The Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC) Board of Directors formally voted to be one of the partner organizations that supports the Lopez Island Parks and Recreation Initiative started by the Lopez Island Parks and Recreation Formation Committee PAC (the “Committee”) because there is a high need for youth after school and summer camps in our rural area on Lopez Island, and provides an important source of ongoing funding to support these vital programs for youth and families.

LIFRC provided a $2,500 grant to the Committee for the express and sole purpose of educating the public about the benefits of the Parks and Rec District, specifically about the importance and need for youth after school and summer programs.  This gift was consistent with LIFRC’s charitable purposes.

Following IRS Guidelines that require us to monitor and investigate the use of our grant, we learned that our grant was co-mingled with other financing to the Committee and not maintained in a separate account for charitable purposes alone.

LIFRC does not support political candidates. Indeed, doing so is contrary to our exempt status. While we did not directly support a candidate through this grant, we want to avoid even the appearance of such support. Accordingly, we requested the $2,500 grant be returned immediately. The Committee promptly responded and issued a check, returning the full amount.