Apparently gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell hasn't forgotten his PTL roots and their practiced art of defrauding folks of their money.
"Praise the Lord" for the little people's hard-earned donation which Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker promised would help underwrite construction of a hotel on one of their Christian compounds. And ooopsy, if that donation didn't actually end up in their pockets instead, otherwise needed to suppress news about Bakker’s adulterous affairs and underwriting their very lavish lifestyle. Thus Jim Bakker ended up with 45 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.
Tax laws governing non-profit organizations exist whereby if you expressly solicit donations for a restricted use that those funds raised are actually spent for that expressed purpose. Capital campaigns are good examples of restricted giving. You are asked to contribute to the building of a new church, for example. This is a different ask than the one your church continually solicits from you which generally underwrites operational expenses, such as salaries, overhead, printing, etc. These are unrestricted donations given in support of that non-profit's day-to-day operations and their overall organizational mission or cause.
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