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.

The first meeting of the NAAG Subcommittee on Charitable Trusts and Solicitations was held in Atlanta, Georgia in January of 1974.  Topics at the conference included regulation of public foundations, the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act, interstate cooperation between state attorneys general, structural aspects state agencies created to regulate charitable foundations, charitable solicitations, intergovernmental cooperation with the IRS and the United States Postal Service, direct mail campaign issues, and percentage limitations on fundraising activities. The organizational meeting of NASCO is held in January in New York City in 1979. To learn about our history click here.