Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

Kindly direct this to Charities Services.

I have a few questions in regards the definition of 'charitable entities' and 'charitable purposes' as understood by Charities Services. In the FY2023 financial statements/audit report for CC51659, the 'Effective Charitable Trust', the following 'charitable entities' are listed as receiving funding.
1) 'Sanford C Bernstein Co LLC': This is a wealth management advisory firm. Is this considered a 'charitable entity' by Charities Services?
2) 'Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund': According to a Ha'aretz investigation in May 2021, titled 'American Jews, Stop Funding Jewish Terrorism', this organization has been used as a conduit to provide funding to 'Israeli' settler terrorist groups which attack the native Palestinian population in Jerusalem and other areas of Palestine. Is this considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?
3) 'Foundation for Defense of Democracies': According to November 2019 reports in Al-Monitor and other newspapers, this anti-Muslim think tank operates, among other things, a lobbying arm directed at the American government. Is subverting the foreign policy of governments with which New Zealand's government has friendly relations considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?
4) 'American Zionist Movement Inc.': this organization provides funding to the 'World Zionist Organization'. According to a March 2015 report by the Jewish Daily Forward, 'Zionist Group’s Vote Could Bare Israel’s Secret Funding of Settlements', the Settlement Division of this organization is "a covert cash box for bankrolling [illegal] settlement activity" by providing loans and other services to illegal settlers in the zionist-occupied West Bank of Palestine. Is funding illegal settlements considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?

Kind regards,
Mohammed Khan

Dear SDO Official Correspondence,

Sorry, I am rather confused as to your response.

Are wealth management advisory firms considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are conduits for terrorist groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are Islamophobic hate groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Is illegally invading Palestinian land considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?

Yours sincerely,
Mohammed Khan