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Taxpayer Philanthropy: Nonprofit pays Michelle Obama aide $700k
The Center Square ^ | 10/20/2026 | Mark Stricherz

Posted on 11/02/2026 8:30:35 AM PST by simpson96

A former policy director for First Lady Michelle Obama was paid nearly $700,000 in total compensation last year despite revenue to the taxpayer-funded refugee resettlement organization plummeting by nearly $130 million, an investigation by The Center Square found.

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the CEO of Baltimore-based Global Refuge, a faith-based nonprofit which received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments since 2021.

In 2025, she made $686,000, a 2% drop from the $699,000 she made the year before. That compares to a 44% drop in the nonprofit’s revenue during the same time, from $304.3 million in 2024 to $170.4 million last year.

O’Mara Vignarajah received a $172,963 bonus in 2024, in addition to a base salary of $526,536. She received no bonus in 2025, but her base salary rose to $686,000, according to the nonprofit’s tax filings.

“That’s troubling,” Steven Balsam, professor of accounting at the Fox Business School at Temple University, told The Center Square after the wire service detailed information in the nonprofits tax filings. “A cynic could say the bonus was transferred to compensation. You gotta wonder how the board of trustees justified the (salary) increase.”

Timothy Young, Global Refuge's director of public relations, did not return two voicemails and an email for comment, while Chief Communications Officer Erin Taylor did not return a voicemail.

(Excerpt) Read more at thecentersquare.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: baltimore; debttruth; democrattruth; faithbasednonprofit; fraud; globalrefuge; illegals; liberaltruth; obama; refugeeresettlement

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1 posted on 11/02/2026 8:30:35 AM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

She had to get paid enough for big Mike to get his substantial cut.


2 posted on 11/02/2026 8:57:23 AM PST by drypowder
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To: simpson96

IMHO most 501c3’s are money laundering operations


3 posted on 11/02/2026 9:02:06 AM PST by goodnesswins (Most Congress Critters should be referred to as what they are....LOOTERS)
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To: simpson96

IMHO most 501c3’s are money laundering operations


4 posted on 11/02/2026 9:02:07 AM PST by goodnesswins (Most Congress Critters should be referred to as what they are....LOOTERS)
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To: simpson96

“Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the CEO of Baltimore-based Global Refuge, a faith-based nonprofit which received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments since 2021.”

So, we the tax-payers are paying this entity to spread faith? I assume it is Hinduism. How wonderful... Don’t remember that being in the constitution.


5 posted on 11/02/2026 9:08:34 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: simpson96

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the CEO of Baltimore-based Global Refuge, a faith-based nonprofit which received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments since 2021.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

was the drop in revenue for this NGO a result of DOGE or USAID cuts?


6 posted on 11/02/2026 10:19:43 AM PST by thinden (Buckle Up!)
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To: GOPJ; poconopundit; Jane Long; Diana in Wisconsin; Grampa Dave; Godzilla; Vaduz; null and void; ...

p


7 posted on 11/02/2026 11:12:42 AM PST by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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To: simpson96

Like she needs more pocket money for another vacation.


8 posted on 11/02/2026 11:42:32 AM PST by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
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To: simpson96

We already know ‘which faith’ was being funded


9 posted on 11/02/2026 11:43:18 AM PST by Zathras
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To: All

Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121.

Call the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213

Send a letter to the White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Message: A former WH policy director for First Lady Michelle Obama was paid nearly $700,000 in total compensation last year despite revenue to the taxpayer-funded refugee resettlement organization plummeting by nearly $130 million.

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the CEO of Baltimore-based Global Refuge. O’Mara Vignarajah received a $172,963 bonus in 2024, in addition to a base salary of $526,536. She received no bonus in 2025, but her base salary rose to $686,000, according to the nonprofit’s tax filings.

You could say her bonus was “transferred to compensation”.....a very clever criminal money-laundering MO. Congress needs to determine how the board of trustees justified the salary increase.

Timothy Young, Global Refuge’s PR director, did not return two voicemails and an email for comment. Chief Communications Officer Erin Taylor did not return a voicemail.


10 posted on 11/02/2026 12:16:05 PM PST by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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To: simpson96; All

And, she’s married to another looter...

Vignarajah is married to Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.


11 posted on 11/02/2026 1:15:54 PM PST by goodnesswins (Most Congress Critters should be referred to as what they are....LOOTERS)
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To: goodnesswins

I’m not sure all 501c3’s are laundering, but I think non and not for profits should no longer be an option. Including churches. God will provide for all He wants to happen. they shouldn’t get special tax breaks because we know it leads to wrong doings. Plenty of it makes the news. Give to God what its God’s, and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.


12 posted on 11/02/2026 1:21:06 PM PST by b4me (Pray, and let God change you. He knows better than you or anyone else, who He made you to be.)
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To: simpson96

” hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the State and Health and Human Services departments since 2021.”
We’re 47 trillion in debt!
Time to cut the cord on every single one of these scams.
100%


13 posted on 11/02/2026 1:24:03 PM PST by Fireone (1. Avoid crowds 2.Head on a swivel 3.Be prepared to protect & defend those around you 4.Avoid crowds)
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To: b4me

Right. That’s why I said “most.” I think we should limit 501c3s and their sister orgs officers to LIMITED $$. They are after all “CHARITIES”...or they are supposed to be. Most now are attorneys finding ways to make bank...it seems.


14 posted on 11/02/2026 1:27:13 PM PST by goodnesswins (Most Congress Critters should be referred to as what they are....LOOTERS)
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To: goodnesswins
IMHO most 501c3’s are money laundering operations

AND major 'walking around money' for democrat 'activists'...

15 posted on 11/02/2026 5:48:02 PM PST by GOPJ (Liberals control 100+ news outlets. Conservatives get half of FOXNews. Is that fair or balanced?)
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To: goodnesswins; Liz
IMHO most 501c3’s are money laundering operations

AND major 'walking around money' for democrat 'activists'...

16 posted on 11/02/2026 5:49:10 PM PST by GOPJ (Liberals control 100+ news outlets. Conservatives get half of FOXNews. Is that fair or balanced?)
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To: GOPJ

Multi-tasking Dem fraud........../s.


17 posted on 11/02/2026 6:43:09 PM PST by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands. " (Psalm 19:1))
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