Roger Chapin
Encyclopedia
Roger Chapin is an American businessman turned fundraiser living in San Diego, who calls himself a "nonprofit entrepreneur", according to Forbes
magazine. He has launched more than 20 charities, and until 2009 was the president of Help Hospitalized Veterans, an American charity, whose stated purpose is, "Making time live for America's hospitalized veterans."
, Middlebury, Vermont and a veteran of the U.S. Army Finance Corps
.
Among Chapin’s private accomplishments, he was a successful real estate developer in San Diego County, founder of “Fun Art” creative coloring sets, founder of USAopoly – creator and distributor of the very popular special editions of the board game Monopoly
. Chapin is married to Elizabeth and they have four children and two grandchildren. They are long time residents of San Diego, California.
Chapin founded Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) after a successful business career. Chapin has also founded Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation in Ossining, New York, the project G.I. Gift Pac, and Citizens for a Drug Free America, and is active in other advocacy endeavors and community works. According to Forbes magazine, early in its reporting on Chapin and his works, there have been dozens of organizations, often with similar and fast-changing names and goals.
In March, 2009, in a commentary in the Washington Times, Chapin wrote of the risks of negotiating with Iran
and the possibilities of Iran launching an electromagnetic pulse
weapon against the United States. Hoping to "prevent a looming nuclear doomsday," Chapin proposed a two part plan: Urgently initiate a massive buildup of the conventional weaponry needed to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities and wipe out its retaliatory capabilities as well as arm Israel to the teeth. Also station Aegis anti-missile ships along our coasts while beefing up homeland security and taking steps to mitigate the effects of an EMP attack. To do any less would be totally irresponsible and reckless. Launch a massive series of preemptive strikes on Iran as soon as possible and send in special ops forces to ensure the mission was accomplished.
At the time, Chapin was identified as "founder and president of Make America Safe, a new San Diego-based policy and educational organization focused on the threat posed by radical Islamics to U.S. national security."
magazine article by William P. Barrett titled "Shell Game" reported that Chapin and his wife Elizabeth are accused of spending the money raised by their non-profit organizations to fund their own lifestyles, vehicles, and real estate investments—rather than to benefit troops or wounded veterans at the 97% efficiency rate that the charity claims.
Other Forbes
reporting in regard to the HHV organization claims that of every dollar given, only nine cents went to therapeutic arts-and-crafts kits for wounded GIs (a primary purpose of the charity), while another five cents went towards associated overhead and for counselors to visit hospitals and nursing homes. Forty-seven cents of spending was for direct-mail expenses, with the remainder going for the salaries of the charity staff, etc.
On November 9, 2007, ABC News
reported that Chapin and his wife, as founders and employees of the charitable organization, Help Hospitalized Veterans, paid themselves more than half a million dollars a year in salary. The American Institute of Philanthropy
claims that of the $70 million that HHV received in contributions last year, only 31% went to the charitable cause, leading to a grade of "F" from the watchdog group.
According to Daniel Borochoff, the president of AIP, "[Chapin] is a charity entrepreneur. He's very good at setting up charities that don't do so much charitable but bring in lots, lots of money."
AIP followed up on Chapin with an article in its December 2010 issue of the Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report. According to AIP, “After enjoying years of generous, multiple six-figure salaries and perks paid with the charity's funds, such as use of a $444,600 condo in northern Virginia owned by HHV, access to a $17,000 country club membership, and large reimbursements for hotel, restaurant, and other expenses, Chapin's retirement from HHV was marked by a $1.9 million payout to the exiting president.”
After the Washington Times commentary ran in March, 2009, Forbes found that Chapin's new foundation had been incorporated in 2008 and granted IRS 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2009. Forbes also noted at this time that a lawsuit against two former employees of Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation, Raymond and John Clifford, had been reinstated. Both sides were then involved in pre-trial activities. "The lawsuit says the Cliffords, fired by Chapin in 2007, took 'confidential financial information' and made disparaging remarks about the coalition to reporters. The nonprofit seeks unspecified money damages and a court order barring further disclosures. The Cliffords assert a First Amendment
right to speak out and say they've done nothing wrong."
In 2010, looking at the latest 2008 figures, Forbes again found high fund-raising expenses relative to actual program work at the Coalition. Of "$26.2 million spent for calendar year 2008, ... the Coalition by its own accounting spent just $5.7 million--22 cents of every dollar--on its two signature programs." Looking at Chapin's own financial gain and management position, Forbes found he "received total compensation of $364,000 from [HHV] but reported drawing no pay from the other organizations. The [HHV] Web site says he retired in August 2009 and left its board; a protégé, Mike Lynch, assumed Chapin’s presidency. Chapin’s current pay arrangements with his nonprofits haven’t been revealed." Also:
Nonprofit organizations
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine. He has launched more than 20 charities, and until 2009 was the president of Help Hospitalized Veterans, an American charity, whose stated purpose is, "Making time live for America's hospitalized veterans."
Background
Chapin, 76 in 2008, is a graduate of Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, Middlebury, Vermont and a veteran of the U.S. Army Finance Corps
Finance Corps
The United States Army Finance Corps is a combat service support branch of the United States Army. The Finance Corps is the successor to the old Pay Department, which was created in June 1775. The Finance Department was created by law on 1 July 1920 . It became the Finance Corps in 1950. It is...
.
Among Chapin’s private accomplishments, he was a successful real estate developer in San Diego County, founder of “Fun Art” creative coloring sets, founder of USAopoly – creator and distributor of the very popular special editions of the board game Monopoly
Monopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
. Chapin is married to Elizabeth and they have four children and two grandchildren. They are long time residents of San Diego, California.
Chapin founded Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) after a successful business career. Chapin has also founded Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation in Ossining, New York, the project G.I. Gift Pac, and Citizens for a Drug Free America, and is active in other advocacy endeavors and community works. According to Forbes magazine, early in its reporting on Chapin and his works, there have been dozens of organizations, often with similar and fast-changing names and goals.
In March, 2009, in a commentary in the Washington Times, Chapin wrote of the risks of negotiating with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and the possibilities of Iran launching an electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
weapon against the United States. Hoping to "prevent a looming nuclear doomsday," Chapin proposed a two part plan: Urgently initiate a massive buildup of the conventional weaponry needed to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities and wipe out its retaliatory capabilities as well as arm Israel to the teeth. Also station Aegis anti-missile ships along our coasts while beefing up homeland security and taking steps to mitigate the effects of an EMP attack. To do any less would be totally irresponsible and reckless. Launch a massive series of preemptive strikes on Iran as soon as possible and send in special ops forces to ensure the mission was accomplished.
At the time, Chapin was identified as "founder and president of Make America Safe, a new San Diego-based policy and educational organization focused on the threat posed by radical Islamics to U.S. national security."
Criticism
On September 3, 2007, a ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine article by William P. Barrett titled "Shell Game" reported that Chapin and his wife Elizabeth are accused of spending the money raised by their non-profit organizations to fund their own lifestyles, vehicles, and real estate investments—rather than to benefit troops or wounded veterans at the 97% efficiency rate that the charity claims.
Other Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
reporting in regard to the HHV organization claims that of every dollar given, only nine cents went to therapeutic arts-and-crafts kits for wounded GIs (a primary purpose of the charity), while another five cents went towards associated overhead and for counselors to visit hospitals and nursing homes. Forty-seven cents of spending was for direct-mail expenses, with the remainder going for the salaries of the charity staff, etc.
On November 9, 2007, ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
reported that Chapin and his wife, as founders and employees of the charitable organization, Help Hospitalized Veterans, paid themselves more than half a million dollars a year in salary. The American Institute of Philanthropy
American Institute of Philanthropy
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a 501 nonprofit organization, created in the United States by Daniel Borochoff in 1992, to provide information about charities' financial efficiency, accountability, governance, and fundraising. Its official website is known as...
claims that of the $70 million that HHV received in contributions last year, only 31% went to the charitable cause, leading to a grade of "F" from the watchdog group.
According to Daniel Borochoff, the president of AIP, "[Chapin] is a charity entrepreneur. He's very good at setting up charities that don't do so much charitable but bring in lots, lots of money."
AIP followed up on Chapin with an article in its December 2010 issue of the Charity Rating Guide & Watchdog Report. According to AIP, “After enjoying years of generous, multiple six-figure salaries and perks paid with the charity's funds, such as use of a $444,600 condo in northern Virginia owned by HHV, access to a $17,000 country club membership, and large reimbursements for hotel, restaurant, and other expenses, Chapin's retirement from HHV was marked by a $1.9 million payout to the exiting president.”
After the Washington Times commentary ran in March, 2009, Forbes found that Chapin's new foundation had been incorporated in 2008 and granted IRS 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2009. Forbes also noted at this time that a lawsuit against two former employees of Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation, Raymond and John Clifford, had been reinstated. Both sides were then involved in pre-trial activities. "The lawsuit says the Cliffords, fired by Chapin in 2007, took 'confidential financial information' and made disparaging remarks about the coalition to reporters. The nonprofit seeks unspecified money damages and a court order barring further disclosures. The Cliffords assert a First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
right to speak out and say they've done nothing wrong."
In 2010, looking at the latest 2008 figures, Forbes again found high fund-raising expenses relative to actual program work at the Coalition. Of "$26.2 million spent for calendar year 2008, ... the Coalition by its own accounting spent just $5.7 million--22 cents of every dollar--on its two signature programs." Looking at Chapin's own financial gain and management position, Forbes found he "received total compensation of $364,000 from [HHV] but reported drawing no pay from the other organizations. The [HHV] Web site says he retired in August 2009 and left its board; a protégé, Mike Lynch, assumed Chapin’s presidency. Chapin’s current pay arrangements with his nonprofits haven’t been revealed." Also:
- "the $25 million in contributions received represented a 15% drop from 2007;
- "although the Coalition plays up its efforts to provide injured soldiers with homes, only four residences were provided during 2008, at a total cost of $403,000;
- "and the Coalition paid nearly as much, $358,000, in fees to Williams and Connolly, the high-profile Washington law firm it hired to sue John and Raymond Clifford."
External links
Background- Roger Chapin Profile on Help Hospitalized Veterans website
- "The Only Way to Win in Iraq" Article by Roger Chapin in Human EventsHuman EventsHuman Events is a weekly American conservative magazine. It takes its name from the first sentence of the United States Declaration of Independence...
- 2002 Middlebury Alumni Achievement Award Profile
Nonprofit organizations
- Help Hospitalized Veterans website
- Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes website
- Report on Coalition to Salute America's Heroes Foundation from the Better Business BureauBetter Business BureauThe Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
- 'An Intolerable Fraud,' critical New York Times editorial, and letters to the editor in response by Chapin and a Salute America's Heroes official, and from hearing on veterans' charities by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform