Legal Question in Administrative Law in Missouri

Organizations that solicit donations- required to disclose financial records or

A state-wide organization has been openly soliciting donations from the general public for a certain political cause that is to be argued within the courts for about three months. My family has made a sizable donation. When we inquired as to the financial records of this organization, we were told that it was none of our business and that just making a donation did not entitle us to know where the money is going. In the time that has passed since our initial questions, members of this group have rabidly attempted to discredit us and in general question *our* honesty and sanity for asking what I see as a simple question.

I was wondering- is an organization required by law to disclose financial records when they ask for donations?


Asked on 2/16/04, 9:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony DeWitt Bartimus, Frickleton Robertson & Gorny, PC

Re: Organizations that solicit donations- required to disclose financial records

You need to see sections 407.020 and 407.453 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Those statutes (available online at: http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/c400-499/4070000453.htm and at http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/c400-499/4070000020.htm) provide the a person who solicits funds for a charitable purpose (defined as purporting to benefit the public at large) may not engage in misrepresentation, fraud, false pretense, etc.

Chapter 407 provides many remedies for defrauded persons.

I hope this helps.

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Answered on 2/16/04, 10:26 am


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