Tom Monaghan "gives", but he also "gets", both tangibly and intangibly; he's become quite adept at parlaying the "give" into a "get" (that is not to say that he necessarily gives for the get, but simply that he does derive a benefit, which is indisputable). For example, Monaghan gave to Ave Maria University from his private Foundation; but, unlike other philanthropists, he also got control over that same money as University Chancellor and (former) Board Chairman.

Tom Monaghan is also a 50/50 partner with Barron Collier Companies in the development of Ave Maria Town, Florida. That's a business relationship with the Town. But Monaghan also personally owns a significant portion of prime land in the Town.

Source: Collier County Appraiser's Office
Owner: Thomas S Monaghan TR (Living Trust)
Acres: 74.55
Sale: 11/2004 ($820,000)
Land Value (unimproved) 2006: $1,442,500

Whatever the intended future use of the land, the conflict-of-interest is vividly apparent: As his business dealings with the Town and University improve, so does the appreciation of his personal lot. Further, Monaghan is using his position as Chairman of a wholly separate non-profit in another state (Ave Maria School of Law, Michigan) to transplant that already-successful institution into his real estate development. The presence of the School in Florida will trigger appreciation of the Town/University value, and subsequently, Mr. Monaghan's personal property as well.

AveWatch is not speculating on Mr. Monaghan's motives, nor on his intended use of the land. That is not relevant to the connectedness of the facts at hand - he is leading one entity into an arrangement that not only benefits his other entities, but also his person.

Tom Monaghan is as much a speculating Florida real estate developer as he is a philanthropist.

Tags: conflict-of-interest, accountability