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The Berkbridge Foundation - Questions Regarding Legitimacy
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Started by Cat,

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Cat

Cat

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Posted

Alright, this thread is specifically regarding the entity known as The Berkbridge Foundation, selling on eBay as Berkbridge https://www.ebay.com/str/Berkbridge-Foundation and listed with eBay as a registered charity. Note they claim to be a registered 501(C)3, and this has at least been true for a time. I'm seeing conflicting documentation regarding their current registration status, which honestly, if anything I believe is most probably a clerical error. Here's what all their listings state: 

ALL PROCEEDS FROM OUR AUCTIONS ARE GIVEN TO BERKBRIDGE FOUNDATION
 
Berkbridge Foundation is a U.S. non-profit organization under IRS 501 (c) (3) with a primary mission to provide financial support to single mothers in child care related matters.

 

Questions have been raised about how the fund operates, and how funds are dispersed. Legally, they are required to provide this information upon request. This thread, serving as the replacement for the now-deleted thread, is the place for @BerkbridgeFoundation to provide those who would like access to said information, with the correct means of doing so, be that a website link, pdfs, whatever it may be.

It may also be enlightening for the Foundation representative to answer some general questions about just how they operate, to dispel some of the mist about this seller. I for one, would like to know more about the vague mission statement: exactly how are single mothers being helped? And where? And in direct regards to this thread, I'd like to know why the Berkbridge Twitter account was scrubbed and deleted hours after being linked in the prior thread in this forum. I am thankful for any answers and insight they can provide into their operations. 

Please note this is a VERY real and serious issue affecting the comics community, and the larger public. Charity fraud is a huge deal, and erodes public trust in the good works. Any insinuations of such need to be nipped in the bud, and that's why legal disclosures are required, precisely for situations such as these. We simply want to be sure. Many comic collectors choose to buy at higher prices and likewise sell at lower prices (and, if reports of eBay sellers are accurate, are asked to do so by reps of the Foundation themselves) in the name of charity. Their actions potentially affect the market, and thus all of us. Not to mention tax filings, etc. We all have a vested interest in a positive outcome to this. 

In increasingly negative times, people would also no doubt find it reaffirming knowing for sure that their dollars are indeed going to support single mothers in need, as per the foundation's mission statement. 

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sfcityduck

sfcityduck

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They state on eBay ( https://charity.ebay.com/charity/BERKBRIDGE-FOUNDATION/1814988 ):

 

Quote

 

Berkbridge Foundation is a U.S. non-profit organization under IRC 501 (c) (3) with a primary mission to provide financial support to single mothers in child care related matters. 

EIN: 472554006San Diego, CA5 FavoritesCharity Id: 1814988

 

 
Charity Finder states on its site ( https://charity.ebay.com/charity/BERKBRIDGE-FOUNDATION/1814988 ):
Quote

 

EIN 47-2554006
Name in IRS Master File BERKBRIDGE FOUNDATION
Address 401 RYLAND ST STE 200-A
RENO, NV 89502-1643
NTEE Code T50
NTEE Classification Philanthropy, Charity, Voluntarism Promotion, General
NTEE Type Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations
Classification Charitable Organization

I have not found a Form 990.  That's not necessarily unusual as it can take a while for 990s to be filed and become available.

 

 

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Naphtha

Naphtha

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Posted
1 hour ago, icefires said:

I am a retired fraud investigator, so I have some experience here. 20 minutes of internet research already has me SMH. Sad.

Their reported sales on ebay in the last 30 days is ~$118,000. Can you explain a little using your expertise what you are seeing?

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sfcityduck

sfcityduck

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Posted (edited)

IRS site has info on it:  https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/allSearch.do?ein1=472554006&names=&resultsPerPage=25&indexOfFirstRow=0&dispatchMethod=searchAll&city=&state=NV&country=US&postDateFrom=&postDateTo=&exemptTypeCode=al&deductibility=all&sortColumn=orgName&isDescending=false&submitName=Search

Including a Final Determination Letter dated 8/29/2017 stating it has qualified as exempt under 501(c)(3).  This letter POST-DATES and auto revocation for failing to file its Form 990 in May 2017.  Auto revocations are not the same as permanent revocations and are curable.  But, this does not tell you anything about how the organisation uses the money it receives etc.

 

 

Edited by sfcityduck
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sfcityduck

sfcityduck

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Posted (edited)

From the Nevada DB site:

https://nevadadb.com/company/E0626592014-5/berkbridge-foundation.html

Quote

Berkbridge Foundation was registered under company Id E0626592014-5 and Nevada Business Id NV20141764182. This company type is Domestic Non-Profit Corporation. This business was created four years, eight months and twenty-one days years ago - on 2014-12-15. Current company status is Active. 

 

Registered Agents Inc. is the current agent of this company. This agent office address is 401 Ryland St Ste 200-A, Reno, 89502 NV. Berkbridge Foundation home state is NV.

There are 8 officers and directors in this company. Michael Dawson with secretary title, Michael Dawson with secretary title, Nathan George with treasurer title, Nathan George with treasurer title, Robert Jalali with president title, Robert Jalali with director title, Robert Jalali with president title, Robert Jalali with director title.

 

Edited by sfcityduck
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sfcityduck

sfcityduck

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Posted

Personally, I would not give money to a Foundation unless I knew what they do with the money. 

But, here we are talking about buying a comic book.  I'm not a tax accountant or lawyer, and I don't know how buying a comic on eBay or Heritage can legitimately be claimed as a charitable contribution.  So I'm not sure how the status of the seller impacts the buyer on that front.  

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Jaylam

Jaylam

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Posted
25 minutes ago, sfcityduck said:

Personally, I would not give money to a Foundation unless I knew what they do with the money. 

But, here we are talking about buying a comic book.  I'm not a tax accountant or lawyer, and I don't know how buying a comic on eBay or Heritage can legitimately be claimed as a charitable contribution.  So I'm not sure how the status of the seller impacts the buyer on that front.  

And this brings up and interesting question, since they are a non-profit charity, does anything I buy from them count as a charitable contribution for tax purposes?

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Xenosmilus

Xenosmilus

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Posted (edited)
5 minutes ago, kav said:

I feel confident Berkbridge will show up and clear this up like they did with the shilling accusations.

If they are getting higher prices for their books because they are a charity then they should not be getting listed on GPA IMHO.  Did that get cleared up?

Edited: This has nothing to do if they are legit or not.

Edited by Xenosmilus
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