Charitable Law

The Charitable Law Section is committed to honoring the important role of non-profits in Ohio. Oversight is critical: One of the section's most important tasks is to make sure that funds are used for charitable purposes, not private interests. This duty, rooted in common law and reinforced through many statutory provisions, is one of the Attorney General’s oldest responsibilities.

A registration process requiring annual reports from charitable organizations and a system that tracks the activities and campaigns of professional solicitors provides tools for regulating charities. Additional responsibilities include licensing non-profit organizations that raise money through bingo and enforcing regulations related to charitable gaming. The section also reviews non-profit transactions and is a required party in many probate actions involving charitable bequests.

The section investigates charities, sometimes in partnership with local law enforcement, and represents the Attorney General in civil litigation to recover funds that should have been spent on charitable purposes or to stop individuals from fraudulently collecting money from the public.

The section trains non-profit leaders in spotting or preventing problems so they can focus on the charitable activities that strengthen our communities.

The Charitable Law Section also provides counsel for the Ohio Racing Commission and represents the Ohio Liquor Control Commission in administrative hearings and appellate matters involving alleged violations of the state's liquor laws.

The Charitable Law Section can be reached at 800-282-0515.