# Mom’s Charity Trust Disrespected

> Trustee cuts donation to mom’s shelter after board ignored funeral.
- Title: Mom’s Charity Trust Disrespected · Slate Magazine | Shortify
- Summary: Trustee cuts donation to mom’s shelter after board ignored funeral. A family trustee stops funding a charity their mother founded after learning board…
- Keywords: charity, trustee, family shelter, board retreat, donation, funeral, trust fund, charitable giving, Mom, Trust, Disrespected, Slate Magazine
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/09/money-advice-charitable-giving-trust.html?via=rss
- Author: Ilyce Glink
- Published: 2026-09-28T10:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: charity, trustee, family shelter, board retreat, donation, funeral, trust fund, charitable giving
## My mom’s trust
My mom founded a local family shelter where parents could leave bad home situations with children.
## Trustee role
I became the sole trustee after my mom passed away earlier this year.
## Shelter history
My mom was a founding member and long time board member, with a house named after her.
## Funeral neglect
Board members said they couldn’t attend my mom’s funeral because they were at a retreat.
## Budget access
I requested the shelter’s budget and monthly income/expense numbers after my mom’s death.
## Retreats over donations
The shelter prioritized board retreats over donations, despite being a perpetual need charity.
## Trustee decision
I will no longer donate to the shelter this year after learning about their spending.
## Donation impact
The shelter’s board members skipped my mom’s funeral and prioritized retreats over donations.
## Alternative charities
I will support other charities rated by Charity Navigator for accountability and impact.
## Trustee action
I will stop funding the shelter after verifying their spending on retreats instead of donations.
## Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator rates charities based on accountability, impact, leadership, and culture.
## 990 forms
Nonprofits file 990 forms with the IRS for public access through Charity Navigator or ProPublica.
## Key takeaway

A family trustee stops funding a charity their mother founded after learning board members skipped her funeral and prioritized retreats over donations.