In accordance with our policy for removing charities from the CN Watchlist, Charity Navigator removed the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation from the Watchlist in December 2015 because the charity provided publicly accessible information regarding their amended tax Forms for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. This information, along with the public memorandum submitted addressing the other issues raised in the Watchlist entry, meets our requirements for removal. 

Charity Navigator placed the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation on the CN Watchlist because we became aware of the following information:

• On February 19, 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton "was one of the most aggressive global cheerleaders for American companies, pushing governments to sign deals and change policies to the advantage of corporate giants such as General Electric Co., Exxon MobilCorp., Microsoft Corp. and Boeing Co." The article goes on to state that "at the same time, those companies were among the many that gave to the Clinton family's global foundation set up by her husband, former President Bill Clinton." The article says that "at least 60 companies that lobbied the State Department during her tenure donated a total of more than $26 million to the Clinton Foundation, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of public and foundation disclosures."
• The article also states that "corporate donations to politically connected charities aren't illegal so long as they aren't in exchange for favors. There is no evidence of that with the Clinton Foundation. [...] All of the companies mentioned in this article said their charitable donations had nothing to do with their lobbying agendas with Mrs. Clinton's State Department." 

For more information: The Wall Street Journal

• On February 26, 2015, Politico Magazine reported on questions raised regarding the foundation's acceptance of foreign donations during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state. According to the article, "The Clinton Foundation failed to submit a $500,000 donation from the Algerian government to the State Department for approval under an ethics agreement put in place as Hillary Clinton was being confirmed as secretary of state."
• The article also states that "some dismissed recent scrutiny of the foundation's fundraising and management as a function of the news media's 'total obsession' with the Clintons, in the words of Chris Ruddy, the CEO of the conservative media outlet Newsmax, which last year pledged $1 million to the foundation." 

For more information: Politico Magazine

• On February 20, 2015, MarketWatch reported that the Clinton Foundation said "that if Hillary Clinton runs for president, it will consider whether to continue accepting contributions from foreign governments, a step that would be aimed at avoiding the appearance of conflicts of interest."

For more information: MarketWatch

• On March 1, 2015, Politico Magazine reported that the Clinton Foundation’s CEO, Eric Braverman, quit abruptly only a year and half after his arrival at the foundation. According to the article, "[Braverman’s] exit stemmed partly from a power struggle inside the foundation between and among the coterie of Clinton loyalists who have surrounded the former president for decades and who helped start and run the foundation."

For more information: Politico Magazine

• On February 20, 2015, The New York Times reported that "no critic has alleged a specific conflict of interest. The foundation, in fact, went beyond normal philanthropic bounds for transparency six years ago in instituting voluntary disclosure of donors within broad dollar ranges on its website." 

For more information: The New York Times

• On February 18, 2015, The Washington Post reported that, "the foundation has won accolades from philanthropy experts and has drawn bipartisan support, with members of the George W. Bush administration often participating in its programs."
• The article also states that "in posting its donor data, the foundation goes beyond legal requirements, and experts say its transparency level exceeds that of most philanthropies."

For more information: The Washington Post

• On March 19, 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Clinton "Foundation agreed not to seek donations from other governments, but cash kept flowing from individuals with connections to them. [. . .] In response to questions about foreign donations, a foundation official said the individuals have given to a host of other major philanthropies. 'Like other global charities and nongovernmental organizations, the Clinton Foundation receives support from individuals all over the world because our programs are improving the lives of millions of people around the globe,' said spokesman Craig Minassian."

For more information: Wall Street Journal

• On March 9, 2015, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that Donna Shalala, "a former Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton, has been selected to lead the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation [...]"

For more information: The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• On April 15, 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that "the board of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation has decided to continue accepting donations from foreign governments, primarily from six countries, even though Hillary Clinton is running for president."

For more information: The Wall Street Journal

• On April 13th, 2015, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that "Hillary Clinton resigned from the Board of Directors of the Clinton Foundation on Sunday after formally declaring her candidacy in the 2016 presidential race." The article goes on to say, "The foundation said it would consider changes this week in its donor policies, possibly including more frequent disclosure." 

For more information: The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• The Clinton Foundation provided Charity Navigator with the following response to the issues cited in the CN Watchlist entry. 

For more information: The Clinton Foundation Memorandum

• On April 23, 2015, Reuters reported that "Hillary Clinton's family's charities are refiling at least five annual tax returns after a Reuters review found errors in how they reported donations from governments, and said they may audit other Clinton Foundation returns in case of other errors."

For more information: Reuters

• On May 26, 2015, International Business Times published an article titled, "Clinton Foundation Donors Got Weapons Deals From Hillary Clinton's State Department"

For more information: International Business Times

• On May 27, 2015, The Daily Beast published an article titled, "Corrupt FIFA Has Clinton Foundation Ties; World Cup Host Qatar Gave Millions"

For more information: The Daily Beast

• On May 29, 2015, The Chronicle of Philanthropy published an article titled, "Longtime Clinton Friend Earned $10,000 a Month at Foundation"

For more information: The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• On June 19, 2015, Factcheck.org published an article titled, "Where Does Clinton Foundation Money Go?"

For more information: FactCheck.org

• On November 17, 2015, The Nonprofit Times published an article titled, "Clinton Foundation Re-files Form 990s."

For more information: The Nonprofit Times