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Getting to Know NASCO: State Charity Officials, Your Mission and Your Board. A podcast interview with Yael Fuchs, President of the National Association of State Charity Officials.

The latest episode of the “Governing Health” podcast series features an interview with Yael Fuchs, President of the National Association of State Charity Officials.

Yael’s comments offer a useful platform from which to educate the board and management on the interests, concerns and enforcement priorities of these important state regulators.

The episode explores:

·         The role of NASCO and the value it provides to both not-for-profits and the offices of attorneys general, including recent publications available to help charities self-govern effectively

·         Governance areas of interest for the Charities Bureau of New York, including whistle-blowers, the work of the audit committee and related party transactions

·         Insights and lessons learned from recent enforcement actions that have particular relevance for not-for-profit board members today ·         The roles of state charity officials and board leadership as organizations

Getting to Know NASCO: State Charity Officials, Your Mission and Your Board
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https://www.nasconet.org/2020-nasco-naag-conference/

Additional agenda information is available here, and registration will be open the week of October 26.

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West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urged consumers to use caution in giving to charities in the wake of Hurricane Laura.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urged consumers to use caution in giving to charities in the wake of Hurricane Laura.

“The damage brought by Hurricane Laura to the Gulf Coast is heartbreaking,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “West Virginians are generous people. I encourage those who wish to contribute to disaster relief to do so, but give wisely so that your generosity helps those in need.”

Because criminals will fraudulently solicit charitable donations, those who want to give to a charity or organization should confirm it is registered with the proper state government office. People can access that information through the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office or by contacting state officials in Louisiana and Texas. 

Consumers also can research charities online via www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org.

Additional tips to keep in mind when giving to disaster relief organizations: 

  • Never feel pressured to donate immediately.
  • Be suspicious of charities that ask for donations in cash, gift cards or via wire transfer.
  • Consider paying by credit card, which is the safest option for security and tax purposes.
  • Ask how much of an individual donation directly supports hurricane relief.
  • If the charity is unfamiliar, gather as much information as possible about the organization.
  • Never rely on a group’s sympathetic sounding name or its similarity to a well-known, reputable entity.
  • Be wary of unsolicited calls that thank you for donations that you do not recall making.
  • Verify any local chapter is authorized to solicit funds on behalf of its parent organization.
  • Go directly to a charity or organization’s website instead of clicking on a link to the desired group.
  • Any online contribution website should start with https://. The “s” verifies a secure connection, making it less likely for personal information to be stolen.
  • Be wary of any charity refusing to detail its mission, use of donations or proof of tax deductibility.
  • Keep records, including a letter confirming the charitable status of the organization, for contributions in excess of $250.

Any West Virginian solicited to donate to a charity they think may be fraudulent can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808, the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239 or visit the office online at www.wvago.gov.

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District of Columbia AG files lawsuit against the NRA Foundation and the NRA for misuse of charitable funds

District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine filed a lawsuit against the NRA Foundation and the National Rifle Association (NRA) for misusing charitable funds to support wasteful spending by the NRA and its executives. The lawsuit alleges that the NRA Foundation violated District laws by allowing charitable funds to be used for noncharitable purposes, failing to operate independently, and placing the NRA’s interests ahead of its own charitable purposes. OAG also alleges that the Foundation’s Board of Directors was controlled by the NRA and allowed the NRA to exploit it through risky multi-million-dollar loans—including a $5 million loan that the NRA has never repaid. Additionally, the Foundation allegedly agreed to pay the NRA millions of dollars in fees without documentation of the work the NRA was performing or how it supported the Foundation’s charitable purposes. With this lawsuit, OAG is seeking to return the charitable funds improperly wasted on the NRA to the Foundation and a court order imposing changes to the Foundation to ensure it is operated independently and fulfills its charitable purposes.

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California AG announces settlement with Verity and Prime

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a settlement with Verity Health System of California, Inc. (Verity) and Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. (Prime), putting in place additional conditions on Verity’s sale of St. Francis Medical Center in Los Angeles County to Prime. The settlement requires Prime to provide funding for charity care and community benefit services in the communities surrounding St. Francis over the next six fiscal years. Over the course of the six fiscal years of the deal, the settlement requires Prime to provide $9.35 million per year in charity care, and approximately $1.6 million per year in community benefit services. Under California law any proposed sale of a non-profit health facility to a for-profit corporation must secure the approval of the state Attorney General.