State Registration Requirements for Charities and Fund Raisers

March 23, 2000 | Read Time: 4 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. No bond.	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. $25 fee. Over 200 cities and counties have solicitation ordinances that may require registration. Contact Registry of Charitable Trusts for more information.	$200 registration fee.	Yes.
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.
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. $50 fee. State will issue renewal notice.	$200 registration fee with one-time $50 application fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
Maryland*	Annual registration. $50 to $200 fee, depending on proceeds. No fee if proceeds are less than $25,000 and no professional solicitor is used.	$200 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
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. No 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.
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.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
New Jersey*	Annual registration. $60 to $250 fee, depending on receipts.	$250 registration fee. No bond.	Yes.
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.
Oregon*	Initial registration. No fee.	$250 registration fee for counsel who advise on direct mail, or who have access to contributions, or 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 access to contributions, or have authority to pay expenses.	Yes.
Rhode Island*	Annual registration. $75 fee.	$200 registration fee and $10,000 bond.	Yes.
	For charitable organizations	For fund-raising counsel	Has rules for paid solicitors
South Carolina*	Annual registration. $50 fee.	$50 registration fee.	Yes.
South Dakota	None.	None.	Yes.
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.	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.
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 10293 North Meridian Street, Suite 175, Indianapolis 46290. * State accepts uniform registration form.
SOURCE: AAFRC TRUST FOR PHILANTHROPY