AG Ellison announced a settlement with Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization (“CMCEO”), an immigrant and refugee charity in St. Cloud, Minnesota incorporated in 2015. An investigation by the Attorney General’s Office (“AGO”) uncovered several governance deficiencies within CMCEO, including conflicted transactions with the nonprofit’s leaders and their family members as independent contractors without the formal approval of their board of directors. In the settlement, also known as an Assurance of Discontinuance, Attorney General Ellison alleges that the charity’s governance fell short of Minnesota charities laws and its bylaws, and requires the nonprofit to continue improving its compliance. “It is important that all charities follow Minnesota laws intended to protect charitable assets and promote public trust, especially when those charities serve marginalized communities. CMCEO fell short of these obligations, leaving its assets vulnerable and preventing public and regulator transparency. I hope that today’s settlement will lead to the correction of these governance issues and a renewed focus on CMCEO’s mission of serving refugees in Minnesota.” – AG Ellison 

https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2025/01/10_CMCEO.asp