Controversy continues
LGBT nonprofit has been mired in controversy for nearly five years
IRS revokes YouthPride's tax-exempt status
YouthPride, an organization that at one time served hundreds of LGBT youth in metro Atlanta but has been mired in controversy for the past several years, has had its IRS tax-exempt status revoked.
A review of online IRS tax records shows the IRS automatically revoked the organization’s tax-exempt status on Feb. 15; the status change was posted on the IRS website on May 11.
The IRS automatically revokes an organization’s tax-exempt status for failure to file a Form 990 return or notice for three consecutive years. A nonprofit can reapply for tax-exempt status.
According to GuideStar, a website that tracks nonprofit organizations’ 990s, the last 990 YouthPride filed was in 2011. GuideStar also notes that YouthPride has lost its tax-exempt status:
“This organization’s exempt status was automatically revoked by the IRS for failure to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990PF for 3 consecutive years. Further investigation and due diligence are warranted.”
However, on YouthPride’s website at www.youthpride.org, there are links for donations, and YouthPride claims the donations are all tax-deductible.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s office had YouthPride in good standing as of March 2, 2015, when it filed its official paperwork as a nonprofit corporation and paid the $85 fee.
The official documents filed with the Secretary of State, however, also list YouthPride’s official address as 72 Broad Street. YouthPride was evicted from that location on May 22, 2014.
The documents filed on March 2, 2015, with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office list Terence McPhaul, the controversial executive director, as the person who filled out the forms.
In 2013, McPhaul listed incorrect board
May 29, 2015
members with the Secretary of State’s office.
According to Georgia law, it is a misdemeanor to intentionally lie on a form with the Secretary of State’s office, as stated in the fifth paragraph of the form cited below.
Calls to the Secretary of State’s office for comment have gone unanswered.
Listed as officers with the Secretary of State are McPhaul as CEO, Brandon Dykes as secretary and Theresa Willis as CFO.
However, in August 2014, Willis told the Georgia Voice she was no longer a board member of YouthPride.
A voicemail left with Willis seeking comment about YouthPride has not yet been returned.
A voicemail seeking comment was also left at YouthPride’s number as listed on its website that also not been returned. Emails to McPhaul and YouthPride have also not been answered.
Dykes, a young HIV activist who is apparently working in Nashville, was reached by phone Thursday, and when asked what he could say about YouthPride, he said, “Well, there’s not a whole lot I can tell you, so I’m not sure.” When asked where YouthPride was meeting, Dykes disconnected the call and did not answer when called again. Dykes then issued an email statement: “Hi Dyana, out of courtesy I’m responding. You have personality attacked the organization that has help me accomplish so much in life on numerous occasions. Despite anything you tell me or publish I will never stop fighting for YouthPride. As proud alumni of YouthPride I know its all about providing a safe space for youth just like me. I have no further statement to provide on any issues concerning with YouthPride.”