Over 25,000 nonprofit charitable organizations provide significant benefits to Massachusetts residents as well as people across the country and throughout the world. These organizations operate solely for the benefit of the public, and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) is responsible for protecting the public's interest in their activities.

The AGO's Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division oversees organizations that are both nonprofit and charitable. These range in size and complexity from our largest universities and health care systems to small, neighborhood-based social service organization and youth sport leagues. Civic associations, social clubs and labor unions are examples of organizations that, although nonprofit, are usually operated only for the benefit of their members and are therefore not regulated by the AGO unless they engage in charitable fundraising.

The AGO's oversight authority is primarily exercised by providing the public with information regarding charitable organizations and charitable fundraising. All charitable organizations and charitable solicitations must be registered with the AGO and information periodically submitted to the AGO by these organizations and fundraisers is available for public review. This permits members of the public to better understand how the organizations they support operate and provides an additional check against misuse of charitable funds.

Charitable Organization Complaint Form

The Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division has jurisdiction to investigate complaints that involve 1) misappropriation of charitable funds; 2) fraudulent or misleading solicitation; and 3) breaches of trust. The AGO generally does not become involved in governance disputes within nonprofit organizations.

Charitable Organization Complaint Form (PDF) pdf format of Charitable Organization Complaint Form