The form, Verification of Registration with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, is no longer available. Instead, charities and donors can use this page and search for a charity. The resulting information will indicate whether the organization is registered and current and can be printed as verification of registration.
Learning about an organization and its activities can help donors make wise giving decisions. In addition to checking whether an organization is current with its registration requirements with the Ohio Attorney General’s office, other good sources of information include:
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The IRS’s Exempt Organizations Selection Check can be used to verify if an organization has a valid 501(c)(3) or other tax-exempt designation. The IRS also lists organizations that have had their tax exempt status revoked.
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Private watchdog organizations often review data and reports on organizations and may grade them based on various spending standards and other procedures. Some of those groups are CharityWatch, Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. Your local Better Business Bureau may also be a resource and can be identified through the Wise Giving Alliance link above.
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The organization’s IRS Form 990 return can be viewed on Guidestar. A free registration process is required to access the reports. The 990 will include information on how the group raises and uses its funds, and other operational details about the group. Important details to pay attention to include what percent of expenditures are used on program expenses rather than management and fundraising expenses. Descriptions of programs and expenses are often revealing, as well as reported information about travel and compensation levels. Self-dealing transactions between the charity and one or more of its directors should also be examined.
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Internet searches can often reveal useful information about accomplishments of the organization, or information about questionable activities.
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The organization’s written and web-based materials can also be an important source of information.
If you need additional information about a charity or want to file a complaint about a questionable organization, call the Attorney General’s office at 1-800-282-0515 or file a complaint online at
https://coin.ag.state.oh.us