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The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) is an association of state offices (attorneys general, secretaries of state and other offices) charged with the regulation and oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitation in the United States.  NASCO provides a forum for states to share information and collaborate on matters of common interest related to charities oversight. NASCO also strives to provide a unified voice for state regulators to communicate with other regulatory and legislative agencies, the not-for-profit sector and its professional advisors.  On a day-to-day level, we are a group of public servants committed to ensuring the integrity of the not-for-profit sector.

The requirements and procedures for forming charitable organizations differ from state to state, as do registration and filing requirements. Please consult the resources listed on this website for links to both national and state-specific information.

NASCO does not provide legal advice. We encourage you to consult your own legal counsel.

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NASCO does not express a view as to the accuracy of the matters, nor as to the position expounded by the authors of the hyperlinked materials.

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KARIN KUNSTLER-GOLDMAN RECEIVES INAUGUARAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FROM NASCO

The NASCO Board of Directors is pleased to announce the creation of the Karin Kunstler-Goldman Award for Excellence in the field of charity oversight and regulation. The inaugural “KKG Award” was presented to its namesake, Karin Kunstler-Goldman, on October 8, 2024, at the NAAG/NASCO Annual Charity Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. About Karin Kunstler-Goldman Karin Kunstler …

Continue reading “KARIN KUNSTLER-GOLDMAN RECEIVES INAUGUARAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FROM NASCO”

Resources

50 State Crowdfunding Survey: A report of the results from NASCO’s 50 state survey on regulation of crowdfunding activities.

Federal Government Resources: Information on charitable giving and regulation from the Federal Trade Commission and the Internal Revenue Service.

State Government Resources: Links and contact information for state charity regulators and state agencies that provide consumer protection.

Not For Profit Resources: Links to a variety of national associations and councils that provide information and guidance to nonprofits and donors.

Online Giving Portals: Links to Federal Trade Commission guidance on online giving portals.

Guidebooks and Publications: Guidebooks with information about regulatory compliance, theft avoidance, and best practices for charities and donors.

Current Developments in Regulation and Enforcement: A resource document compiled for the Georgetown CLE Conference – Representing and Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations.

FTC/NASCO Give & Take: Consumers, Contributions, and Charity: Event materials from the FTC/NASCO conference focusing on consumer protection concerns in the nonprofit sector, including available data on donor expectations and perceptions, deceptive fundraising practices, the regulatory and enforcement environment, and new charitable giving options.

Charleston Principles: Guidelines on charitable solicitations using the internet. These guidelines were approved by the NASCO Board as advisory guidelines on March 14, 2001.

Statewide Resources: Resources for charity professionals in the the public and private sector

NASCO State Charities Registration Survey: Updated State Charity Registration Provisions Survey for 2021