An Open Letter to the Greensboro Sports Foundation: A Call for Transparency and Accountability from a Council Candidate’s Organization

To the Board of Directors of the Greensboro Sports Foundation (GSF), Greensboro City Council, Guilford County Commissioners, and the Voters of Greensboro

Sep 22, 2025

Lady and gentleman,

This email serves as a formal inquiry into the governance, financial practices, and use of taxpayer funds by the Greensboro Sports Foundation. The situation demands utmost scrutiny as the organization is led by Richard Beard, a candidate for Greensboro City Council, and its board includes sitting City Council Member Marikay Abuzuaiter, the only woman among 27 board members. When candidates and current elected officials oversee a nonprofit heavily funded by the city they serve or seek to lead, the standard for transparency is not just high, it is absolute.

Recent attempts to obtain basic compliance documents have revealed a pattern of obfuscation. A simple request for GSF’s latest IRS Form 990 was met with evasion, culminating in the concerning revelation that the filing is potentially overdue and accruing penalties. This failure is unacceptable for any nonprofit, but it is especially alarming for one governed by a sitting council member and directed by a council candidate.

Further analysis of public records reveals dramatic, unexplained increases in executive compensation—including Mr. Beard’s own salary—alongside explosive growth in travel and hospitality expenses. The following points detail specific, evidence-based concerns that demand immediate explanation. The public has a right to know how their elected officials and candidates manage public funds.

from: George Hartzman

to: Richard@greensborosf.com,
Demp@greensborosf.com,
Hunter@greensborosf.com,
"Abuzuaiter, Marikay" <Marikay.Abuzuaiter@greensboro-nc.gov>

[Marikay is a GSF Board Member (The only woman of 27 board members)

https://greensborosf.com/board-and-staff/ ]

date: Aug 27, 2025, 11:15 AM

subject: Please provide your latest 990

Thanks,

from: Richard Beard

Thank you for reaching out. You can find that publicly, just like any 990.

Regards,

Richard Beard
President
richard@greensboroSF.com

from: George Hartzman

Only goes through fy 22-23

Has the 23-24 been filed?

https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2023/822/986/2023-822986873-202431299349302993-9.pdf

GSF is under an extension for 2024 taxes.

Regards,

Richard Beard

from: George Hartzman

If GSF's extended 2024 Form 990 was due May 15, 2025, and we're currently in August 2025, then the filing is now overdue. [North Carolina Hurricane Extension until September 25, 2025, so the tax return should be produced before Greensboro’s primary on October 7.]

This means GSF is currently accruing late filing penalties of $20 per day since May 15, 2025.

Or you're not being forthright.

A nonprofit receiving taxpayer funds that's delinquent on IRS filings could face serious contract consequences.

Common contract provisions that could be triggered:

Compliance Requirements:

Most government contracts require maintaining tax-exempt status in good standing
Regular filing of required tax documents (Form 990)
Compliance with all federal, state, and local laws

Potential Consequences:

Contract suspension or termination for material breach
Immediate repayment of funds already disbursed
Ineligibility for future funding until compliance is restored
Default provisions triggering additional penalties or interest

Reporting Obligations:

GSF may be required to immediately notify the city/county of compliance issues
Failure to report could constitute additional breach

IRS Impact:

Risk of losing tax-exempt status if filing delinquency continues
Loss of tax exemption would likely trigger immediate contract termination

Please advise,

from: George Hartzman

to: Richard Beard
trey.davis@greensboro-nc.gov [City of Greensboro Manager]
"Abuzuaiter, Marikay"
"Lucas, Len" <Len.Lucas@greensboro-nc.gov> [City of Greensboro Auditor]
date: Aug 31, 2025, 2:47 PM
subject: Re: Please provide your latest 990

Lobbying: $61,265

$127,357 in hospitality

https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2023/822/986/2023-822986873-202431299349302993-9.pdf

https://www.sosnc.gov/online_services/Search/lobbying_profile/20466177

All zero expenses on state lobbyist filings.

Please explain,

Forwarded to

from: George Hartzman <hartzmancpe@gmail.com>

to: Kevin Griffin <kevin.griffin@greensboro.com>, [Greensboro’s News & Record]
Dimon.Kendrick-Holmes@greensboro.com,
"Craver, Richard N." <rcraver@wsjournal.com> [Greensboro’s News & Record]
date: Aug 31, 2025, 2:48 PM
subject: Fwd: Please provide your latest 990

from: George Hartzman
to: Richard Beard <richard@greensborosf.com>,
trey.davis@greensboro-nc.gov
Ian McDowell <mcdolemite@gmail.com>, [Yes Weekly]
justin.lundy@wghp.com,
john.deem@lee.net, [Greensboro’s News & Record]
greensboro@theassemblync.com,
legan@bizjournals.com,
scoops@theassemblync.com,
editor@carolinapeacemaker.com,
Allen Johnson <Allen.Johnson@news-record.com>,
Charles Womack <publisher@yesweekly.com>,
desk@wcnc.com,
salston1@guilfordcountync.gov,
FrankieTJones@guilfordcountync.gov, [GSF Board Member]
"Holston, Hugh" <hugh.holston@greensboro-nc.gov>, [Appointed Council Member running taxpayer funded Greensboro Housing Coalition nonprofit]
"Pinder, Jamilla" <jamilla.pinder@greensboro-nc.gov>, [Appointed Council member like Hugh Holsten]
"Cubbage, Lora" <lora.cubbage@greensboro-nc.gov>, [City Attorney]
"Abuzuaiter, Marikay"
nancy.vaughan@greensboro-nc.gov,
"Davis, N." <nathaniel.davis@greensboro-nc.gov>,
"Thurm, Tammi" <tammi.thurm@greensboro-nc.gov>,
zack.matheny@greensboro-nc.gov,
scott.johnson@gsocomplex.com, [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
Adrian Smith [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
Mark Brazil wyndhamchampionship.com>, [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
Mark Prince, Guilford Merchants Association [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
And everyone running for office with a working email address

…Your FY 2023 990 (federal IRS disclosure) shows $61,265 in lobbying.

…Kim Strable, the President of the Greensboro Sports Commission, which became the Greensboro Sports Foundation in FY 2019, made $48,000, with other salaries and wages at $67,852.

Robert Goodman, President of the Greensboro Sports Foundation, made $76,875 in FY 2021.

Richard Beard, President of the Greensboro Sports Foundation, made $150,000 in FY 2023, his VP $90,000 with other salaries and wages at $271,250.

That kind of growth is unusual unless there was a massive increase in workload or scale — otherwise it looks like a shift toward becoming more of a taxpayer-subsidized jobs program for insiders.

Richard Beard was Secretary in 2019.

Marikay Abuzuaiter was on both year's Boards.

25 Directors in 2019.

27 Directors in 2023.

With nearly 30 directors, meaningful oversight is almost impossible. Decisions are typically left to a handful of insiders, while the rest provide cover and legitimacy.

It also raises the question: why so many seats? Often, oversized boards are designed to keep business leaders, politicians, and institutional players tied in, creating a closed network of influence rather than independent oversight.

The fact that only one woman sits on the 2023 board makes the size even more suspect — if you’re going to pack the board, why not diversify it?

In short, GSF’s board looks less like good governance and more like a political protection strategy, ensuring buy-in from as many power brokers as possible while diluting real responsibility.

2019; Accounting $5,480

2023; Accounting $4,789

Either GSF is not investing in adequate independent financial oversight as the organization grows, or for a nonprofit handling millions in public and charitable funds, shrinking accounting oversight while expanding discretionary spending is a major governance red flag.

2019; Government grants; 145,000

2023; Government grants; 304,800

On both 2019 and 2023 boards of note;

Mark Brazil, DGI board member
Brent Christensen
Marikay Abuzuaiter
Mark Prince, DGI board member

Of note currently;

Mo Milani; Koury; 2019
Kelly Harrill; Koury; 2023
Richard Vanore; Koury; 2023
Guilford County Commissioner Frankie Jones Jr.; 2023
Adrian Smith; Ex DGI Board member

Current;

https://greensborosf.com/board-and-staff/

Heavy overlap with other civic/charitable/taxpayer-funded boards (Koury, DGI, Commissioners, etc.), which raises the question of whether the organization is insulated from scrutiny.

2021; Lobbying $0

2022; Lobbying $0

2023; Lobbying $61,265

What changed so drastically in one year to justify over $60,000 in lobbying?

Who was paid, and for what purpose?

…This kind of inconsistency looks less like normal advocacy and more like either a misclassification of expenses or a failure to comply with state lobbying law.

2019; Travel $2,917

2021; Travel $21,333

2022; Travel $11,750

2023; Travel $104,302

Travel expenses grew over 35x from 2019 to 2023, far outpacing revenue growth.

Such rapid escalation raises questions about purpose, necessity, and oversight — especially given the organization receives taxpayer-funded grants.

Without detailed reporting, this could be mischaracterized personal or entertainment spending rather than bona fide program-related travel.

For a nonprofit handling millions in public funds, travel should scale reasonably with programs, not skyrocket while accounting and governance costs remain flat.

2019; HOSPITALITY $0

2022; HOSPITALITY $0

2023; HOSPITALITY $127,357

$127k in “hospitality” in one year is huge. If it’s schmoozing elected officials or board members with public money, that’s exactly the kind of thing that runs afoul of NC G.S. 133-32 (unlawful gifts).

Why did executive salaries more than triple in four years?

Why did travel and hospitality expenses balloon?

Who approved lobbying with taxpayer-related funds?

How much of “program service revenue” is really funded by other taxpayer-supported entities?

How much of your income comes from other taxpayer funded nonprofits?

Board members sitting on both DGI and GSF, creating shared financial interests across the two nonprofits.

Two taxpayer-funded nonprofit executives (Beard & Matheny) are running for council while their organizations share board members and rely on city subsidies.

I would appreciate clear, detailed responses to each of the points above, including documentation where possible, so that the public and relevant oversight bodies can understand how GSF is managing taxpayer-funded resources and complying with all federal, state, and local requirements.

Thanks,

from: George Hartzman

to: Richard Beard
trey.davis
cc: "Abuzuaiter, Marikay"
"Lucas, Len"
FrankieTJones@guilfordcountync.gov, [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
"Johnson, Scott" <scott.johnson@gsocomplex.com>, [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
Brent Christensen <bchristensen@greensboro.org>, [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
Frank Gilliam, UNC Greensboro Frank Gilliam [One of 26 men of GSF's board]
dimon.kendrick-holmes [Editor, News and Record]
Kevin Griffin [Reporter, News and Record]
Ian McDowell; Yes Weekly
john.deem@lee.net, News and Record
"Craver, Richard N."
scoops@theassemblync.com,
editor@carolinapeacemaker.com,
Allen Johnson <@news-record.com>,
Charles Womack <yesweekly.com>

date: Sep 10, 2025, 11:52 AM

subject: Re: Please provide your latest 990

Following up on the request for the Sports Foundation's latest 990.

I asked for it on Wed, Aug 27, 11:15 AM

…Can you please clarify what is happening?

I would also ask for follow up by the elected officials who are board members.

It's your job to make sure stuff like this doesn't happen.

You've brought in $156,003.00 in campaign contributions, eight of which were from GSF's board members and what looks like vendors among others.

SCOTT JOHNSON, RICHARD L VANORE, MATTHEW G BROWN, MARC ISAACSON, MARC BUSH, FRANK BRENNER, CHIDI AKWARI AND BRETT SCHULMAN

Please provide the Sports Foundation's expense ledger's for the past 3 years.

If not, why?

https://cf.ncsbe.gov/CFDocLkup/DocumentResult/?year=2025&reports=%27RP35D%27

Please advise.

Thanks,

from: George Hartzman

This needs looking into please.

…Same auditor as DGI.

Greensboro Coliseum is paying $150,000 of taxpayer money to the foundation.

Visitors Bureau the same.

CFGG

Greensboro Sports Council

Looks like DGI only different.

The questions outlined above are not minor administrative details. They strike at the heart of whether GSF operates with the integrity required of an organization that receives public money. The pattern of ballooning executive salaries, explosive discretionary spending, and a bloated, non-diverse board of 27 members which includes a sitting council member and a council candidate, paints a picture of an organization that may be prioritizing insiders over public service. The fact that Council Member Abuzuaiter is the sole woman on such a large board further calls its governance and inclusivity into serious question.

Therefore, Public Integrity Watch calls for the following immediate actions:

Full Disclosure by Candidate Beard and Council Member Abuzuaiter: Richard Beard must immediately release GSF’s …Form 990. As a board member, Council Member Abuzuaiter must leverage her position to ensure full transparency and explain her oversight of these concerning financial patterns.

Formal Investigation: The City of Greensboro must initiate a formal audit of all public funds disbursed to GSF. It is a clear conflict of interest for the city to fund an organization governed by one of its own council members and led by a candidate without rigorous, independent oversight.

Board Accountability: Every board member, particularly its public officials, must publicly account for their oversight and detail what they will do to restore public trust.

Transparency is the foundation of public service. The voters of Greensboro deserve a full accounting from both a candidate for office and a sitting council member about how their organization manages taxpayer dollars. The current opacity of the Greensboro Sports Foundation is incompatible with the standards of open government and raises fundamental questions about the judgment of those involved. We await your prompt and thorough response.

Sincerely,

Public Integrity Watch