Connectinc, a nationally honored nonprofit that shut down earlier this year after its state funding was suspended, mismanaged hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state and the Golden Leaf Foundation, according to recent internal audit performed by the Office of State Budget and Management.
The audit identifies a host of problems with the organization, including not maintaining adequate accounting records and a lack of oversight by the nonprofit's Board of Directors.
The audit says Jackie Savage, Connectinc's former president, inappropriately used $200,000 for personal loans, to pay off the Internal Revenue Service and to decorate her personal residence.
Savage also received $27,800 in unauthorized travel stipend and used teh Connectinc credit card to charge personal transactions, including personal trips, furniture, a vacation rental according the audit.
Two other Connectinc employees are said to have received personal loans as well.
Connectinc, based in Battleboro, 70 miles east of Raleigh, linked the jobless with support services to help them get back on their feet. It was founded in 1999 as a way to support welfare recipients' transition back to the workforce.
