Monday, October 12, 2026

The Iran League in both Tacoma and Seattle are under investigation for fraud

AI Overview
The Tacoma Urban League officially cut ties with CEO Desireé Wilkins Finch following whistleblower allegations and state investigations into the misuse and self-dealing of taxpayer-funded Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) grants. [1, 2]
📌 Overview of the Controversy
  • The Whistleblower: Longtime volunteer Corey Orvold exposed questionable self-dealing and allocation of state funds tied to the program. [1]
  • The Grant Scheme: Funds meant for minority and housing support were allegedly funneled through the related Tacoma Black Fund with excessive administrative fees and conflict-of-interest awards. [1, 2]
  • State Intervention: The Washington State Department of Commerce blocked specific payouts, including a proposed grant to Wilkins Finch's private consultancy, citing clear conflicts of interest. [1]
  • Leadership Ouster: After being placed on paid administrative leave, Wilkins Finch was permanently removed from her position by the board. [1, 2]
⚠️ Broader Urban League Scrutiny
  • Seattle Branch: The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle faced parallel investigations regarding grant transparency, leading to leadership departures and a severe financial crisis. [1, 2]
  • State Response: State agencies and the Attorney General's office faced public criticism from whistleblowers for slow initial responses to complaints regarding how multi-million dollar race-based equity funds were distributed. [1, 2]

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