🚨 INVESTIGATION: MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION IN REPORTED GRANTS TO NONPROFIT CO-FOUNDED BY TENNESSEE REP. JUSTIN PEARSON. WHERE ARE THE FINANCIAL RECORDS? MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE | October 23, 2026 A nonprofit connected to Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson and led by his brother, KeShaun Pearson, is raising important questions about financial transparency, public disclosure, and accountability. The organization is Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP), a Memphis-based environmental advocacy group operating under EIN 86-2855703. A review of nonprofit funding databases identifies substantial charitable grants associated with MCAP. But here's what deserves attention: On the public pages examined at MCAP's official website, we could not locate annual financial statements, downloadable IRS Form 990 returns, a breakdown of organizational spending, or a complete accounting of its revenue and expenses. Meanwhile, Cause IQ lists the organization's most recent tax filings as "Unknown." Its profile also states that total revenue, total expenses, and total assets are unavailable. FOLLOW THE MONEY Grant information compiled from nonprofit databases identifies the following reported funding: $370,000 - Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (2023) $200,000 - Tides Foundation (2022) $170,650 - The Partnership Project (2023) $165,000 - Equation Campaign and Global Climate Legal Defense (2025) $150,000 - Community Foundation of Greater Memphis (2022 and 2023 combined) $90,000 - The Solutions Project (2022–2024 combined) $50,000 - Amalgamated Charitable Foundation (2023) $25,000 - Patagonia (2025) $25,000 - Emsa Fund (2023) $18,000 - Union of Concerned Scientists (2024) TOTAL REPORTED GRANT VALUE: $1,263,650. These are grant amounts reported by external databases over several years. They are not a verified statement of MCAP's cash receipts, spending, or current bank balance. That distinction makes access to the organization's own financial filings all the more important. WHAT DOES FEDERAL LAW REQUIRE? Under Internal Revenue Code Section 6104, tax-exempt organizations generally must make applicable annual information returns, including Forms 990 and 990-EZ, available for public inspection. The IRS generally requires these returns to remain available during a three-year disclosure period. Importantly, federal law does not require every charity to publish its returns directly on its website. Smaller organizations may also qualify to file a Form 990-N electronic notice instead of a full financial return. But if MCAP has filed returns subject to public inspection, the public is entitled to access those records through the applicable disclosure procedures. The central questions are straightforward: 1. Where are MCAP's applicable IRS filings for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025? 2. How much funding did the nonprofit actually receive in each year? 3. How much went directly toward environmental programs and community services? 4. How much was spent on salaries, consultants, administration, travel, and fundraising? 5. Did Justin Pearson, KeShaun Pearson, or any related parties receive compensation, consulting payments, or expense reimbursements? 6. Who sits on the organization's board, and what financial oversight procedures are in place? These are questions, not findings of improper payments. THE PEARSON CONNECTION Justin Pearson helped found the environmental campaign that evolved into MCAP, while his brother, KeShaun Pearson, has been identified as the organization's executive director. Their involvement makes questions about leadership, governance, and financial disclosure directly relevant. It does not, by itself, establish financial misconduct or improper use of nonprofit funds. A PUBLIC DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY Memphis Community Against Pollution should clarify its annual filing history and make all records subject to mandatory public disclosure readily accessible. It should also consider voluntarily publishing annual financial summaries detailing total income, major expenditures, program spending, administrative costs, and governance. If the organization has received more than $1.2 million in reported grants over several years, a clear financial accounting would allow the public to understand how that support translated into environmental programs and results. There may be legitimate explanations for why complete financial information is not immediately visible in public databases. The records themselves would help resolve those questions. This investigation is not proof of fraud, missing funds, or a violation of federal disclosure law. It is a documented request for answers about substantial nonprofit funding and publicly accessible financial information. The request to MCAP's leadership is simple: Publish the applicable financial records. Explain the revenue and expenses. Identify the people responsible for financial oversight. Give Memphis residents and donors the information needed to evaluate the organization's stewardship. Transparency should not depend on whether a nonprofit has connections to an elected official. It should be expected of charitable organizations regardless of political affiliation. Sources supporting the investigation The reported $1,263,650 figure comes from a Candid-derived grant compilation published by InfluenceWatch, which has a conservative editorial perspective. The individual grant figures should be checked against original donor filings before being treated as a definitive accounting. [influencewatch.org/non-profi…] Additional sources independently establish MCAP's nonprofit profile, its website content, the Pearson connections, and the relevant IRS disclosure requirements. (1) [irs.gov/charities-non-profit…] (2) [memphiscap.org/aboutmcap] (3) [causeiq.com/organizations/me…] Direct research links: - Cause IQ: MCAP nonprofit financial profile [causeiq.com/organizations/me…] - Grant history: 13 reported grants [influencewatch.org/non-profi…] - IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search [apps.irs.gov/app/eos/] - MCAP official website [memphiscap.org/] - IRS: Section 6104 disclosure requirements [irs.gov/charities-non-profit…] Important publishing distinction: The available evidence supports demanding financial transparency. It does not establish that MCAP has refused a records request or violated Section 6104. An actual request and the organization's response would be especially valuable evidence for a follow-up investigation. #Memphis #Tennessee #JustinPearson #NonprofitTransparency #FollowTheMoney #IRS990 #Accountability @JudgeJoeBrownTV @elonmusk @AsraNomani @WaysandMeansGOP @StephenM @JesseBWatters @marklevinshow @Mighty990KWAM @FoxNews @MegynKellyShow @MemphoNewsLady @MerryIsBack @Milajoy @F_ingMemphis @901Mempho @BrentTaylorTN @GovBillLee @EricLDaugh @Jerri_M_Green