The Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation (NEFA Foundation) was a tax exempt,
501(c)(3) organization
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of t ...
, nonprofit, charitable organization engaged in terrorism research and analysis. Although NEFA lists a New York address for its headquarters on its website, the organization's business offices are located in
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
The Foundation was founded after the September 11 attacks. Its stated goal is "to help prevent future tragedies in the U.S. and abroad by exposing those responsible for planning, funding, and executing terrorist activities, with a particular emphasis on Islamic militant organizations." It has worked with the 9/11 victims' families, and is funded by private donations.
Activities
The Foundation conducts research into terrorist activities. It funds extensive field research, and obtains relevant original documents (translated when necessary) and videos. Media such as UPI, ABC, and Fox News have, in turn, used the documents, video, and translations provided by NEFA.
In the
2006 Ontario terrorism plot
The 2006 Ontario terrorism case refers to the plotting of a series of attacks against targets in Southern Ontario, Canada, and the June 2, 2006 counter-terrorism raids in and around the Greater Toronto Area that resulted in the arrest of 14 adu ...
, NEFA posted on its website a video of the accused which got it from a British court that watched it during the trial of a man who has now been convicted of terrorism; Dan Brien of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said, "We were interested to learn of the existence of this video, which we'd never seen before. We would've preferred to learn about it in some manner other than a U.S. website." NEFA also carries interviews with Taliban commanders on its website. It was reported in November 2008 that NEFA was concerned about what it termed "a disturbing pattern of lone-wolf style individuals".
Staff
Michelle T. Hayes is its President and CEO, David Draper is its Director of Strategic Operations, Ronald Sandee (a former Dutch military intelligence officer) is Director of Analysis and Research,
Evan F. Kohlmann
Evan F. Kohlmann (born 1979) is an American terrorism consultant who has worked for the FBI and other governmental organizations.Medical University of South Carolina's Cardiovascular Institute.
Hayes previously worked as the director of development for the Charleston, South Carolina-based Medical University of South Carolina's Cardiovascular Institute.
Draper previously worked as a contractor for the Charleston, South Carolina-based law firm
Motley Rice
Motley Rice LLC is an American plaintiffs' litigation firm headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
History
Motley Rice was formed in 2003 by co- founding members Ron Motley and Joe Rice after the breakup of the law firm Ness, Motley, Lo ...
. Draper is the owner of a Charleston, South Carolina-based company named D2.
Financial reports
According to the IRS Form 990 filed by NEFA for Fiscal Year 2009 (signed by NEFA President Michelle Hayes on November 10, 2010):
NEFA President and Treasurer Michelle T. Hayes received $165,000 in compensation during FY2009.
D2, a company owned by NEFA Director of Strategic Operations David Draper, was paid $405,818 in "consulting fees" during FY2009.NEFA Foundation FY 2009 IRS Form 990 (See Section B and Schedule L, Part IV) GuideStar Retrieved July 21, 2011