The Clinton Foundation (founded 2001) … is a nonprofit foundation established by former President of the United States Bill Clinton with the stated mission to “strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.” The Foundation focuses on improving global health and wellness, increasing opportunity for women and girls, reducing childhood obesity and preventable diseases, creating economic opportunity and growth, and helping communities address the effects of climate change. …

I foolishly got into an online debate on whether the Clinton Foundation spends around 15% on charity, 85% on overhead, a recent right wing talking point.

Sounded silly to me. It was.

 

politifact – The claim contains some element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression, so we rate it Mostly False.

I love it when rich people set up Foundations and do good works. Many Republicans have donated to the Clinton Foundation including Mitt Romney, John McCain, Donald Trump, James R. Murdoch, News Corporation Foundation (parent company of FOX News), etc. It’s a “not-for-profit” organization that should have nothing to do with the Democratic Party.

One of their partner organizations was the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

There are some valid concerns about the Clinton Foundation.

WHAT ARE THE CLINTONS’ CRITICS SAYING?

Among the complaints:

— The foundation could serve as a backdoor for governments or foreign citizens hoping to influence a future president. U.S. law bans political campaigns from accepting foreign money.

— Many big donors to the foundation also lobbied the State Department while Clinton was in charge.

— Despite pledges of openness, names of foreign donors who contributed through a Canadian affiliate of the foundation haven’t been made public.

— Some of the foreign sums are mind-boggling. Canadian mining billionaire Frank Giustra, founder of the Canadian affiliate, has given the Clinton Foundation more than $31 million. Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk and the country of Saudi Arabia each gave between $10 million and $25 million, according to the foundation. …

— Donations from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Mideast nations that deny women equal rights have been criticized by Republican presidential candidates. Sen. Rand Paul said promoting women’s rights while taking millions from countries where “rape victims are publicly lashed” is “a grand hypocrisy.”

— Many of the foundation’s donors are companies and organizations that also paid Bill Clinton six-figure speaking fees while his wife was secretary of state. And several are big contributors to Hillary Clinton’s political campaigns.

— Clinton’s husband and daughter are still on the foundation board, leaving an opening for conflicts of interest. Bill and Chelsea Clinton just wrapped up a nine-day trip to Africa to highlight their charity’s good works. The former president said he would consider stepping down if his wife wins her own term in the Oval Office. …

WHAT DO THE CLINTONS SAY?

Hillary Clinton hasn’t responded to specific allegations. She dismissed the criticism generally as the kind of “distractions and attacks” to be expected during a presidential campaign. …

Bill Clinton says he’s proud of his foundation’s work, and that 90 percent of donors give $100 or less.

And the big money? There’s nothing “sinister” about getting wealthy people and nations to help the poor in developing countries, Clinton said in an NBC News interview.

“There’s been a very deliberate attempt to take the foundation down,” he said. “And there’s almost no new fact that’s known now that wasn’t known when she ran for president the first time” in 2008.

The State Department said last month that officials conducted a review and found no evidence that any of Clinton’s actions as secretary of state were influenced by donations to the foundation. …

Clinton family foundation raises big money and big questions

related – Fact Check: Is The Clinton Foundation ‘The Most Transparent’?