A strange story out of Illinois suggests that charities can have their identities stolen too. According to this article in the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Attorney General has filed suit against one nonprofit — United Front Inc., and its president Alex Brooks — for reinstating a defunct United Way chapter just to sign over its assets:
The suit, filed in Cook County Chancery Court, alleges that Brooks last September filed papers to reinstate the United Way of Harvey as a registered Illinois charity, although he had no prior leadership role there and thus no authority to do so.
The United Way of Harvey had been dissolved in June 2004 as an Illinois non-profit following a sweeping consolidation the year before of United Way chapters in this area, according to the suit and a spokeswoman for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.
According to the suit, Brooks was able to reinstate the United Way of Harvey, and, as a new director of the charity, he signed a quitclaim deed for its building over to United Front. The suit claims that United Front then tried to evict tenants of the building.
So, keep your bylaws in a safe place and watch your wallets, or you might find your organization stolen from underneath you. Very strange.
