Honest Feedback

2023 Platinum Transparency Award for FSFW?

I wrote tho Candid/Guidestar to have their explanation.

December 5, 2023
Dear Candid-Guidestar
I see that you awarded a "platinum transparency" 2023 to the Foundation for a Smoke Free World, that they proudly posted on the left corner of their website.
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-2800838
Can you detail the criteria you take into account to provide such a 'platinum' assessment.
I ask because I did not see anything out of what is legally required (ie sharing the 990 form) and only a very minimal information about the activities with no details about the results of the grants that still represent millions of dollars.
I am concerned this platinum award will keep this Foundation not sharing anything substantial about its activities.
Hoping to hear from you
Philippe Boucher

Cliff Douglas chosen as new President and CEO

That's a very good choice as Cliff is a long time tobacco control advocate. Congratulations Cliff and all my best wishes in your new position. The press release is here and his bio here. On May 28, 2001 (22 years ago!) I had posted this rendez-vous with Cliff :) Read this commentary posted by Cliff in 2021. A first presentation by Cliff on October 26, 2023. This short presentation on October 20, seems to me overly optimistic and vague as far as what the FSFW is going to do under the new CEO. Sorry Cliff, but someone has to tell you, not that I am very optimistic: I did send a few emails in feedback, as had been asked, but as of today, I have not received any reply :( (this update was posted on December 4, 2023). Tempus fugit.

Before Cliff's arrival, PMI has been making its final payment (see pdf), $140 million ($17,5 on July 31 2023 and $122,5 on September 29, 2023).

The 2022 990 PF Form is now available

The 2022 990PF Form in now available (PDF). You can compare with the form for the previous year, 2021. Philip Morris's contribution dropped from $40 million to $17,5 million. Here is the link to the page about financials. I have not been able to understand the reasoning for the drop in funding. It is linked to the 'cash balance'. The modified pledge agreement 'explains' the procedure on page 5 item 3.5 (copied below). The total annual budget now seems to be $35 million, depending on the situation of the 'cash balance'.

If the global budget is a bit reduced, that's not the case for the compensation of all the 6 remaining members of  the board of directors (see on pages 47 to 51) even if the total budget went down from $ 2,031,120 to $1,362,008.