As a general rule, nonprofits should disclose all donors, argues a local fundraising expert.

Gail Perry, president-elect of the Research Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said that full disclosure would prevent conflicts of interest, such as the scholarships given to relatives of state lawmakers by a nonprofit they ran.

"Transparency is the best possible rule of life and business," she told Dome. "Full disclosure is the only way to be clear and clean."

Perry, author of the book "Fired-Up Fundraising," said that many nonprofits seek to have legislators sit on their boards or endorse their groups because it lends them prestige, which can be important when raising money.

She said a blanket ban on lawmakers soliciting money could end up hurting nonprofits.