Guide
Charitable registration: which states and when
A plain-language guide to state charitable registration for nonprofits that fundraise across state lines.
Charitable solicitation registration management
Fundraising across state lines comes with state registration filings. We track them, file them and renew them on time, so you don't have to.
Is this you?
- You raise money online or by mail from donors in many states.
- You’re not sure which states you’re registered in, or whether you’re current.
- A state has sent you a notice.
- The person who handled registrations has left.
What’s included
- An inventory of your current registrations, renewals and status in each state
- A review of where you solicit, mapped against each state’s registration rules, with any open questions flagged for your legal counsel
- Preparing and filing initial registrations and annual renewals
- A shared calendar of every due date
- Gathering the financial statements, audit reports and Form 990 copies that states require
- Responding to state notices and information requests
- Catch-up filings for registrations that have lapsed (as a scoped project)
How it runs
We keep one current list of every state, its status and its next due date. You see it whenever you want. We handle filings ahead of deadlines and tell you before anything is due.
What we don’t do
We don’t give legal opinions about whether your organization must register in a particular state. When a question needs a legal answer, we flag it and work with your counsel.
Common questions
Do online donations trigger registration?
It depends on the state and how you fundraise. We review your fundraising activity and flag where registration may be needed. Our free guide explains the basics.
Who pays the state filing fees?
State fees are passed through at cost and are separate from our fee.
We’re behind on several states. Can you help?
Yes. Catching up on lapsed registrations is a common scoped project.