Attorney General Ellison reaches settlements with Native charities requiring improved governance and transparency

Charities failed to maintain registration to solicit donations and engaged in sloppy bookkeeping that left charitable assets vulnerable

November 5, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today that his Office has reached two settlements with Minnesota charities that serve the Native community, Akiing 8th Fire and Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute, after his Office’s investigation found multiple governance issues that prevented public transparency into their finances and exposed the organizations to unacceptable levels of risk.

In the Assurances of Discontinuance filed in Ramsey County, Attorney General Ellison alleges that the charities have failed to maintain their registration to solicit donations despite holding and soliciting significant charitable funds. Further, the charities left these assets vulnerable to misuse by maintaining weak financial controls, including providing debit cards and cash to employees without requiring sufficient documentation and permitting conflicted transactions with leaders and their private businesses without adequate board oversight. The settlements require the charities to immediately strengthen their financial controls and board oversight, and to reinstate their registration and make additional governance improvements within one year.

“It is critical that charities like Akiing 8th Fire and Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute that serve vulnerable Minnesota communities are held accountable for their use of charitable funds,” Attorney General Ellison said. “These settlements require the charities to rebuild trust within the community by ensuring that assets are used solely toward their missions and the public receives the transparency required under the law.”

In Minnesota, the Attorney General through the Charities Division has civil enforcement authority over the state’s nonprofit-corporation, charitable-solicitation, and charitable-trust laws. The Charities Division has no authority to enforce criminal laws.

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office makes available a number of publications and pamphlets providing information about charitable organizations, charitable trusts, professional fundraisers, and nonprofit organizations generally:

• “A Guide to Minnesota’s Charities Laws” discusses key laws including the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act, the Charitable Solicitation Act, and the Supervision of Charitable Trusts and Trustees Act, among other laws that require certain organizations to register with and provide notice to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
• “Guide for Board Members” covers fiduciary duties of directors of nonprofit corporations and is meant to assist board members with the important responsibilities they assume when elected to a charity’s board of directors.
• “Nonprofit Organization Resources” contains a listing of resources covering charitable solicitation, professional fundraiser, and charitable trust registration, government agency contacts, and training and technical assistance providers.

Minnesotans with concerns about governance or other issues at a nonprofit may submit a complaint on the Attorney General’s website. Minnesota consumers may also contact the Attorney General’s Office by calling (651) 296-3353 (Metro area), (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota), or (800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay).