Former head of SLO County LGBTQ+ nonprofit embezzled funds into personal account, board says
The recently departed executive director of San Luis Obispo County’s most prominent LGBTQ+ nonprofit allegedly embezzled organizational funding into personal accounts, the organization announced Monday.
According to a letter shared with The Tribune from the Gala Pride & Diversity Center Board of Directors, the board found on Oct. 2 that former executive director Dustin Colyer-Worth had diverted organizational funding into his personal bank accounts during his time with the organization.
The board also shared the letter to Gala’s social media accounts Monday.
In the letter, Gala’s board said it was “appalled” by the risk the alleged embezzlement posed to the organization’s services and mission, including advocacy, support groups and family-friendly events.
“This betrayal has been horrifying to uncover, and we are grateful for your understanding as we navigate this difficult time,” the letter read. “We pledge to keep you informed throughout this process, and to bear witness to your grief as you process alongside us. Together we will rebuild and reaffirm our commitment to the community.”
The announcement comes just a week after Gala announced it was facing financial struggles after a donor stopped contributing around $60,000 a year.
“This was absolutely significant enough to be a major factor in our current financial struggles,” current board president Julia Thompson said in an email to The Tribune on Monday. “The full amount that was stolen won’t be known until the completion of the forensic audit that’s underway, but it’s a very large number.”
Colyer-Worth served as executive director for two years before moving to a part-time role with the nonprofit in June, according to the letter.
Between June and September, the organization began to encounter “persistent challenges” in accessing essential systems, processes and banking information, hindering its ability to maintain oversight, according to the letter.
As a result, Gala’s board moved to fully cut ties with Colyer-Worth on Sept. 22 and uncovered evidence of the alleged embezzlement on Oct. 2, according to the letter.
“Beyond being appalled by such behavior, we are deeply saddened to discover that a trusted leader of our organization would betray our LGBTQ+ community and attempt to profit from your generosity to our mission,” the letter read. ”We are committed to addressing this betrayal with transparency and integrity.”
In the letter, the Board of Directors said it was working with local authorities and legal counsel to conduct a full investigation, including a forensic audit, to uncover the extent of Colyer-Worth’s alleged embezzlement.
Gala will hold a Q&A session in coming weeks as part of an effort to rebuild trust, with details to be announced on the nonprofit’s website and social media, the letter said.
“We want to thank you for being a supporter of this organization,” the letter read. “We know that this news may impact your trust in us, and we are committed to rebuilding that trust.”
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on whether an investigation was underway. Colyer-Worth also did not reply to The Tribune’s request for comment at time of publication.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 10:39 AM.
