was curious.
It turns out that this organization’s stated mission is to “support, educate and represent non-profit organizations that provide charitable healthcare services to low-income, uninsured, and underserved Tennesseans.” Fine. But the trick is, they are funded by grants from the state of Tennessee. Meaning, you, the taxpayer, are funding their operations and by extension, these Facebook ads. YOU are funding ads promoting the COVID shot.
According to Tennessee’s searchable checkbook, the Tennessee Charitable Care Network received over $100,000 in taxpayer funds in 2023 alone. TCCN began in 2014 and financial reports to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office shows an average annual revenue of about $111,271 per year (2014 thru 2020). But in 2021, the organization’s revenue jumped to $578,813 with 89.59% of their revenue coming from government grants. Then in 2022, revenue skyrocketed to $2,149,630 with 94.28% of their revenue coming from government grants.
Now I ask you. What do you suppose happened between 2020 and 2021 that could account for the more than significant increase in revenue being funneled into this nonprofit by government grants? COVID.
There are a few more things that concern me about this nonprofit. For one, their “best shot” campaign seems to be coordinated in conjunction with the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. I can’t say that I fully understand the relationship, but I find it interesting.
TCCN’s corporate address listed on their website is 707 Shadycrest Lane, Franklin, TN 37064, a home that Williamson County property records show is owned by TCCN Executive Director, Christi Granstaff.
Information from the Best Shot website states, “’Take Your Best Shot’ is the electrifying rallying cry urging every Tennessean to lace up their boots and arm themselves with facts, data and the mighty COVID-19 shot! It’s not just a campaign; it’s a call to action, a thunderous roar inspiring individuals to step into the ring, ask the tough questions and jab back at uncertainty. Let’s protect ourselves, our families and our communities.”
They go on to suggest that, “Children ages 6 months to 4 years are recommended to receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine and three doses of the Pfizer vaccine.”
Personally, I find the entire effort to be disgusting and criminal due to the fact that every statement made pertaining to the COVID shot is a disprovable lie. But more nefarious than the statements being made is the fact that you, a Tennessee taxpayer, are paying for it. And you have no opportunity to find out how this organization is operating with your money.
In Tennessee, we are funding nonprofits that are pushing the shot to children. Meanwhile, Florida’s Surgeon General is working to completely ban the use of the mRNA shot in his state entirely.
I want transparency. I want accountability. But most of all, I want us all to stop living by lies.
