Massive Fraud Judgment Against Former Pope Foundation Head

David Pope ordered to pay $138 million for misusing funds from his family's charitable organization

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A New York state judge has ordered David Pope, the former president and CEO of the Generoso Pope Foundation, to pay $138 million in damages for misusing millions of dollars from the family's charitable organization. The judgment includes $82 million in improper uses of foundation funds as well as an additional $52 million in punitive damages for Pope's "willful, wanton, and reckless" conduct. The case was brought by Pope's own family members, Marie-Therese and Ted Pope, who accused him of diverting foundation money to organizations with which he had personal and financial ties, as well as excessively compensating himself and his family members.

Why it matters

The Pope Foundation has been a major philanthropic force in Westchester County for decades, providing millions in funding to local hospitals, universities, museums, and other institutions. The scale of the fraud uncovered in this case represents one of the largest charity scandals in New York history and raises serious questions about oversight and accountability within the nonprofit sector.

The details

According to the court complaint, after David Pope took over as president and CEO of the Pope Foundation in 2006 following the death of his grandfather, he began systematically diverting foundation funds to organizations in which he and his family had personal and financial interests. This included over $780,000 in grants to the Tuckahoe school district and sports teams his children participated in, as well as over $1 million to Fairfield University, which his children attended. Pope also funneled large sums to the Westchester Italian Cultural Center, where he received compensation as a director. At the same time, Pope dramatically increased his own salary from the foundation, taking home over $2.3 million between 2005 and 2019, much of which was deemed unjustified and excessive. Under Pope's leadership, the foundation's assets plummeted from $32 million in 2006 to just $4 million in 2019.

  • In 2006, David Pope took over as president and CEO of the Pope Foundation following the death of his grandfather.
  • Between 2009 and 2018, the foundation granted nearly $780,000 to the Tuckahoe school district and sports teams that Pope's children participated in.
  • From 2005 to 2019, the foundation paid Pope over $2.3 million in salary, which was deemed excessive.
  • In 2019, the foundation's assets had declined to just $4 million, down from $32 million in 2006.

The players

David Pope

The former president and CEO of the Generoso Pope Foundation, who was found to have misused millions of dollars from the family's charitable organization for his own personal and financial benefit.

Marie-Therese Pope

The great-granddaughter of Generoso Pope, the founder of the Pope Foundation, and a member of the foundation who filed the lawsuit against David Pope.

Ted Pope

The great-grandson of Generoso Pope and a member of the Pope Foundation who filed the lawsuit against David Pope.

Generoso Pope

The Italian immigrant who founded the Generoso Pope Foundation in 1950 with the mission of supporting educational, health, cultural, human service, and civic institutions in Westchester County.

Judge Charlie Wood

The New York State Supreme Court judge who issued the $138 million judgment against David Pope.

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What they’re saying

“Seventy-five years ago, Generoso Pope, an Italian immigrant who became a millionaire working in the New York sand and gravel business, and who owned Italian-American newspapers, including Il Progresso and a radio station, established the Generoso Pope Foundation, a charitable organization with the mission to respond to requests for funding from educational, health, cultural, human service, and civic institutions.”

— Marie-Therese Pope, Great-granddaughter of Generoso Pope and member of the Pope Foundation (Complaint filed in court)

“Defendant Pope's wrongdoing can be divided into no less than five categories: Diverting substantial Foundation funds to organizations in which Defendant Pope had a financial, personal, professional, and/or other interest; Funneling significant amounts to other non-profit organizations, including the Defendant Westchester Italian Cultural Center, from which Defendant Pope, in return, received significant payments and/or other benefits; Orchestrating and accepting excessive compensation for himself, far above the value of his services; Placing his wife and two sons on the Foundation's payroll for little to no work; and Looting the Foundation and failing to properly manage the Foundation's assets, contributing to a tremendous decline of assets from $32 million in 2006 to approximately $4 million in 2019 and, upon information and belief, even less today.”

— Marie-Therese Pope, Great-granddaughter of Generoso Pope and member of the Pope Foundation (Complaint filed in court)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow David Pope to remain out on bail during the appeals process.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for strong oversight and accountability measures within the nonprofit sector, especially for large family foundations that wield significant influence and resources in their local communities. The massive scale of the fraud perpetrated by David Pope against his own family's charitable organization is a sobering reminder that even the most venerable institutions are vulnerable to mismanagement and self-dealing if proper controls are not in place.