Less than a week after it was reported that Occupy Wall Street was on the hunt for an accountant, the reason has become clear — the protesters are nearly broke.



A protester holds a sign asking for donations for pets at the Occupy Wall Street protest at Zuccotti Park. (Bebeto Matthews/AP)

The Atlantic Wire reported last week that fewer were donating to the group than ever and that Occupy is “hemorrhaging cash.” They had $190,000 last week.

In flusher times, the group was eager to spend money spreading the message. When fewer than 25 protesters set off from New York to march to the District in November, they were given a $3,000 check from Occupy Wall Street for the trek. When 20 Occupiers planned a trip to visit their fellow protesters in Egypt that same month, the group approved a $29,000 budget for the trip. Those kind of projects are unlikely to be financed in future — at least not in the near future.

Occupy Wall Street manages its budget with help from the Alliance for Global Justice, a nonprofit based in the District, according to BuzzFeed. Under the agreement, they do not have to pay taxes, but they do have to file annual reports with the IRS.

Carey earlier told The Wire that Occupy will not actively ask for funds because “there’s a sizable and serious resistance towards going to a traditional form of fundraising.”

Instead, the group relies on voluntary handouts.

Justin Strekal, a member of Occupy’s accounting team, told BuzzFeed that the movement received just $215 in donations Jan. 3, and $320 Jan. 4.

As money and protest activities have dwindled in New York, much of the focused has turned to Occupy DC, which is occupying McPherson Square.

On Tuesday, Occupy protesters gathered on the Mall for a planned Occupy Congress march on Washington.