The leader of a Fresno nonprofit said his one-time compensation of $894,409 is justified, even though the organization posted a $1.1 million loss.

Terance Frazier earned the compensation as president of the Central Valley Community Sports Foundation — the nonprofit that operates the Granite Park Sports Complex, Gateway Ice Center, and the Fresno Monsters ice hockey team —in 2023, according to IRS records.

In 2021 and 2022, the CVCSF board paid Frazier $120,016. He received no compensation 2015 through 2020.

The 2023 IRS tax return — Form 990, for nonprofits that are publicly available on the ProPublica website — also reported CVCSF operated at a loss of $1.1 million in 2023. That was more than double the reported loss of $510,840 in 2022.

He explained the compensation jump was for one year only.

“For six years, I received nothing, zero,” Frazier said. “In 2021 … the board made a decision that they were going to back pay me for those five years that I didn’t receive any compensation.”

The back pay consisted of $40,000 from the three entities for six years. His base compensation increased to $175,000 in 2023, the amount he said he was paid in 2024.

“To pay someone $50,000 a year to get their name tarnished and all the programs I run to keep all those kids safe? … That’s pretty cheap,” Frazier said.

Frazier said he was not paid the first six years because “there was no money there to pay.”

Five other members of the eight-member board and officers received compensation. Executive Director Jeff Blair received $65,800. Others paid include JP Gentry, Aurelia Corona, and Frazier’s daughters Madeline and Alyssa Frazier. Members Dalene Anderson and Tamara Ramos were not paid in 2023.

Terance Frazier said neither of his daughters voted on the compensation.

After this story first published, Madeline and Alyssa Frazier texted GV Wire through their father, to clarify that their compensation was for working wages at the sports complex, not for work on the board.

Expenses Exceeded Revenues in 2023

CVCSF posted $2.92 million in revenue with $4.18 million in expenses for 2023, ProPublica reported.

“If the nonprofit is bringing in close to $3 million a year, and your CEO, your president is only getting $50,000 per company? Come on,” Frazier said.

Frazier said his compensation of $120,000 was 4% of revenue.

“It’s still a loss. You still got to pay your people. I’m the same as a salaried employee. You still got to pay me. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, we’re going to give you five years of slavery and don’t pay someone.’ You still have to pay people for their services,” Frazier said.

Frazier said none of his compensation was paid with public funds. The 30-year lease with the city to operate Granite Park, signed in 2015, called for a $150,000 subsidy. He said the city has not paid the subsidy this year.

City Attorney Andrew Janz confirmed the city cancelled the contract in January. Frazier said he loaned his foundation the money to make up the deficit.

Battles with the City

Twice this year, the city attempted to evict CVCSF, claiming a breach of contract for failure to pay rent, among other allegations. CVCSF thwarted the first attempt through a technicality, and the city dropped the lawsuit after CVCSF’s lender filed to intervene.

Frazier has been publicly criticizing the city for a lack of support, claiming it violated the lease.

“How much money has Central Valley Community Sports Foundation saved the city of Fresno by keeping their park open? The city of Fresno spends almost a $1 million a year on parks, and go look around at the parks. They’re terrible. We have saved the city of Fresno way more money than they ever can say that we hurt them,” Frazier said.

The city declined to respond.

The city claimed Frazier stopped paying his annual $62,500 rent (with yearly increases), and failed to share in revenues from a digital billboard on the property. Frazier said the lease allows for the millions he invested in the park to offset any rent.

“The city is getting one hell of a deal,” Frazier said.

Frazier is also suing the city in federal court for civil rights violations. The case, first filed in 2020, has been delayed several times. The next court date is in August.