CharityWatch has assigned Troopathon (formerly known as Move America Forward) a "?" rating for its 2023 financial reporting year due to concerns identified by the Attorney General of the State of California in its Complaint filed against the charity in July of 2019 with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Sacramento, and due to its small governing body. For more information, please see the related CharityWatch article, "Move America Forward Held Back by Financial & Political Interests of its Directors." A Final Judgment in case #34-2019-00261222 filed with the Superior Court of the State of California County of Sacramento on March 23, 2023 states that the "Defendants shall make payment of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) by check payable to the California Department of Justice..." It further states that "Defendant Salvatore Russo confirms his plan to step down and retire from his position as a director on MAF's board, and from his positions as MAF's chief strategist, secretary and treasurer, by January 20, 2023. Further, as to MAF, Defendant Salvatore Russo shall no longer: (1) act as a director, officer, trustee, manager, supervisor, or other fiduciary, or (2) hold, manage, direct, or control funds or assets. Defendant Salvatore Russo shall comply with the foregoing should he volunteer for MAF thereafter, and shall not be compensated by MAF for volunteer work. Defendant Russo, March & Associates, Inc. may continue to provide services to MAF, but not after July 31, 2023, and Defendant Salvatore Russo shall not provide services to MAF through another business." CharityWatch recently reviewed Troopathon's (formerly Move America Forward) 2023 IRS tax Form 990 and audited financial statements, which we obtained from the charity's website. This copy of the IRS Form 990 posted on the charity's website was neither signed nor dated. Troopathon reports that there were only two voting members on its governing body at the end of the tax year (IRS Form 990 Part VI, Section A, line 1a). In Troopathon's 2023 IRS tax Form 990, Sal Russo, who was a subject of the legal matter cited above, was still reported as being a member of Troopathon's board of directors during the year (Part VII, Section A). Sal Russo is no longer reported as being Secretary / Treasurer of the Organization in 2023. In consideration of the cited legal matters and the charity's small governing body during 2023, CharityWatch has assigned Troopathon (formerly Move America Forward) a rating of "?" for its 2023 financial reporting year. CharityWatch may reevaluate its rating once complete financial information becomes available for its 2024 financial reporting year. In Troopathon's (formerly Move America Forward) IRS Form 990 tax filing for the fiscal year ended 2021, Salvatore Russo was reported as one of three members of the charity's board of directors with the title "Secretary / Treasurer." (IRS Form 990, Part VII). The tax filing further reported that "Sal Russo" received $81,000 from MAF in 2021. The description for the transaction states, "Sal Russo is President and Director of RMA." (IRS Form 990, Schedule L). |