N.C. Military Foundation's tight budget
Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on July 2, 2008 - 1:00pm.The N.C. Military Foundation runs on a tight budget.
The nonprofit started by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in 2006 to promote defense spending in North Carolina spent $140,000 less than it received its first year in operation, according to federal tax forms.
Five North Carolina companies — Wachovia, Progress Energy, Duke Energy and Charlotte defense contractors General Dynamics and Parsons Corp. Commercial Technology Group — each pledged $100,000 to fund the group its first year, and it earned another $3,274 in interest on that money.
But during that time it spent only $363,914, including $212,000 for consultants, $72,718 for the salary of executive director Will Austin, $7,055 on travel, $6,111 on conferences, $3,283 for marketing and $1,131 for a Toshiba laptop.
Austin, the organization's sole full-time employee, works out of a small office on Hargett Street in Raleigh. He has a part-time administrative assistant.
He told Dome the board of directors recently authorized him to hire a deputy director, but the nonprofit will continue to use consultants on its various projects.
"We're lean on staff and infrastructure," he said. "We spend our money on consultants."
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What is the N.C. Military Foundation?
Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on July 2, 2008 - 9:54am.A nonprofit founded by Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue to promote defense spending in North Carolina.
The N.C. Military Foundation incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) on Sept. 6, 2006, with a stated mission of "preparing North Carolina businesses to meet the contractual needs of existing U.S. Military facilities" and fostering the "proper public policy environment" to boost military spending here.
It has hosted summits on helping contractors get military construction jobs, introducing Australian diplomats to state business leaders and promoting veterans for civilian jobs.
Five North Carolina companies — Wachovia, Duke Energy, Progress Energy and Charlotte-based defense contractors General Dynamics and Parsons Corp. Commercial Technology Group., each pledged $200,000 in grants to the foundation for two years.
Still, the group works on a tight budget, spending most of its money on outside consultants and lobbyists. It's lone full-time employee is executive director Will Austin, a former executive assistant and foreign policy assistant to U.S. Sen. John Edwards.
The board of directors includes several retired three- and four-star military officers: Army Gens. William F. Kernan and James J. Lindsay, Marine Lt. Gen. Martin R. Berndt, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul E. Busick and Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Springer.
It also includes high-level officials from each of the five founding companies.
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