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Charities on Trial: Do We Need More Regulation?

Given the mismanagement of donated funds, excess compensation and even criminal behavior in some instances, can the nonprofit world effectively regulate itself or is outside intervention required to protect the rights of donors? This critical issue was the topic of "Charities on Trial"—a daylong conference hosted by The Heyman Center at NYU in February—that convened preeminent thought leaders in fundraising and philanthropy.

Spitzer, Aviv make the case for and against regulation

A key highlight of the event, were back-to-back, "point-counterpoint" presentations on the central question of the day:  "Do we need more regulation?" Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer—the country’s top charity fraud activist when New York State’s attorney general from 1998 to 2006—made the case why government is best positioned to protect donors and recipients.  Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector—the nation’s leading organization of nonprofit organizations, foundations, and corporations—argued for more enforcement of government oversight already on the books, but also that the nonprofit sector is special, requiring a nuanced approach including allowance for self regulation.