MN Attorney Gen. Lori Swanson
Minnesotans lead the nation in charitable giving, but Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson recommends looking at an organization’s spending before you donate. She says find out what percentage of an organization’s revenue goes to its charitable mission, versus how much is spent on overhead and fundraising. Swanson says there are no laws that regulate how much charities spend on salaries and fundraising, but there’s information for donors on the Minnesota Attorney General’s website. Click on “charities.”