Corrupt people gravitate to politics

Pol raked in 300G salary as nonprofit boss

By ISABEL VINCENT and MELISSA KLEIN

The grass was greener for City Councilman David Greenfield when he headed a Brooklyn nonprofit and raked in nearly half of the group's total spending over five years.

In 2009 alone, Greenfield made a whopping $299,500 as executive vice president of the Sephardic Community Federation Inc. -- 65 percent of the organization's total expenses of $461,623.

"That salary would be out of proportion to what the group is doing," said Daniel Borochoff, of charity watchdog American Institute of Philanthropy. "It seems very strange."

The Sephardic Community Federation was formed in 2004 as a lobbying organization, concentrating its efforts on Syrian Jews in Brooklyn and issues like private-school funding.

Greenfield, 32, left the federation in 2010 after winning a special election in March of that year. His annual council salary is $116,500.

Greenfield refused to comment. A spokesman for the nonprofit defended his high salary because of the job he did as the organization's head.

"David has always been an effective organizer," said Michael Tobman.

Is it time to focus on non profits and NGO's? Investigate all non profits activities and tax exempt status. For too long we have been hoodwinked by people, especially politicians using tax exempt organizations as personal piggy banks. Check what's happened in NYC in the past few years.

Also, why are groups like Media Matters tax exempt? What about the numerous groups funded by George Soros which are blatantly political tax exempt?