Questions About Donald Trump’s Charity

By Brianna Cicero Published on July 7, 2016

Is Donald Trump lying about his giving to charity? The Washington Post analyzed public records and statements by Trump’s staff looked at public records, starting with the tax filings of the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which was set up in 1987 by Trump to donate his own money. The records showed that Trump has not donated any of his own money since 2008. The foundation has been funded since 2008 by other donors.

The Post then looked at an internal list made by the Trump Campaign. According to this list, Trump has given $102 million in charitable donations. But this list included conservation easements on Trump properties — in other words, agreements on land use. It also included thousands of free rounds of golf given away by Trump’s courses. It was then confirmed by Trump’s campaign that none of the $102 million was Trump’s personal money.

Undeterred, Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks told Buzzfeed, “There’s no way for you to know or understand what those gifts are or when they are made.”

Since Trump’s staff continued to insist that Trump has made personal donations, The Post surveyed 207 charities that have close ties with Trump. During a period of more that 7 years, only one personal donation showed up through his organization, and the only other one was his donation back in May — when Trump gave $1 million to a veterans’ charity to fulfill a vow he had made.

The Post raised the following questions in their investigation:

  • Before that $1 million gift to a veterans’ charity in May, when was the last time Trump gave a dollar of his own money to charity and where did the $8.5 million-plus he promised to give away through his ventures go?

Trump’s staff has not responded to calls asking for a list of his charitable donations. Eric Trump told The Hill on Sunday, “Charity is such a big part of our company and of our lives. My father has contributed so much to what I’ve done. He contributes so much to every charity.” However, Eric has not provided any proof for this since making this statement. Trump also has an estimated $8.5 million from his ventures he promised to give to charity.

  • Has Donald Trump ever donated his own money to the Eric Trump Foundation?

The Eric Trump Foundation has not returned any inquiries as to whether or not Trump has given money to his own son’s charity foundation. Tax documents actually seem to suggest that Eric Trump is paying his father. In a 2014 tax return, it was revealed that Eric Trump’s foundation paid $87,700 to Donald Trump’s golf course to use it for a fundraiser.

  • Did Donald Trump ever give any money to the ALS Association after taking part in its “Ice Bucket Challenge” fundraiser campaign in 2014 and what happened to the Tim Tebow gear Trump bought at a charity auction?

In 2014 Trump participated in the viral Ice Bucket Challenge, uploading a video of him participating in it. The Donald J. Trump Foundation gave nothing to the ALS association that year, but the question still remains as to whether or not Trump gave a personal donation. In 2012, Trump won a bidding war for signed football gear donated by Tim Tebow. Trump did not use his own money, though; he used money from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which is donated by other people.

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