Ralph Q. Summerford, president of Forensic Strategic Solutions, was featured in a video in an e-case study entitled, “Ripe for Change: Just Food’s Recovery from Executive Misconduct.” The e-case study is hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Hubert Project, which provides public affairs educators with the opportunity to create and share educational materials that enhance learning. This particular case study is focused on Just Food, a food bank in Lawrence, Kansas, that recently recovered from the former executive director’s embezzlement of nearly $60,000.
In the video, Mr. Summerford discusses the prevalence of nonprofit fraud – The New York Times estimates non-profit fraud to cost $40 to $50 billion per year, and that one in five charitable organizations experiences fraud. He also highlights reasons why fraud is difficult to detect in these organizations, including high turnover of employees and volunteers, lean management, and the lack of internal auditors and a budget for external auditors and investigators.
You can view Mr. Summerford’s feature in the case study here.