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Students walk the campus on Syracuse University in New York. State election records show the university made contributions to PACs and the political campaign of its former rowing coach. (AP Photo\/Carolyn Thompson)<\/p>\n
Carolyn Thompson<\/p>\n
Today, the name\u00a0William E. Sanford<\/a> graces the wall of Syracuse University\u2019s world-class rowing center. But in 2002, the university\u2019s longtime men\u2019s rowing coach was running for a seat in the New York Assembly.<\/p>\n That September, Sanford had left the university to focus on his reelection effort. That\u2019s when the university seems to have cut its former employee a check. It was a small donation\u00a0\u2014 $125 toward the Republican\u2019s political campaign.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n But for the university, the money has broader significance. The check is one of at least nine payments made by the university to a candidate or political action committee from 2001 to 2024.<\/p>\n As a charitable institution known by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Syracuse University is prohibited by state and federal laws from engaging in election activity, including direct or indirect support for political candidates.<\/p>\n The sprawling university is far from the only college or large nonprofit in New York to have apparently violated those laws in recent years, a Times Union investigation found. Hundreds of New York nonprofits<\/a> barred from making contributions have donated to candidates, party groups and\u00a0PACs over the last decade, according to the newspaper\u2019s analysis of state election data and IRS records.<\/p>\n Make the Times Union a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our journalism when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The list includes large nonprofits with deep pockets and financial teams. Their donations flowed to Democratic and Republican candidates, as well as PACs with a range of missions.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cFor an institution like a college to be making a political contribution, that is very surprising because they absolutely know they cannot do that,\u201d said Brendan Glavin, director of Insights at Open Secrets, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog. \u201cThere are auditors and multiple layers of people who should be flagging something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n The Times Union identified political contributions by Le Moyne College in Syracuse, the now-closed Cazenovia College, as well as Bryant & Stratton College, which operates multiple campuses across the state and around the country.<\/p>\n Bryant & Stratton College has a campus in Albany (shown here) Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, in addition to locations in Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n Jim Franco\/Times Union<\/p>\n Notable cultural pillars like the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute and the Binghamton Philharmonic also made prohibited donations.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n A large nonprofit, Liberty Affordable Housing Inc., gave over $22,000 to Democratic and Republican candidates and PACs, including a mayor in Oneida County\u00a0who announced the company had been selected for a major development project shortly after receiving the funds.<\/p>\n Health care nonprofit Nascentia Health Inc. donated $5,000 to Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s campaign around the time it received millions of dollars from the state for senior housing projects.<\/p>\n A public library group, Nioga Library System, held a fundraising raffle for a political action committee and promoted the PAC to its members. The Times Union also found at least one nonprofit that was listed as making a contribution in state election records, but the payment was for a refund of a security deposit that had been charged for an event held on its property.<\/p>\n All of these nonprofits reported on federal tax documents under penalty of perjury they did not engage in direct or indirect political activities to support or oppose candidates.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Each of the nonprofits collects at least $1 million in annual revenue and several are subject to annual independent audits due to their size. But these donations appear to have been missed by auditors, as well as government regulators<\/a>.<\/p>\n The nonprofits all said they were familiar with the decades-long prohibition against 501(c)(3) nonprofits making political contributions. Most claimed that their recent violations were the result of their own unintentional errors.<\/p>\n Syracuse University<\/p>\n In addition to supporting Sanford, the rowing coach, Syracuse University directed contributions to the political action committees United Steelworkers of America District 4, Business Industry PAC of Central New York and the New York State Broadcasters PAC, state election records show. Each of the donations was $500 or less.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In 2019, 2021 and 2024, the university also contributed $150 per year to Syracuse Tomorrow, a political action committee run by the Central New York business organization CenterState CEO. Syracuse University\u2019s Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation\u00a0J. Michael Haynie serves on the board of directors<\/a> of CenterState CEO.<\/p>\n Sarah Scalise, a university spokeswoman, said those contributions \u201cwere included with general membership dues invoiced by CenterState CEO.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese were administrative errors, not intentional political expenditures,\u201d she said. \u201cThe university has requested that these payments be refunded and has taken steps to ensure this does not happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n The Syracuse University Marching Band performs ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s 2026 State of the State Address in January in Albany. The university said its political contributions were the results of \u201cadministrative errors.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Lori Van Buren\/Times Union<\/p>\n Scalise said the university could not explain the nature or intent of the earlier contributions, including the donation to Sanford, because it no longer has those records. University policy prohibits the use of school resources for partisan political purposes, she said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWe are reviewing our internal processes to ensure all expenditures are properly classified going forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Elle Hanna, a spokeswoman for CenterState CEO, confirmed the organization has optional contributions to its PAC available during membership renewal.<\/p>\n \u201cContributions to Syracuse Tomorrow have always been voluntary, with members choosing to opt-in,\u201d Hanna said. \u201cSyracuse Tomorrow has a wide range of supporters. Recently, the PAC was advised that some of its supporters\u2019 contributions were inadvertent. The PAC will continue to work with any entity that wishes to have its contribution refunded.\u201d<\/p>\n David Donovan, president and executive director of the New York State Broadcasters Association, said he believes the university\u2019s 2016 donation to the PAC was made by mistake by the college radio station when paying membership dues. He said he would refund the money.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Jess Kamm Broomell, a spokeswoman for United Steelworkers of America District 4 PAC, said its records showed the PAC made a payment to the university in 2001, which the university appeared to have paid back. Further context was not available.<\/p>\n Do you have information about election activity by 501(c)(3) nonprofits in New York? Email reporter Emilie Munson at emilie.munson@timesunion.com.<\/p>\n Liberty Affordable Housing<\/p>\n In late 2021, a chain-link fence marked with \u201cNo Trespassing signs\u201d encircled the historic Olbiston apartment building<\/a> in downtown Utica. The building was an eyesore and unsafe for tenants, according to the city.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n For months, Utica discussed restoring the building with Liberty Affordable Housing, a city news release<\/a> said. In October 2021, Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri announced the city would allocate $3 million toward converting it into affordable housing.<\/p>\n Liberty Affordable Housing runs a portfolio of developments across New York, including Ashfield Apartments in Latham.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lori Van Buren\/Times Union<\/p>\n One month later, Liberty, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donated $250 to the Democratic mayor\u2019s reelection campaign. And in December, Liberty and Palmieri jointly announced<\/a> the company\u2019s $55 million plan to redevelop the building was official.<\/p>\n Liberty has also contributed to state politicians who backed its projects.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Liberty gave $14,600 over the course of a decade to former state Sen. Betty Little, whose district contained three of its developments. Little, a Republican, was described as a\u00a0\u201cstrong advocate\u201d<\/a> for a multimillion-dollar Liberty senior housing project in Ticonderoga by the firm\u2019s regional property manager in 2011.<\/p>\n Little said in a recent interview that she knew the wife of one of Liberty\u2019s former executives. She surmised the contributions may have stemmed from company leaders playing in her annual golf fundraiser in Glens Falls. She said she had no idea the company was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.<\/p>\n Now, GOP state Sen. Dan\u00a0Stec represents the same district and has received $3,400 from the company in three years. Those contributions were made at the golf fundraiser that Stec continued to organize after Little\u2019s retirement, he said. The senator said his treasurer would review the donations.<\/p>\n Former state Sen. Betty Little received political donations from the 501(c)(3) nonprofits Liberty Affordable Housing and Nascentia Health.\u00a0(Will Waldron\/Times Union)<\/p>\n Will Waldron\/Albany Times Union<\/p>\n The company also gave to former Democratic Assemblywoman Roann Destito, who helped the nonprofit secure financing<\/a> for an apartment rehabilitation project; former Republican Mayor Jackie Izzo of Rome, where the company had another apartment project; and Republican state\u00a0Sen. Joe\u00a0Griffo, who has supported two<\/a> projects<\/a> by the company in Utica.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Liberty Affordable Housing, which has received millions in tax-exempt bonds, federal tax credits and state subsidies, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.<\/p>\n Izzo said she has known the principals of the company for 30 years, but had no direct knowledge of the nonprofit\u2019s contributions to her campaign.<\/p>\n David Catalfamo, a Griffo campaign spokesman, said the campaign is issuing refunds.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are updating our contribution forms to clearly remind supporters that donations from not-for-profit organizations cannot be accepted,\u201d Catalfamo said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The New York Senate Republican Campaign Committee, which received $1,000 from the firm in 2008, said nonprofits shouldn\u2019t be donating to political candidates or committees.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is, these organizations overwhelmingly funnel support to Democrats and far-left causes,\u201d said Katy Delgado, a spokeswoman for the Republican committee. \u201cThat\u2019s why we need stronger enforcement to ensure\u00a0nonprofits aren\u2019t being used as a backdoor to subsidize the Democratic Party in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n In March 2024, the nonprofit Nascentia Health received $5.8 million from the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul<\/a> to transform an inn into senior housing. But the health care company was seeking even more funding.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Two months later, an arm of the nonprofit made a $5,000 contribution to Hochul\u2019s campaign. And more government money flowed to the company. The next year, Nascentia Health and the City of Rome got $3.9<\/a> million from the state for a senior housing project.<\/p>\n State election\u00a0records show Nascentia Health President Mary Kate Rolf also personally gave $6,000 to Hochul in 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n In 2024,\u00a0Gov. Kathy Hochul received a $5,000 donation from Nascentia Health, a 501(c((3) nonprofit that has received state support for its projects.\u00a0(Will Waldron\/Times Union)<\/p>\n Will Waldron\/Times Union<\/p>\n Hochul was not the only candidate the nonprofit supported. Nascentia Health, directly and through two related companies that fall under the same tax status, made over $4,000 in contributions to\u00a0Griffo, Little and the PAC Syracuse Tomorrow. Rolf serves on the board of directors for CenterState CEO, which operates Syracuse Tomorrow.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Nascentia Health declined to comment on its political contributions.<\/p>\n Hochul campaign spokesman Ryan Radulovacki said:\u00a0\u201cThe governor\u2019s campaign follows all applicable campaign finance laws and issues refunds as requested by donors.\u201d<\/p>\n Nioga Library System<\/p>\n The Nioga Library System coordinates resource sharing for 21 libraries across three counties in western New York. Each year, the nonprofit has a dinner where it raffles off a basket, said Thomas Bindeman, the system\u2019s executive director.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Some years the basket is better than others. Occasionally, it has contained new cookware for the lucky recipient, but other years, the contents included \u201cthree cans of V8\u201d juice or \u201cused glassware,\u201d Bindeman said.<\/p>\n Whatever money Nioga Library System raises from the basket, it gives to the political action committee New Yorkers for Better Libraries. The PAC, in turn, boosts the campaigns of state legislative candidates who want to fund the public library system. In eight years, Nioga\u2019s basket raffles have resulted in $6,815 for the PAC.<\/p>\n Bindeman said the nonprofit also encourages its members to donate to the PAC. He added\u00a0the nonprofit believed the raffle was permitted because the money did not come directly from its coffers and auditors had previously approved it.<\/p>\n Exterior of the New York Capitol in Albany. Many\u00a0nonprofits barred from making political contributions have donated to the campaigns of current and former state lawmakers and governors, a Times Union investigation found.<\/p>\n Lori Van Buren\/Times Union<\/p>\n But guidance from the New York attorney general\u2019s Charities Bureau<\/a> explains 501(c)(3) nonprofits are barred from \u201csoliciting contributions\u201d for candidates for office, including via PACs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s prohibited, we may have to end it,\u201d Bindeman said of the raffle.<\/p>\n The Times Union found since 2004, eight other public libraries or library associations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofits also donated to the same PAC, although none gave as much as Nioga. Officials with the Nassau County Library Association, which gave $1,800 to the PAC across seven years until 2021, declined comment.<\/p>\n Joe Burke, chair of the steering committee for New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC, said many library group leaders are volunteers who might not have a \u201csophisticated understanding\u201d of tax-law rules around political contributions. He called the donations \u201cinnocuous\u201d and \u201cinadvertent.\u201d<\/p>\n Burke said the PAC would highlight information on its website and other materials about the prohibition on political donations by 501(c)(3) nonprofits and seek guidance from an attorney about refunding the money.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cazenovia College<\/p>\n A small, liberal arts college in central New York made 15 donations to candidates and PACs\u00a0\u2014 likely in violation of state and federal laws\u00a0\u2014 before it closed in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n From 2003 to 2022, Cazenovia College paid about $4,000 to Republican former state Sen. Nancy\u00a0Hoffmann, Democratic former Assemblyman William Magee, Republican former Assemblyman Jeff Brown and the political action committee Syracuse Tomorrow, state election records show. The contributions stretched across the leadership of three college presidents.<\/p>\n Assemblyman William Magee, center, received $1,100 from 2003 to 2005 from Cazenovia College, state elections records show. (Paul Buckowski \/ Times Union)<\/p>\n Paul Buckowski<\/p>\n The Times Union contacted all of them, but only received a response from former Cazenovia College President Ron Chesbrough.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThe college was not in the habit or the practice during my tenure of making political contributions,\u201d Chesbrough said, adding he thinks the payments were mix-ups. Only two to three people at the college, including the president, would have had the authority to make such payments, he added.<\/p>\n Like Syracuse University, the college paid membership fees to CenterState CEO, which runs the PAC Syracuse Tomorrow, when the college could afford them, Chesbrough said. He also noted that Magee, who died in 2020<\/a>, was a longtime supporter of Cazenovia College and close to members of the school\u2019s board of trustees.<\/p>\n As college president, Chesbrough said that he tried to strictly adhere to a \u201ccompletely apolitical stance.\u201d Occasionally, someone would place a campaign sign in front of the college president\u2019s residence and Chesbrough would consistently remove it and contact the campaign to warn against placing\u00a0signs on college property, he said.<\/p>\n Binghamton Philharmonic<\/p>\n The largest and longest-serving professional symphony<\/a> orchestra in New York\u2019s Southern Tier, Binghamton Philharmonic, brings music to about 10,000 people per year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n And from 2018 to 2024, the nonprofit made small payments totaling about $700 to Democratic Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n Lupardo is a longtime backer of the symphony. Around 2005, when lawmakers still could direct state money to their preferred causes,\u00a0Lupardo sent a \u201cmember item\u201d grant<\/a> to the Binghamton Philharmonic. In 2022, the assemblywoman presented<\/a> at an event hosted by the orchestra. In November, she celebrated a new state grant<\/a> for the symphony.<\/p>\n Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, D-Binghamton, received about $700 in donations from the Binghamton Philharmonic, a symphony orchestra.<\/p>\n Jim Franco\/Times Union<\/p>\n Officials with Binghamton Philharmonic, which has received tens of thousands of dollars in state contracts and federal grants, according to government records, did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWe refunded all of the donations from the Binghamton Philharmonic as soon as we learned about this,\u201d Lupardo said. \u201cThe funds had been used to purchase tickets to my annual cocktail party fundraiser. My treasurer was unaware that nonprofits could not donate.\u201d<\/p>\n Bryant & Stratton College<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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