A Statement from
The Okra Project,
Regarding the Matter of Dominique Morgan
The Okra Project has remained largely silent throughout this legal process out of respect for the integrity of the investigation, the proceedings and for all parties involved. We believe it is now appropriate to share a clear, factual account of the timeline for our community, our donors, and the public record.
July 2022
Concerns regarding financial discrepancies were brought to the attention of organizational staff. Those concerns were immediately referred to The Okra Project's newly retained legal counsel, who reviewed the information and concluded that the matter warranted referral to the appropriate oversight authorities. Legal entities in Atlanta also contacted the organization due to inconsistencies identified in legal documentation.
August 3, 2022
Dominique Morgan's tenure at The Okra Project ended, occurring under the oversight of the organization's newly retained legal counsel.
January 2023
Gabrielle Souza was appointed Executive Director. Under new leadership, The Okra Project immediately pursued and obtained 501(c)(3) status to ensure independent financial oversight and governance. An expanded Board of Directors was established for accountability and transparency.
Also in early 2023, The Okra Project was contacted by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office. Leadership cooperated fully and completely with their investigation, providing access to organizational records, digital accounts, and devices. The investigation, conducted independently and on an impersonal basis by the Brooklyn DA's office, continued through 2023 and into 2024.
October 29, 2024
The Okra Project learned, along with the general public, that Dominique Morgan had been indicted. We were subsequently subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury and continued to cooperate fully with the legal process.
April 29, 2026
Dominique Morgan was remanded and will be formally sentenced on May 28, 2026, following her guilty plea to the charges brought against her by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office. As part of her sentencing, the court has ordered restitution to be paid to The Okra Project.
A Note on Where We Stand Today
Since 2023, The Okra Project has been fully committed to financial transparency and accountability. Our finances are overseen by the IRS through our annual filings, our Board of Directors, our legal team, and our contracted finance and tax compliance team. These structures exist to ensure that every dollar entrusted to us is stewarded with honesty and integrity.
We want our community to understand the full context of the financial challenges we currently face. When we obtained our 501(c)(3) status in 2023, we inherited an organization that had been left without resources following the bankruptcy of our previous fiscal sponsor. We started from the ground up. In December 2025, our donor platform Flipcause also filed for bankruptcy, resulting in the loss of over 600 recurring donors — another significant financial blow.
Despite these compounding challenges, The Okra Project remains committed to our mission and to the community we serve. We are actively rebuilding, and we are not done.
To every person who has supported us through this — thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Your belief in this work means everything.
The Okra Project, Inc. theokraproject.com