State Registration Requirements for Charities and Fund Raisers

June 17, 1999 | Read Time: 5 minutes

	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Alabama*	Annual registration. $25 fee.	$100 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
Alaska	Annual registration. No fee.	None.	Yes.
Arizona	Annual registration. No fee.	None.	Yes.
Arkansas*	Annual registration.	$100 registration fee and $10,000 bond. No registration for counsel working with churches and other religious organizations.	Yes.
California*	Initial registration for organizations located, doing business, or raising funds in the state. Foreign charitable organizations must obtain certificate of authority and franchise tax exemption. Over 200 cities and counties have solicitation ordinances that may require registration. Contact Registry of Charitable Trusts for more information.	$200 registration fee.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Colorado	Organizations employing professional solicitors must file a solicitation notice prior to each campaign. $62.50 fee.	None.	Yes.
Connecticut*	Initial registration. $20 fee	No registration or bond for counsel not having custody of funds. Counsel must file with Department of Consumer Protection a copy of contracts with charitable organizations.	Yes.
Delaware	None.	None.	No.
District of Columbia*	Licensing is $80 per year.	None.	No.
Florida	Annual registration. Fees range from $10 to $400, based on receipts.	$300 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Georgia*	Annual registration. $25 fee.	None.	Yes.
Hawaii	None.	$60 registration fee and $5,000 bond.	Yes.
Idaho	None.	None.	No.
Illinois*	Initial registration. $15 fee.	Registration every two years. No fee.	Yes.
Indiana	Organizations must register annually with the Department of Revenue, Not-for-Profit Division.	Initial registration, $1,000 fee. Notice filing due prior to campaigns. $50 renewal registration fee.	Yes.
Iowa	None.	None.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Kansas*	Annual registration. $20 fee.	Registration. $5,000 bond.	Yes.
Kentucky*	Initial registration. No fee.	$50 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
Louisiana*	Registration prior to campaigns for organizations using professional solicitors. $25 fee.	None.	Yes.
Maine*	Initial registration. $40 fee. State will issue renewal notice.	$200 registration fee with one-time $50 application fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
Maryland*	Annual registration. $50 to $200 fee, depending on proceeds. No fee if proceeds are less than $25,000	$200 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Massachusetts*	Annual registration. $35 to $250 fee depending on proceeds.	$200 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
Michigan*	Annual licensing. No fee.	Licensing and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
Minnesota*	Annual registration. $25 fee.	$200 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
Mississippi	Annual registration. $50 fee.	$250 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
Missouri*	Annual registration. $15 fee. 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from registration. A copy of the organization’s I.R.S. tax-exemption determination letter may be filed with the state to obtain exemption.	None.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Montana	None.	None.	No.
Nebraska	None.	None.	No.
Nevada	No fund-raising registration. Foreign non-profit corporations having assets or an office in Nevada must qualify before doing business in Nevada.	None.	No.
New Hampshire*	One-time registration. $25 fee.	$75 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
New Jersey*	Annual registration. $60 to $250 fee, depending on receipts.	$250 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
New Mexico*	Annual registration. No fee.	None.	No.
New York*	Initial registration. $25 fee.	$800 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
North Carolina	Annual registration. $50 to $200 fee based on receipts. Parent organizations filing on behalf of chapters or affiliates, $100 to $400 fee based on number of chapters.	$200 licensing fee. No bond.	Yes.
North Dakota*	Annual registration. Initial $25 fee.	$100 registration fee.	Yes.
Ohio*	Annual registration for out-of-state charities and Ohio organizations not already registered under the state’s Trust Act. $50 to $200 fee, depending on amount of contributions received in state.	None.	Yes.
Oklahoma*	Annual registration. $15 fee.	None.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Oregon*	Initial registration. No fee.	$250 registration fee for counsel who advise on direct mail, or who have authority to pay expenses.	Yes.
Pennsylvania*	Annual registration. $15 to $250 fee.	$250 registration fee for counsel who advise on direct mail, or who have authority to pay expenses.	Yes.
Rhode Island*	Annual registration. $75 fee.	$100 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
South Carolina*	Annual registration. $50 fee.	$50 registration fee.	Yes.
South Dakota	None.	None.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Tennessee*	Annual registration. $50 initial fee; thereafter fees range from $100 to $300, depending on receipts.	$250 registration fee and $25,000 bond.	Yes.
Texas	Annual registration for public-safety organizations and veterans’ groups. $150 to $250 fee. Bonding required of veterans’ groups. Foreign charitable organizations are required to obtain a Certificate of Authority if they have a physical location in Texas.	None.	Yes.
Utah	Annual registration. $100 fee.	$150 registration fee and $25,000 bond. Photograph and fingerprints must be submitted with application.	Yes.
Vermont	None.	None.	Yes.
Virginia*	Annual registration. $30 to $325 fee based on previous year’s receipts. Initial registration may require $100 surcharge.	$100 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Washington*	Annual registration. Initial $20 fee; $10 annually thereafter.	None.	Yes.
West Virginia	Annual registration. Fee of $15 to $50 depending on receipts.	$50 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
Wisconsin	Initial registration. $15 fee.	None.	Yes.
Wyoming	None.	None.	No.
Note: Data are accurate as of January 1. This is a partial chart reprinted from “Giving USA Update,” published by the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy with legal consulting by Copilevitz & Canter. Complete details, including regulatory agencies, reporting dates and requirements, exemptions, solicitation disclosures required of charitable organizations, and a glossary, are available for $35 from the trust at 37 East 28th Street, Suite 902, New York 10016. * State accepts uniform registration form.
SOURCE: AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy