23 Nonprofits Accused In $250M 'Feeding Our Future' Scheme: List

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday filed civil lawsuits seeking to shut down 23 nonprofits accused in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

The scheme defrauded the federal government out of funds intended to feed kids during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to prosecutors.

The nonprofits Ellison wants dissolved were primarily acting as fraudulent "sites" tasked with providing meals to children in need, his office said. The cost of the meals could be reimbursed by the federal government.

The nonprofits now being sued were all created or revived around the start of the pandemic to capitalize on the Federal Child Nutrition Program, authorities said. A majority of the entities were run by people who are now under federal indictment.

Ellison said he has grounds to shut down the nonprofits because:

• The sites did not appear to have legitimate nonprofit activities
• Some nonprofits listed locations that were abandoned or were listed with false addresses
• The nonprofits failed to comply with state and federal reporting requirements
• They also failed to comply with the Attorney General’s investigation

"Nonprofits are supposed to benefit the public — not defraud it," Ellison said in a statement.

"Most nonprofits work hard and do good work to help the people of Minnesota — but not these sham organizations. I am seeking to permanently shut down these sham nonprofits so they can’t be revived to defraud the public again."

The complaints were filed in the counties of Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Stearns, and Rice. However, Ellison plans to file a motion to consolidate them all in Hennepin County, where 16 of the 23 nonprofits were based.

The nonprofit defendants are:

• Academy for Youth Excellence
• Advanced Youth Athletic Development
• African Chamber of Commerce Education
• Bet On Better Future
• Community Enhancement Services Inc.
• Gedo Community Services
• Hobyo Health Care Foundation
• Hope Academy for Youth & Women Empowerment
• Minnesota African Chamber of Commerce
• Minnesota’s Somali Community
• Multiple Community Services, MCS
• Optimum Community Services
• Serving Younger Generation
• Somali American Faribault Education
• South West Metro Youth
• Stigma-Free International
• The Free Minded Institute
• United Enrichment with Heart
• Unity Social Service
• Urban Advantage Services
• Xogmaal Media Group and Xogmaal Services
• Youth Higher Educational Achievement
• Youth Inventor’s Lab

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article was updated for clarity.