In this undated file photo provided by New Mark Communications via the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows Greg Mortenson, founder of the Central Asia Institute, a Montana-based organization which builds schools for girls in remote tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. An investigative report has concluded that Mortenson mismanaged the charity he co-founded to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Montana Attorney General’s office report released today found Mortenson spent Central Asia Institute money on personal items, family vacations and charter flights. (AP Photo/New Mark Communications via the St. Paul Paul Pioneer Press,File)MATT VOLZ, Associated Press
HELENA, Mont. (AP) – “Three Cups of Tea” author Greg Mortenson mismanaged the nonprofit organization he co-founded to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and spent millions of dollars of charity money on charter flights, family vacations and personal items, according to an investigative report released Thursday.
Mortenson’s control of the Central Asia Institute went largely unchallenged by its board of directors, which consisted of himself and two people loyal to him, the report prepared by the Montana Attorney General’s office said. When an employee would question his practices, Mortenson either resisted or ignored the person, the report found.
The result was a lack of financial accountability in which large amounts of cash sent overseas were never accounted for. Itemized expenses listed as program-related were missing supporting receipts and documentation. Employees and family members charged items such as health club dues and gifts to CAI credit cards.
Mortenson himself reaped financial benefits at the expense of the Central Asia Institute, including the free promotion of “Three Cups of Tea” and his later book, “Stones Into Schools,” and the royalties from thousands of copies CAI bought to donate to libraries, schools, churches and military personnel, the report said.