$2M fundraising for Gaza and other crises sparks dispute as Beydoun cites 'clerical error'
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- Tax filings show $2 million payment linked to Beydoun’s fundraising work; he cites clerical error.
- Activist says funds were never received personally and calls reporting a targeted attack.
Public scrutiny of nonprofit tax filings has sparked controversy over activist Khaled Beydoun’s fundraising for humanitarian causes, with reports suggesting he received over $2 million for professional fundraising services. Beydoun has issued a firm denial, calling the claims a “clerical error.”
Allegations from tax filings
ProPublica’s database of nonprofit Form 990 filings shows that Human Appeal credited Beydoun with raising $7,120,440 through online campaigns in 2024. The same filing listed $2,040,887 as payment to Beydoun for “professional fundraising services,” representing roughly 28.7 percent of total funds raised.
The reports quickly circulated online, prompting questions about the distribution of donations and transparency in humanitarian fundraising.
Beydoun’s response
In a detailed statement, Beydoun rejected the notion that he received any personal payment, “I chose not to take any personal payment and instead directed funds toward my organization’s work against Islamophobia," he said.
Read more: More than 88,000 displaced in Sudan’s Kordofan amid escalating violence: UN
Beydoun clarified that the tax filing error was administrative, noting that Human Appeal mistakenly listed his name instead of the nonprofit that actually received the funds, and that he never personally received any payment. He emphasized that the clerical mistake does not reflect how the funds were structured, disbursed, or used. The reported figures represent gross fundraising totals and do not account for operational costs or expenses. Beydoun also highlighted that the funds were not solely directed to Gaza but supported multiple crises, including efforts in Pakistan, Yemen, Lebanon, and other regions.
Alleged targeted attacks
Beydoun accused the reporting of being a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation, saying:
“The corporation that attacked me never reached out for clarity... They were never seeking clarity, but were invested in personal attack. At a time when Muslims are being attacked from every angle, before Ramadan, these targeted attacks without civil attempts at clarity seem suspicious.”
Calls for due diligence
Despite Beydoun’s denial, observers continue to urge donors to examine nonprofit filings carefully. Guidance includes reviewing IRS Form 990 Part VII for leadership compensation, Schedule G for intermediary payments, and Schedule L for potential insider transactions.
The incident highlights ongoing debates over transparency in humanitarian fundraising and the potential impact of clerical errors on public trust.
