By: Meghan Stoppel

On Wednesday, October 12, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) opened their 2022 annual conference in Denver, Colorado. The three day event was held in person for the first time since 2019, and boasted over 200 in-person and virtual attendees from across the country, convening to discuss a variety of topics relevant to regulators and the nonprofit sector. The first day of the event was open to the public and included a series of panels on subjects ranging from emerging trends in charitable giving, recent enforcement actions brought by the states, and challenges confronting both regulators and nonprofits in the face of technological innovation. Regulators from various state attorneys general and secretary of state offices identified emerging policy and regulatory trends throughout the course of the day, including regulators’ continued focus on charitable fundraising platforms, increasing attention to nonprofits providing healthcare services, and policymakers’ interest in the privacy protections afforded to donor data. As demonstrated by the partnership between NAAG and NASCO in organizing this annual event, regulators reminded the audience that collaboration between state, local and federal law enforcement agencies remains critical to performing their work and ensuring confidence in the nonprofit sector. Not surprisingly for an industry that often relies on volunteer board members and the goodwill of donors, several speakers acknowledged the importance of regulators striking the appropriate balance between enforcement and education in this sector.