WE Charity: Selling Virtue Can Be Complicated

Abstract

This case presents a public scandal involving government funding and WE Charity, a large international development organization with operations in Canada, the US, and the UK and in the global south. The charity, which had financial relationships with the families of the prime minister and finance minister, had received a contract to deliver a CAD534 million student grant program without a public tender process. As media coverage continued, the scandal evolved from concerns about politicians' conflict of interest and cronyism to concerns about the financial accountability and governance of WE Charity. The case is an example of the complexity of modern nonprofit organizations, with multiple entities and sometimes opaque organizational structures and governance, which can lead to public concern about financial accountability. The case provides learners with the opportunity to explore governance, accountability, and the role of corporate structure in the public's understanding and support of charitable organizations. It can be used as a capstone case in corporate governance or nonprofit strategy courses.

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