By Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation has been labeled as delinquent by the California Registry of Charities and Fundraisers after failing to submit required annual fiscal records and pay associated fees, according to documents obtained by DailyMail.com. The charitable organization, launched by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020, has been prohibited from raising or spending money due to its non-compliance with state regulations.
Records show that the foundation was declared delinquent in January for not filing its annual registration renewal fee reports or paying the renewal fee since February 2023. Earlier this month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a delinquency notice to Archewell, warning of potential assessment penalties, late fees, and the possibility of suspension or revocation of its registered status.
This revelation raises doubts about the recent announcement made by Harry and Meghan during their tour of Nigeria, where they publicized the expansion of a partnership between The GEANCO Foundation in Abuja and the Archewell Foundation. However, the delinquency notice dated May 3 clearly states that an organization listed as delinquent “is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds.”
DailyMail.com has learned that Archewell claims its check was inadvertently omitted when the filings were made and has since mailed a new one in an attempt to quickly resolve the issue.
According to tax filings disclosed by Archewell in December 2023, the non-profit experienced a significant decline in donations, receiving just over $2 million in charitable contributions in 2022 compared to $13 million in 2021. The filings also revealed that the charity recorded a loss of more than $674,000 in 2022 due to expenses totaling $2.67 million, despite having reported revenue of over $9 million in 2021.
In the same month, it was discovered that Archewell’s Executive Director, James Holt, who also serves as the Sussexes’ UK PR chief, received a salary of $277,405, including a $20,000 bonus, in 2022. This represents a substantial 280% increase from his 2021 salary of less than $60,000 during the organization’s inaugural year.
When Harry and Meghan launched Archewell four years ago, naming it after their son Archie, they stated that its “core purpose” was “quite simply, to do good.” Their mission statement emphasizes their commitment to uplifting and uniting communities, both locally and globally, through their unparalleled spotlight.
However, CharityWatch, an independent charity watchdog in the United States, has raised concerns about Archewell’s “inadequate governance and transparency.” The watchdog notes that despite reporting five “Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees,” Archewell only lists two board members: Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex. This falls short of widely accepted best practices in the U.S. for nonprofit boards, which typically recommend a minimum of five to seven members.
Furthermore, CharityWatch requested Archewell’s most recent IRS Form 990 and audited financial statements in January, but their request has gone unanswered, leaving the watchdog unable to provide a rating for the foundation.
As the Sussexes’ charitable endeavor faces scrutiny and legal challenges, questions arise about the future of Archewell and its ability to fulfill its stated mission of doing good and uplifting communities worldwide.
DailyMail.com
