Former head of SLO LGBTQ+ nonprofit charged with embezzlement
The former executive director of San Luis Obispo County’s leading LGBTQ+ organization was officially charged with embezzling organizational funding on Tuesday.
Dusty Colyer-Worth, who served as executive director of the GALA Pride and Diversity Center for two years prior to moving into a part-time role with the nonprofit in June 2024, was charged with four separate grand theft felonies related to embezzlement, according to court documents.
Colyer-Worth committed felony grand theft of more than $950 — a charge that can carry up to three years in prison — against the organization four times between November 2022 and August 2024, according to court filings.
Between June and September 2024, the organization began to encounter “persistent challenges” in accessing essential systems, processes and banking information, hindering its ability to maintain oversight, according to a letter shared with The Tribune last year.
GALA’s board moved to fully cut ties with Colyer-Worth on Sept. 22, 2024, and uncovered evidence of the alleged embezzlement on Oct. 2, 2024, according to the letter.
GALA board president Julia Thompson said it’s currently unknown how much money Colyer-Worth allegedly embezzled, though the nonprofit’s insurance paid out around $45,000 in losses.
“Embezzlement of funds is crime that we take seriously,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in a news release. “It inflicts real financial harm, but its deeper damage is the broken trust and the lost opportunities when the money intended for our community is diverted into private pockets.”
GALA calls executive director’s alleged embezzlement a ‘betrayal’
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.
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.
“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 came just a week after GALA announced it was facing financial struggles after a donor stopped contributing around $60,000 a year.
A complaint against Colyer-Worth was filed by the people of the state of California on Nov. 17, according to court filings.
Colyer-Worth posted a $20,000 bond on Nov. 25, and is not in jail custody.
Colyer-Worth’s arraignment is set for Dec. 10 at 8:30 a.m., according to court filings.
