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The Wounded Warrior Project famously fired its CEO and COO after media allegations of inappropriate spending at the charity.  But an internal review at WWP found no widespread misuse of funds.  The question then is, why were they really fired? 

In this episode, we talk to the ousted executives – former WWP CEO Steve Nardizzi and former COO Al Giordano – to get their side of the story.  

Doug White, a non-profit expert and author of a new 79-page investigative report on WWP, is also interviewed. 

The Wounded Warrior Project’s board declined to provide a spokesperson for this podcast, but did release statements in response to some of the comments made by Nardizzi, Giordano, and White.

Here are the WWP’s board’s statements:

• On Doug White’s report generally, which is critical of the board’s response to media reports alleging inappropriate spending by the Wounded Warrior Project
  • WWP Board’s Statement: “Following the CBS and New York Times reports, the Wounded Warrior Project Board immediately commissioned an independent review of WWP’s practices and procedures and quickly announced the findings of that review in a detailed press released on March 10, 2016. Based on the findings of its review and a comprehensive evaluation of the circumstances, the Board lost confidence in the ability of former CEO Steve Nardizzi and former COO Al Giordano to lead the organization because of their conduct and poor judgment. The Board determined the best course of action was to terminate them in order to move the organization forward and restore trust among those who need WWP’s services most. The Board also subsequently implemented multiple substantive changes at WWP to achieve that same goal and tighten its control over costs. Those changes included appointing Lieutenant General Mike Linnington as the organization’s new CEO and added Mr. Ken Fisher and Lieutenant General Richard Tryon to the WWP Board. All of these steps have significantly strengthened WWP.”

• The accusation that WWP suffered a deep drop in fundraising not after the media reports, but after Nardizzi and Giordano were dismissed.
  • WWP Board’s Statement: “Based on figures publicly reported by WWP, the decline in fundraising began immediately after exaggerated media reports and continued to accelerate as concerns sparked by those reports continued to take hold among our donor base.”

• The accusation in White’s report that pressure from top Pentagon officials, including Admiral Mike Mullen, may have contributed to Nardizzi’s and Giordano’s dismissal.
  • WWP Board’s Statement: “The Board made its decision based on the findings from the independent review and the facts available.” 

• Why WWP decided to immediately terminate Nardizzi and Giordano instead of an ordered transition to new leadership.
  • WWP Board’s Statement: “Based on the full findings of the review and a comprehensive evaluation of the circumstances, the Board lost confidence in Steve Nardizzi’s and Al Giordano’s ability to lead the organization because of their conduct and poor judgement. As a result, the Board determined the best course of action was to terminate them immediately in order to move the organization forward and restore trust among those who need WWP’s services most.”

• The accusation that WWP board member Richard Jones had a conflict of interest given his role at CBS, plus his board membership on other charities with antagonistic relationships with WWP.
  • WWP Board’s Statement: “Richard Jones is an experienced director who puts WWP’s well-being and best interests first.”