In the past, IRA funds donated this way could not be used for contributions to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations or private non-operating foundations.
Today, operating through various foundations and front companies, the family is also believed to control one of Iran's biggest oil engineering companies, a plant assembling Daewoo automobiles, and Iran's best private airline (though the Rafsanjanis insist they do not own these assets).
As for foundations and operating charities, says Commonfund, they also fared poorly, finishing the 2011 calendar year in slightly negative terriory and lagging the broader stock and bond markets.
She said allergy care had "firm foundations" with more than 90 allergy clinics operating in England and more money was being made available to increase specialist allergy training posts to build on that.