Evidence Flowchart: EPCF Concentration of Power → DOJ Evidence → Structural Analysis
While El Paso's nonprofit media appear to operate legitimately, there's a concerning concentration of power: one foundation (EPCF) controls funding for both major nonprofit news organizations while also being involved in development projects and holding $2.2M to distribute to future journalism.
The investigation was prompted by communications released through DOJ proceedings, showing discussions between Steve Bannon and an associate about structuring media organizations as NGOs to obtain legal protections.
The communications reference a specific organizational model. Here's what it provides:
Tax-exempt status allows organizations to receive unlimited donations without paying taxes on that income
Journalists have legal protections to refuse to reveal confidential sources in many jurisdictions
Nonprofits can accept anonymous donations, though some voluntarily disclose major donors
Can potentially avoid FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) requirements if structured as media/journalism
Foundation can act as fiscal sponsor, controlling multiple media organizations through one entity
Can receive grants from foundations, corporations, governments with fewer disclosure requirements than for-profit media
Both El Paso Matters and Puente News Collaborative utilize the exact organizational structure discussed in the DOJ communications:
El Paso Matters: Founded 2020, registered 501(c)(3), supporting organization of EPCF
Puente News Collaborative: Founded 2021, registered 501(c)(3), supporting organization of EPCF
Both organizations operate as journalistic entities with full source protection privileges under press freedom laws
Both organizations use El Paso Community Foundation as their fiscal sponsor, meaning EPCF:
Both receive funding from major national foundations (MacArthur, Ford, Microsoft) rather than traditional advertising/subscription revenue
While no direct Bill Gates Foundation funding to El Paso organizations was found, significant indirect connections exist through the same philanthropic ecosystem:
KTEP El Paso is NPR affiliate and Puente partner
Gave grants to El Paso Matters; two NYT columnists work here without disclosing Gates funding
Owns El Paso Times, a key Puente News Collaborative partner
For "education reform" coverage; Gates is major charter school proponent
Editor Sarah Boseley avoids covering Gates due to funding relationship
International media training and content creation
Direct grant for border journalism
Direct grant for binational reporting
To establish fund for future journalism grants
To create local Press Forward chapter
A pattern emerges when examining the Rockefeller Foundation's activities in El Paso:
El Paso Selected: December 2013 (first cohort)
Program Budget: $164 million globally
Total Impact: $3.35 billion catalyzed for "resilience projects"
Rockefeller Foundation also funds:
El Paso Matters covers local power brokers who are major political donors and developers:
Net Worth: $1.7B+ (Western Refining sale: $5.8B)
Holdings: 13+ downtown properties, $75M in city incentives
Positions: Former UT System Regent Chairman, UTIMCO Chairman, WestStar Bank Board
Company: Hunt Companies, 30+ RAD developments ($1.3B program)
Positions: Former UT System Regent, UTIMCO Chairman, WestStar Bank Board
Political Donations: $5K to sheriff candidate, $2.5K to DA candidate (covered by El Paso Matters)
El Paso Matters has reported on:
Date: June 2024
Organization: La Verdad Juárez (Ciudad Juárez independent news outlet)
Partnership: Founding member of Puente News Collaborative (2021-2024)
"The project was no longer in the hands of those of us who do journalism, of the partners who created and worked on the initiative since 2021."
Their Concern: After El Paso Community Foundation took over administration from Microsoft, La Verdad claimed:
La Verdad stated: "We privilege our journalistic independence and editorial freedom above any other interest."
1. DOJ Evidence: Communications discuss using NGO media structures to obtain legal protections ("umbrella exemption," "source privilege")
2. Structural Match: El Paso's nonprofit media organizations use the identical structure - 501(c)(3) status, fiscal sponsorship model, foundation funding, source protection
3. Concentration of Power: One foundation (EPCF) controls both major nonprofit news organizations through fiscal sponsorship while also managing development projects
4. Circular Validation: The same foundations (Rockefeller, etc.) fund both urban development programs AND media outlets covering those programs
5. Indirect Billionaire Funding: While no direct Gates funding found, significant indirect connections exist through Solutions Journalism Network, NPR, Gannett, and other Gates-funded media partners
6. Editorial Independence Red Flag: La Verdad Juárez left partnership citing loss of editorial independence after EPCF takeover
7. Local Coverage Conflicts: EPCF-funded media covers local power brokers (Foster, Hunt) who are major political donors and operate within same foundation-funded development programs
The structure is not evidence of wrongdoing.
But it is evidence of something that should be investigated.
"If there were money in telling the truth, I'd be rich. Unfortunately, money interests make it nearly impossible to survive as an ethical journalist."
This investigation took hundreds of hours of research, document review, and analysis. Unlike the organizations documented here, I don't receive funding from billionaire foundations, corporate sponsors, or political interests.
That's precisely what makes this work possible — and necessary.
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No billionaire foundations. No corporate sponsors. No conflicts of interest.
Just one journalist asking questions that need answers.