Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation

The Nine Eleven
Finding Answers Foundation
Abbreviation The NEFA Foundation
Type 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organization
Legal status Foundation
Purpose/focus Terrorism research
and analysis
Headquarters 230 Park Avenue,
Suite 1000, New York, NY
President & CEO Michelle T. Hayes
Website nefafoundation.org

The Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation (NEFA Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organization engaged in terrorism research and analysis.[1][2][3] Although NEFA lists a New York address for its headquarters on its website, according to the Secretary of State of South Carolina the organization’s business offices are located in Charleston, South Carolina.[4]

Contents

Background and goal

The Foundation was founded after the 9/11 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."[5][6][7] It has worked with the 9/11 victims' families, and is funded by private donations.[8]

Activities

The Foundation researches, analyzes, and disseminates information pertaining to past and current terrorist activities, shares certain findings with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community, and works with other research organizations to educate the public on the threat of terrorism. It also funds extensive field research, and obtains relevant original documents (translated when necessary) and videos.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Media such as UPI, ABC, and Fox News have, in turn, used the documents, video, and translations provided by NEFA.[16][17][18][19]

In the 2006 Toronto terrorism case, 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."[20][21] NEFA also carries interviews with Taliban commanders on its website.[22] It was reported in November 2008 that NEFA was concerned about what it termed "a disturbing pattern of lone-wolf style individuals".[23]

Staff

NEFA indicates that it employs experienced multi-lingual investigators, researchers, analysts, and partners in a number of countries with access to a network of sources and information; Michelle T. Hayes is its President and CEO,[24] David Draper is its Director of Strategic Operations,[25] Ronald Sandee (a former Dutch military intelligence officer) is Director of Analysis and Research,[26] Evan F. Kohlmann, is its Senior Investigator.[27]

Founders

NEFA was founded by CEO, President and Treasurer Michelle T. “Mikie” Hayes and Director of Strategic Operations David Draper.[28][29]

Hayes previously worked as the director of development for the Charleston, South Carolina-based Medical University of South Carolina’s Cardiovascular Institute.[30][31]

Draper previously worked as a contractor for the Charleston, South Carolina-based law firm Motley Rice.[32] Draper is the owner of a Charleston, South Carolina-based company named D2.[33][34]

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.[35]

D2, a company owned by NEFA Director of Strategic Operations David Draper, was paid $405,818 in “consulting fees” during FY2009.[36]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Special Reports: FARC international network sophisticated," UPI, September 23, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  2. ^ Rupert, James, and Qayum, Khalid, "Bomb at Danish Embassy in Pakistan Kills Nine People," Bloomberg, June 2, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  3. ^ "Pakistan sets its sights on Taliban sanctuary", China Daily, October 19, 2009, accessed November 23, 2009
  4. ^ South Carolina Secretary of State Charity Report: Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation, Inc Secretary of State of South Carolina Retrieved July 25, 2011
  5. ^ "About Us". The NEFA Foundation. September 11, 2001. http://www1.nefafoundation.org/aboutus.html. Retrieved March 18, 2010. 
  6. ^ Farah, Douglas Fara"U.S. should get serious on Liberia vote," The Providence Journal, October 5, 2005, accessed November 23, 2009
  7. ^ "Bomb at Danish Embassy in Pakistan Kills Nine People (Update2)". Bloomberg.com. June 2, 2008. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a3VW4xnNJeOA. Retrieved March 18, 2010. 
  8. ^ Simpson, Glenn R., "Shopkeeper Yeslam Bin Ladin faces family trouble," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 5, 2006, accessed November 23, 2009
  9. ^ Simpson, Glenn R. (April 5, 2006). "Shopkeeper Yeslam Bin Ladin faces family trouble". Post-gazette.com. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06095/679601-82.stm. Retrieved March 18, 2010. 
  10. ^ Khan, Noor, "Taliban Leader Says Jihad Will Continue," Fox News, May 15, 2007, accessed November 23, 2009
  11. ^ Gardella, Rich, and the NBC News Investigative Unit, "Insurgent groups condemn al-Qaida tactics; Statements are causing a ruckus in jihadi online forums," MSNBC, October 16, 2007, accessed November 23, 2009
  12. ^ Gordon, Meek, "Obama and Hillary good lesson in togetherness, says terror boss," New York Daily News, December 21, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  13. ^ "Video shows terror training camp in Canada", NBC News, September 17, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  14. ^ Ross, Brian, Patel, Avni, and Hughes, Dana, "Somalia: A New al Qaeda Safe Haven?," ABC News, December 1, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  15. ^ Coll, Steve, The Bin Ladens: an Arabian family in the American century, pp. 604, 609, 617, Penguin Group (2008), ISBN 1594201641, 9781594201646
  16. ^ Waterman, Shaun, "Issue of the Day: Bin Laden's message on Palestine resonates," UPI, January 15, 2009, accessed November 23, 2009
  17. ^ "Taliban leader says jihad will continue", PakTribune, May 16, 2007, accessed November 23, 2009
  18. ^ "Bomber's Martyrdom Tape Renews Fears Over Consequences of Closing Gitmo", Fox News, January 27, 2009, accessed November 23, 2009
  19. ^ Duffield, John, and Dombrowki, Peter, Balance Sheet: The Iraq War and U.S. National Security, Stanford University Press (2009), ISBN 0804760136, 9780804760133
  20. ^ "Court here didn't know about terror video; Terror camp footage used in British trial a surprise in Toronto," The Toronto Star, September 20, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  21. ^ "Video evidence from terror trials posted online", CBC News, November 28, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  22. ^ Sassaman, Esther, "Mohammed Atif Siddique: civil rights queries over ‘terrorist’ conviction," Socialist Worker, September 25, 2007, accessed November 23, 2009
  23. ^ McGevena, Allison A., "Somalian Terror Organization Shabaab al Mujahideen Looks to 'Throw the West Into Hell'", Fox News, November 25, 2008, accessed November 23, 2009
  24. ^ South Carolina Secretary of State Charity Report: Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation, Inc Secretary of State of South Carolina Retrieved July 25, 2011
  25. ^ Abrams, Joseph, "Al Qaeda Commander in Saudi Custody May Still Pose Threat From Prison", Fox News, February 18, 2009, accessed November 23, 2009
  26. ^ Whitlock, Craig, "Dozens of Westerners get trained in terrorist camps," The Salt Lake Tribune, October 19, 2009, accessed November 23, 2009
  27. ^ "About Us". The NEFA Foundation. September 11, 2001. http://www.nefafoundation.org/index.cfm?pageID=26. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  28. ^ NEFA works under the radar to interview terrorists, analyze data: Charleston’s Counter-Terrorism Unit Charleston City Paper. February 20, 2008.
  29. ^ NEFA Foundation FY 2009 IRS Form 990 (See Section A, List of Officers) GuideStar Retrieved July 21, 2011
  30. ^ Article published by the Medical University of South Carolina Official Website of MUSC. Retrieved July 21, 2011
  31. ^ Article published by the Medical University of South Carolina (See Photo Caption) Official Website of MUSC. May 7, 2004. Retrieved July 21, 2011
  32. ^ NEFA works under the radar to interview terrorists, analyze data: Charleston’s Counter-Terrorism Unit Charleston City Paper. February 20, 2008.
  33. ^ NEFA Foundation FY 2009 IRS Form 990 (See Section B and Schedule L, Part IV) GuideStar Retrieved July 21, 2011
  34. ^ South Carolina Secretary of State Report: D2, LLC South Carolina Secretary of State. Retrieved July 21, 2011
  35. ^ NEFA Foundation FY 2009 IRS Form 990 (See Section A) GuideStar Retrieved July 21, 2011
  36. ^ NEFA Foundation FY 2009 IRS Form 990 (See Section B and Schedule L, Part IV) GuideStar Retrieved July 21, 2011

External links