Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Information for Charities and Nonprofits
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Minnesota Attorney General - Charities Division 
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federal trade commission (FTC)
600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington  DC 20580

Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

TTY: 1-866-653-4261

Website: www.ftc.gov

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices. If you’re a consumer or a businessperson, it’s important to know where your donation dollars end up. Ask questions about the nature and activities of the organization to which you’re considering donating. That’s the only way you can be sure the money you contribute will support a worthwhile cause. And if you work for a nonprofit organization, you need to know what are acceptable solicitation practices.

Selected Highlights of Useful Resources

FTC Charity Checklist

FTC Warns Consumers about Potential Charity Scams
Charitable Donations: Give or Take?
Public Safety Fund-Raising Appeals: Make Your Donations Count

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Tax Information for Charities and Nonprofits

PO Box 192

Covington  KY 41012-1092

Live telephone assistance: 1-800-829-1040

For forms delivered via mail: 1-800-829-3676
Website: www.irs.gov/charities/index.html

Selected Highlights of Useful Resources

Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations 

This document is in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

e-file for Charities and Nonprofits Now Available
Publication 78, Cumulative List of Organization to Which Contributions AreDeductible

FAQs Regarding the Exempt Organization Public Disclosure Requirements
FAQs Regarding Operating as an Exempt Organization
FAQs Regarding General Issues of InterestFAQs Regarding Annual Reporting Requirements

Charitable Giving Problems and Best Practices

Website: www.ag.state.mn.us/charities/

The government agency in Minnesota responsible for regulating, enforcing, andsupervising charitable organizations  is the Attorney General's Charities Division office.

Selected Highlights of Useful Resources
Charities Search
Charitable Giving 
Charitable Organization Registration Statement Live Form Version 

This document is in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

Charitable Organization Annual Report Form Live Form Version

This document is in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

A Guide to Minnesota's Charities Laws

This document is in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) is a forum for the exchange of views and experiences relating to charitable trust and charitable solicitation issues.

Website: www.finance.senate.gov

Selected Highlights of Useful Resources
Charity Oversight and Reform: Keeping Bad Things from Happening to Good Charities (June 22, 2004)
Tax Exempt Governance Proposals: Staff Discussion Draft
This document is in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.  To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence

Public Accountability

Volunteers, board members, employees and donors voluntarily become involved with a private nonprofit corporation because of its public benefit mission. Therefore, a nonprofit is transparent and makes information about its mission, program activities, and finances available to its constituencies. A nonprofit is accessible and responsive to public inquiry and reaches out to interested parties.

Related Practices