SPOKANE, Wash. – Rick Clark, founder of the nonprofit Giving Back Spokane, has been cleared of embezzlement accusations after a Spokane Police Department (SPD) investigation.
According to an SPD detective assigned to the case, a review of documents and interviews found no evidence of wrongdoing and the case was closed with no charges filed.
The investigation began after the organization’s board of directors filed a police report and posted allegations on social media. Clark said he was blindsided by the claims.
“For 12 weeks I sat in my home and gathered all documentation for the detective,” Clark said. “I fell into a very dark and lonely place.”
Clark said that investigators confirmed donor money was used appropriately. “There will be no charges filed and this case will be closed,” he said.
He also reflected on the role of social media, saying it can help people but “can also destroy lives,” calling the ordeal a wake-up call.
Clark said he plans to continue his community work in a new way and is consulting legal counsel about how to move forward. He thanked supporters and expressed hope for the future of the Giving Back Spokane page.
through a Facebook post from the board of directors, who said they discovered signs of financial impropriety while shutting down the nonprofit and then contacted attorneys and police. The board did not specify who was allegedly involved and multiple members declined to comment further due to legal concerns.
