No Halo News · Sourced development
The Center Square reported Tacoma Urban League ended its CEO's employment amid grant-use allegations
The Center Square reported that Tacoma Urban League had ended its employment relationship with President and CEO Desireé Wilkins Finch nearly a year after placing her on paid administrative leave. The departure occurred amid allegations of improper use of funding, but the board did not publicly identify the reason for the separation or release findings from its independent legal review.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The departure of the chief executive after a lengthy paid leave and unresolved funding allegations raises questions about governance, legal costs, grant stewardship and leadership continuity. The absence of published review findings limits donor visibility.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
The Center Square reported the allegations and confirmed the employment change with Tacoma Urban League Chief Operating Officer Tasha West-Baker. Earlier concerns were attributed to a former volunteer and prior news reporting.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not established that funds were misused, determined why Wilkins Finch's employment ended, reviewed the independent investigation, or confirmed whether any regulator or grantmaker reached a finding against the organization or former CEO.
Right of reply
Organization response
The board previously said it took operational-integrity concerns seriously and had commissioned a confidential, independent legal review. It also said Wilkins Finch's leave was unrelated to the organization's public funding programs or Community Reinvestment Program. The board did not respond to The Center Square before publication; West-Baker confirmed only that Wilkins Finch was no longer employed.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Governance Leadership Change. Current state: Pending. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published October 7, 2026 · Last verified October 8, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.