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4/25/2011 'Three Cups of Tea' questions remind donors to check up on charities
Sandra Block

MSN |Your Money

Greg Mortenson's inspiring commitment to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan has sold millions of books and inspired thousands of people - including President Obama - to donate to his charity, the Central Asia Institute. Now, though, Mortenson is facing allegations that he fabricated parts of his best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea. Even more troubling, questions have been raised about whether the Central Asia Institute misused donors' contributions.

Donors can be forgiven for feeling confused, since the charity received top marks from Charity Navigator, an online charitable watchdog. But other groups that monitor charities raised concerns about Central Asia Institute's finances long before it was featured on 60 Minutes.

Daniel Borochoff, founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy, says he requested financial information from the Central Asia Institute in 2009 in response to requests from donors. Borochoff was disturbed to discover that the charity didn't have audited financial statements, even though that's a requirement in many states.

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