UPDATE: Troubled “non-profit” MassCann --that holds the yearly Freedom Rally Market on Boston Common and which is reported to not be operating as a legal charity in the Commonwealth-- has formally sold out to Russian-oligarch-linked MSO Curaleaf (via a volunteer with the group that has ties to infamous blogger #TurtleBoy) by way of an event now confirmed to be hosted (this weekend) at Lili’s Glass in Worcester (LiLi's). Read more about MassCann’s failure to operate as a legal charity, as of fall 2024, here - https://lnkd.in/gBiBEdBk Read more about Curaleaf’s background, including their connections to said Russian oligarchs, their history of mold in cultivation operations, and the operation of an unlicensed human research lab in Newton here - https://lnkd.in/g7Tha68B and here - https://lnkd.in/eA3_K3q3 If MassCann took money from the MSO, without being in active standing with state authorities, active directors of the faux non-profit can be personally fined as much as $10,000 per day. Furthermore, it seems that MassCann plans to use Lili’s business license to run an illegal gambling raffle (as the group does not have active status with the AG, per reports, it cannot run such a 50/50 raffle). (Certain names redacted to protect the innocent, who may be pawns in this sell-out scheme.) More as I know it. Presumed innocent, etc.
Grant Smith-Ellis’ Post
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BREAKING NEWS (scoop): Embattled non-profit MassCann, that holds the yearly Freedom Rally Market on Boston Common and which is reported to not be operating as a legal charity in the Commonwealth, has formally sold out to Russian-oligarch-linked MSO Curaleaf (via a volunteer with the group that has ties to infamous blogger #TurtleBoy). Read more about MassCann’s failure to operate as a legal charity, as of fall 2024, here - https://lnkd.in/gBiBEdBk Read more about Curaleaf’s background, including their connections to said Russian oligarchs, their history of mold in cultivation operations, and the operation of an unlicensed human research lab in Newton here - https://lnkd.in/g7Tha68B and here - https://lnkd.in/eA3_K3q3 If MassCann took money from the MSO, without being in active standing with state authorities, active directors of the faux non-profit can be personally fined as much as $10,000 per day. (Certain names redacted to protect the innocent, who may be pawns in this sell-out scheme.) More as I know it. Presumed innocent, etc.
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#WorldIPDay 2024 is an opportunity to explore how #IntellectualProperty encourages and can amplify the innovative and creative solutions that are so crucial to building a common future. Learn how Taft IP litigators protected a charity in this case study: http://ow.ly/lT3a30rLGSt
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And of course one big issue here was conflict of interest. An important topic for all charities sand trustees to keep very much on the radar. Don't take my word for it... read this neat recent piece on the topic by Judith Turbyne:- https://lnkd.in/eHucaai7
Whatever one’s views generally on this situation, it highlights one common point in charity ventures. At the concept stage of a project, one needs to consider the appropriate legal platform for that. If a charity is the correct route, great. But it then brings with it a regulatory framework and public expectation. And at the intersection of those two things is ‘private benefit’. That needs care. And that can even strike at well-meaning and objectively justifiable things like being paid for hours and hours of effort. These issues need to be carefully considered right at the outset. This case illustrates the point. And no-one can feel good about that. https://lnkd.in/e9GZegc9
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"...people need to understand their duties as charity trustees before getting started." If you are a trustee or thinking of becoming a trustee, check out The Confident Trustee training programme (referred to in the post below).
Partner & Head of Charities | Birketts LLP Specialises in charity law and regulation and advises charities and philanthropists on broad range of charity law matters
With the publication of the statutory inquiry report into The Captain Tom Foundation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales yesterday, I had a busy day commenting on the findings. I also feature in a BBC documentary on the story now available to watch on iplayer: https://lnkd.in/e9akpM2u If you missed me speaking on the radio, you can watch videos of a couple of my interviews on YouTube: The Sun (I’m on from about 2 mins 55 through to the end of the video): https://lnkd.in/eGtUirr8 Times Radio interview with Hugo Rifkind: https://lnkd.in/eba2X3Br You can also listen to my interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC via the Global Player app (I was on at around 7:43am). Finally, I’ve provided some commentary for the Times and if you receive their daily briefing, I’m quoted in article number 4 in their list of top stories for today. I will be writing an article for the Birketts LLP website providing more detailed commentary on the findings and lessons to be learned for the sector. Philanthropy is hugely important for the charity sector and, done well, can make an enormous positive impact. But people need to understand their duties as charity trustees before getting started. There is lots of training available, including a fantastic new programme of training by Claris D'cruz and Fran Borg-Wheeler - The Confident Trustee - which I’m very proud to say is being sponsored by Birketts in recognition of the huge difference it makes for charities to be well governed by trustees who understand their role and responsibilities. Watch this space for more details about The Confident Trustee programme! p.s. if you do watch the Times Radio interview, watch out for Hugo’s interesting pronunciation of “Birketts” 😂🫣
Captain Tom Scandal: How his daughter kept £1.5m from book deal and gave none to charity
https://www.youtube.com/
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Doctrine Of Cy press Cy press doctrine is la legal concept that gives courts the power to interpret the terms of Will , Gift or Charitable Trust.Thus doctrine will become active if the intended wishes or conditions of the original document cannot be carried out, be legitimately interpreted or legally performed. The term has its origin is an old French phrase - cy-press comme possible which in translation means as near as possible.Cy press allows the wishes of the creator of the will,gift or charitable trust to be carried out in many cases. If it were not for this power, there would be instances in which phrasing in the document would make it null and void,legally and thus impossible to implement.
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Head of Division at TPP Recruitment | Leadership & Governance - Fundraising and Development - MarComms and Digital teams
NCVO's research - looking at #Trustee recruitment and retention challenges - in which it was highlighted that a staggering 80% of charities are carrying a Board vacancy - suggests that more needs to be done to encourage people to be a Trustee by: 🥳 Celebrating the impact of being a Trustee 🎯 Targeted outreach to encourage specific groups to become Trustees ⭐ Clear guidance on the benefits of being a Trustee 📕 Clear guidance on what it means to be a Trustee Are there any other steps that could be taken to address this gap?
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Is YOUR Association a Partner? CEs, Member Discounts & Donations to Associations! https://lnkd.in/dYTm5pp #InvestigativeCourses #PIcourses #Training #ContinuingEducation #PrivateInvestigators #LegalInvestigators #DeathExperts #DefenseInvestigators
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The Big Picture according to the just-released Giving USA 2024 Report: The new numbers say that after considering individual #donations, corporate donations, bequests and #foundation giving, Americans gave $557.16 billion in 2023—a 1.9% increase in current dollars (but down 2.1% when adjusted for inflation). That’s more than $1.52 billion given per day. If you combine the individual and bequest numbers, individuals contributed about 75% of all dollars given to charity in 2023. Here is a link to the entire recorded webinar presented by Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) corporate partner Avrum Lapin of The Lapin Group, LLC https://lnkd.in/eswYswsz
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