The Marshall Project, nonprofit journalism organization that focuses its online content criminal justice issues, recently won a lawsuit in Memphis that has peeled back the curtain on the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, which is a nonprofit group that has operated for years as stand-in for the Memphis police department. The case highlights the increased focus on the network of nonprofits that operate in conjunction with public entities, but without the same disclosure requirements to ensure transparency. The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, for instance, has developed and implemented plans for public safety in Memphis and Shelby County, while also providing millions of dollars in grants to recruit and train police officers. The nonprofit has acknowledged being funded by businesses and organizations in the community, but had not previously disclosed the details of all their funding.
The lawsuit provides a valuable lesson for researchers dealing with public agencies to beware that nonprofits can operate as stand-ins for the public agency. These nonprofits can supplement funding and allow donors access to decision-makers without disclosing their attempts to influence.