California Governor Gavin Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is facing scrutiny following revelations about her non-profit organization, the Representation Project. Financial documents show she has paid herself $3.7 million over the last decade, raising eyebrows amid her vocal stance on women’s issues. This disparity is more pronounced given that just a month prior, Siebel Newsom criticized the media for supposedly failing to address the “war on women” during her husband’s Planned Parenthood press conference.
The Representation Project, which aims to combat “intersectional gender stereotypes” and “harmful gender norms,” reports an annual income of between $1 million and $1.7 million through grants and donations, according to IRS filings. Alarmingly, nearly a third of this amount has flowed directly into Siebel Newsom’s and her company, Girls Club LLC’s, pockets—totaling approximately $300,000 a year. This strikes a chord with charity watchdogs, who indicate that such exorbitant compensation is out of line. In fact, they point out that both she and her colleagues earn more than 95% of similar-sized charities.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s reported salary of $150,000 from the non-profit is particularly eyebrow-raising. Comparatively, the IRS database indicates that less than 5% of U.S. charities with annual revenues of $1 million to $2 million offer that kind of pay. The average executive at a charity of similar size takes home only about $31,945. Clearly, the financial imbalance is stark. The latest tax filing for the Representation Project reveals it brought in $1,082,077 from donations and grants in the fiscal year ending March 2021, yet nearly $300,000 of that went to Siebel and her business.
Critics have pointed out the troubling trend in Siebel Newsom’s paychecks. In the next accounting year, she raised her compensation to $302,500 from a total revenue of $1,051,939. The most recent fiscal report for March 2024 aims to paint a similar picture, revealing $300,000 from total gross revenue of $1,704,981 for that year. Of that revenue, close to a million was classified as compensation, with just over $153,691 being spent on actual fundraising efforts. This raises serious concerns about the non-profit’s priorities and its ability to deliver on its mission.
As governor, Newsom is required by law to disclose his wife’s income in annual ethics filings. However, records suggest he reported her income from the Representation Project as being between $10,000 and $100,000—a significant underreporting when stacked against the financial reality presented in the charity’s filings.
Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, noted the potential backlash for the Newsoms, particularly as the governor continues to rebrand himself nationally. “The fact that he and his wife put one third of their ‘charity’ revenues into their own pockets will undoubtedly raise red flags in the eyes of middle-class Americans,” she stated, underscoring the perceived disconnect between their messaging and actions.
With critics citing the average executive salary at non-profits, the Newsoms’ financial maneuvers seem out of step with reported values. For those engaged in charitable causes, this instance adds to the ongoing dialogue about accountability, transparency, and the true beneficiaries of non-profit initiatives.
The hardest question remains: can the Newsoms maintain their image as advocates for women amid these revelations about financial self-interest?
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