Report: Pulitzer-winning photographer leaves Ford Foundation over award choice
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly has resigned from the board of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, citing concerns about the reasoning behind selecting the winner of one of the foundation’s awards, Politico reports.
Kennerly suggested that the board decided not to give U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming state the foundation’s Medal For Distinguished Public Service because members were worried about former President Donald Trump would react, according to Politico.
Foundation Executive Director Gleaves Whitney told Politico the reason Cheney was not picked was because she may run for president. Whitney said the award would go to former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels this year.
Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is also a member of the Ford Foundation board.
Kennerly was Ford’s White House photographer.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Executive Committee released the following statement:
“The Ford family has been close to the Cheney family for five decades. So when the Ford Presidential Foundation asked Liz Cheney to serve on our Board of Trustees, we were honored that she joined our team in 2021. She continues to serve in good standing.
“Not only that, Liz Cheney meets all the criteria the Ford Presidential Foundation medal signifies—courage, integrity, and passion to serve the American people.
“The Foundation’s decision not to give Congresswoman Liz Cheney the 2024 Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service is not a reflection on her but on the law governing nonprofits. The Foundation’s action this year in no way precludes her from serious consideration to receive the medal in a future year.
“The Foundation’s executive committee, guided by its legal counsel, concluded that it was not prudent to award the 2024 Ford medal to Liz Cheney. At the time the award was being discussed, it was publicly reported that Liz was under active consideration for a presidential run. Exercising its fiduciary responsibility, the executive committee concluded that giving the Ford medal to Liz in the 2024 election cycle might be construed as a political statement and thus expose the Foundation to the legal risk of losing its nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service.
“As stated by the IRS in its publication, “The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations”:
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.”
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Executive Committee
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