Claim: Gaia Movement USA, an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being, was given a large start up grant by some Gaia Movement USA's directors who served on the board of the Swiss charity and in return pledged to donate a comparable sum to the Swiss Gaia before funding any other environmental projects.
Evidence: The group describes their mission as educational and environmentally-focused; however, charity watchdog groups have challenged the organization's charitable claims, citing a lack of spending on environmental or other programs. Gaia's website stated their mission in March 2016 to be "to educate the general public about the plight of the environment while taking action to protect it". Memos obtained by the Danish police detailed a grant of $60,000 from Tvind, also known as the Teachers Group (TG), to procure metal collection bins and start Gaia Movement USA's operations in Chicago in 2000. The Tribune reports that four of Gaia Movement USA's directors had served on the board of the Swiss charity, which had given Gaia Movement USA a large start-up grant in 1999. In return, Gaia Movement USA pledged to donate a comparable sum to the Swiss Gaia before funding any other environmental projects. Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA, Gaia Movement USA, or simply Gaia, is a charitable organization based in Chicago, Illinois which collects used clothing for resale ("recycling") in the United States and developing countries.