A voter registration nonprofit based in Georgia and founded by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams reportedly received cash from a COVID-19 fund amid a spike in donations.
Fox News conducted an analysis of the New Georgia Project’s tax documents and found the group received $482,000 as part of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in May 2020.
The outlet noted the amount was part of the first round of funding directed at helping struggling small businesses keep employees on during the outbreak.
However, Fox News discovered during the analysis that the group was not struggling.
The nonprofit received the loan amid a pouring in of contributions and grants amounting to $24.5 million, as the outlet reported.
Additionally, the tax forms show donations for the group in 2020 were close to $23 million more than the $1.6 million given to the nonprofit in 2019.
In 2020, the group also poured $1.9 million into wages, compensation and employee benefits.
The report pointed out that the amount was $600,000 more than in 2019.
By the end of the year, the nonprofit had nearly $18 million in net assets.
According to the group’s website, its mission is to “build power with and increase the civic participation of the New Georgia Majority—Black, Latinx, AAPI, and young Georgians—and other historically marginalized communities through nonpartisan voter registration, organizing, and advocacy on the issues important to our communities.”
This is not the first time that the nonprofit has made headlines.
Last month, Axios reported that Georgia’s state ethics commission claimed the New Georgia Project failed to report more than $3 million in electioneering expenses and over $4 million in political contributions over the course of two years.
Earlier this month, the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission went on to find that the group and the action fund affiliated with it violated the state’s law.
New Georgia Project chair Francys Johnson said the group was “totally unsurprised” by the ruling, as Channel 2 Action News reported.
“We’re not surprised that this commission has been weaponized to deter the work of the New Georgia Project, but make no mistake about it, we are resolved to continue the fight to make sure every Georgian can participate,” Johnson added.
Commission Executive Secretary David Emadi also issued a statement, saying the decision was not about politics, “We’re pleased with the vote.”
