The Office of State Ethics investigated Levinson for using NCC Foundation funds to pay for his wife to join him at three local charitable events for non-college entities and a conference for the American Association of Community College in 2010. According to the state ethics case, Levinson argued he did nothing wrong and that the foundation knew the money was for his wife. According to annual reports, the foundation's payments to cover the $250-per-ticket cost for the Levinsons to attend the Kaleidoscope Ball for Stepping Stones Museum, was credited to the husband and wife and not the foundation.