Ashley Biden’s nonprofit faces IRS scrutiny over $250K donation from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Ashley Biden’s nonprofit faces IRS scrutiny over $250K donation from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's $250K donation to Ashley Biden's wellness center sparked scrutiny (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ashley Biden’s nonprofit organization, Women’s Wellness Spa(ce), is facing an official complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after failing to publicly disclose a $250,000 donation from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation in 2023.

The conservative watchdog group National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) has accused the organization of violating reporting requirements and called for an investigation, according to Daily Mail.

IRS complaint and allegations against Ashley Biden's nonprofit


NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: (L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speak onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival 2023 at Hudson Yards on October 10, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry  speak onstage during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival 2023 at Hudson Yards in New York City (Getty Images)

NLPC’s legal counsel, Paul Kamenar, filed the complaint, stating that the nonprofit’s failure to disclose the donation was a “clear violation” of financial transparency rules.

The donation was listed in Archewell’s 2023 tax filings, where it was identified as the foundation’s largest grant for the year.

However, Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) did not include it in its financial reports, which recorded only $170,296 in total revenue for 2023.

Kamenar’s complaint also questioned Ashley Biden’s reported salary of $12.75 per hour, suggesting that her stated 40-hour workweek might be exaggerated.

He called for a full audit to determine how the $250,000 was spent and whether civil or criminal penalties should be imposed.

Ashley Biden's Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) and its mission

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07:  Dr. Jill Biden, Livelihood founder Ashley Biden and Vice President Joe
Dr Jill Biden, Ashley Biden and former President Joe Biden attend Gilt x Livelihood launch event at Spring Place in New York City (Gary Gershoff/WireImage)

Ashley Biden, the only daughter of former president Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, launched Women’s Wellness Spa(ce) in Philadelphia in 2023.

The center provides trauma-informed wellness services, including guided meditation and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which both Prince Harry and Biden have reportedly used to address personal trauma.

Despite the controversy, the nonprofit has continued its operations, offering services such as access to a Clearlight infrared sauna, which retails for approximately $6,600 per unit, and promoting wellness resources through social media.

Political implications and transparency concerns

The watchdog group raised concerns about the political implications of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s donation, questioning whether it was an attempt to “ingratiate themselves with President Biden and his family.”

The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, has also called for an investigation into the Sussexes’ financial support for Biden’s nonprofit.

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - JUNE 04: Ashley Biden, daughter of U.S. President Joe Biden, arrives to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building during her brother Hunter Biden's trial on June 04, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware. Opening statements begin today in Hunter Biden's trial for felony gun charges. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Ashley Biden arrives to the J Caleb Boggs Federal Building during her brother Hunter Biden's trial on June 4, 2024, in Wilmington, Delaware (Getty Images)

A person familiar with the donation stated that the $250,000 was intended to be distributed over two years, with $150,000 allocated for 2023 and $100,000 for 2024, as per Daily Mail.

They attributed the discrepancy to standard “accounting practices.”

IRS filings are submitted under penalty of perjury, meaning any misrepresentation could lead to legal consequences.

While Kamenar suggested that criminal prosecution is an option, the most likely outcome would involve Ashley Biden refiling tax documents and paying a fine if violations are confirmed.

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