Charitable registration: which states and when
In this guide
- What charitable solicitation registration is
- What usually triggers it
- Which states have a registration requirement
- How renewals and deadlines work
- A simple process to stay current
Please note: This guide is general information, not legal advice. State rules change, and exemptions vary. Confirm current requirements with each state, and talk to your legal counsel about your specific situation.
What is charitable solicitation registration?
Many states require a charity to register before it asks residents of that state for donations. Registration is usually handled by the state’s attorney general or secretary of state. The charity files an application, financial information and a fee, then renews every year.
Registration is separate from your federal tax-exempt status. Being a 501(c)(3) doesn’t register you to fundraise in any state.
What usually triggers registration
Registration is generally tied to soliciting, meaning asking for donations, in a state. Common examples:
- Mail or email appeals to donors in that state
- Phone or in-person fundraising there
- Events held in that state
- Grant applications to foundations based in that state, in some states. Other states exclude grant requests.
Online fundraising. In 2001, state charity regulators published guidelines on online fundraising through their national association (NASCO). The guidelines are called the Charleston Principles. They are advisory, not law. Under them, asking for donations online counts as fundraising in your home state, where your main office is. In other states, a “Donate” button on your website, by itself, isn’t meant to require registration. Registration becomes more likely if you specifically target donors in a state, or receive repeated or substantial donations from there. Each state decides how to apply these ideas, and some have written their own rules for online fundraising.
Which states have a registration requirement?
Most states, along with the District of Columbia, have some form of charitable solicitation registration. A minority don’t have a general requirement.
States with no general registration requirement for charities, as of November 2026: Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.
Several of these still regulate paid fundraisers or certain kinds of charities. For example, Louisiana requires registration only from charities that use a paid solicitor. Missouri has a registration law, but it exempts 501(c)(3) organizations, with conditions. These rules change, so check with each state before relying on this list.
Exemptions. Many states exempt certain organizations, for example:
- organizations raising less than a set dollar amount each year, often only if volunteers do all the fundraising
- religious organizations
- certain educational institutions
- organizations that raise money only from members
Thresholds and conditions differ by state, and some exemptions still require you to file for them.
How renewals and deadlines work
Most states require you to renew or file a report every year. Deadlines are often tied to your fiscal year end, for example a set number of months after year end. Some states use a fixed calendar date instead, and others use your original registration date.
Renewals usually ask for some or all of the following:
- your most recent Form 990
- financial statements. Once you pass a state’s threshold, it may require them to be reviewed or audited by a CPA. Depending on the state, the threshold may be based on total revenue, on contributions or, in one state, on expenses.
- updated officer and board information
- in most states, a filing fee
Thresholds change. Several states raised their audit thresholds in 2024 to 2026. Check each state’s current figure every year.
Tip: Your audit timeline and your registration deadlines are connected. If a state needs audited financials by a certain date, a late audit can mean a late renewal.
A national form called the Unified Registration Statement (URS) was once accepted by many states. Most states now use their own forms or online portals. A few still accept the URS, often with extra state forms, and generally not for renewals. Check each state’s current method.
A simple process to stay current
- List where you solicit. Look at your donor database, appeal lists, events and grant applications by state.
- List where you’re registered. Gather your registration numbers, last filing dates and renewal dates.
- Compare the two. Look for states where you solicit but aren’t registered, and for registrations that have lapsed. Flag unclear cases for your counsel.
- Build one calendar. One list with every state’s due date, required documents and fee.
- Line up your documents. Make sure your Form 990 and financial statements will be ready before the earliest due date.
- Keep records. Save every filing, confirmation and state letter in one shared folder.
- Review once a year. Fundraising changes. Recheck the list every year.
When to get help
If you fundraise in many states, are behind on filings or have received a state notice, it’s worth having someone own this full-time. Learn about our Charitable Solicitation Registration Management →