Treasury Posts Risk Matrix for Charities, Meant to Help Avoid Financing Terrorism

In May 2006 a Treasury Department official told the American Bar Association's Exempt Organizations Committee that it was developing a "risk matrix" for charities to help determine the threat of diversion of charitable funds to terrorist organizations. In response, a group of nonprofits, including OMB Watch, called on Treasury to seek public comment on the risk matrix. There has been no response or announcement from Treasury. However, a sharp lawyer that represents nonprofits recently discovered that Treasury has posted a risk matrix on its website. The OFAC Risk Matrix for the Charitable Sector was posted in March 2007. Treasury's introductory statement says it was done to assist charities, but it is hard to see how it can be helpful if there has been no input from the nonprofit sector and Treasury has not bothered to announce its posting.
back to Blog