If your nonprofit asks for donations across state lines, charitable solicitation registration can turn into a tangled mess. This guide gives you an overview of the states that commonly require registration, the associated costs, the varied renewal dates, and which documents to gather before you start.
These are the states that require annual registration for nonprofit charities. Every state has different requirements, which range from a simple set of forms to providing detailed salary information and multiple organizational documents.
The District of Columbia is not one of the 38 states, but it is often managed alongside state registrations.
Some states charge no standard filing fee. Others use sliding scales tied to revenue, contributions, or assets. Late fees can accumulate across months or days.
Most state charitable solicitation laws focus on the act of asking for a contribution. That can include mail, email, events, paid campaigns, grant outreach, website donation buttons, and professional fundraiser activity. The filing is usually required before the ask, not after the donation clears. You will run into fewer roadblocks and punitive responses from the states if you start ahead of the curve, rather than running to catch up.
The practical problem is that every state uses its own forms, renewal schedule, fee structure, exemption categories, and financial reporting thresholds. A nonprofit that is compliant in its home state can still be out of compliance elsewhere once it starts asking for donations across state lines.
We separate the country into three groups: full charitable solicitation registration states, limited-requirement states, and states with no broad charitable solicitation registration requirement.
The state forms differ, but many states ask for the same range of supplemental documents. Building one set saves time when you are registering in several states at once.
Religious organizations, schools, government entities, member-only appeals, and small volunteer-led organizations often appear in exemption rules. The catch is that many states still require an exemption filing or supporting proof.
Do not assume an exemption follows you from state to state. Contribution thresholds, paid fundraiser rules, and documentation requirements can change the answer quickly.
Sometimes. A passive Donate button is not treated the same way in every state, but targeted email, mail, ads, events, or grant asks within a state can create a registration requirement. Remember, it's about where you ask, not where the donations are coming from.
The states that always require registration with a donate button are: AL, FL, IL, ME, MS, MN, NM, NY, NJ, PA, RI, and WA.
No. The IRS points nonprofits back to state agencies because charitable solicitation is regulated state by state. A scant handful of states accept the Unified Registration Statement, but many require their own portal, supplement, fee, or signature process.
Consequences vary. Common outcomes include late fees, reinstatement filings, lapsed status, rejected grant paperwork, and a temporary inability to legally solicit until the state account is current.
Organizations who wish to use Facebook or GoFundMe to fundraise may find themselves rebuffed by the sites if their California registration is not current. Organizations fundraising in MA may receive formal Cease & Desist letters if their registration in the state is too far out-of-date.
Use this table to build a first-pass budget and renewal calendar. Each state name links to a dedicated SEO page with the state agency, exemptions, required documents, and practical filing notes.
| State | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee | Renewal Deadline | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama charitable solicitation registration | $25 | $25 | About 90 days after fiscal year end; extensions may be available when requested. | Alabama Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division |
| Alaska charitable solicitation registration | $40 | $40 | September 1 each year. | Alaska Department of Law |
| Arkansas charitable solicitation registration | $0 | $0 | About 6 months after fiscal year end. | Arkansas Secretary of State |
| California charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $25 to $1,200, based on total revenue | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions generally follow the IRS extension. | California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
| Colorado charitable solicitation registration | $10 charitable registration; separate corporate filing may apply | $10 charitable renewal; separate corporate renewal may apply | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; IRS-based extensions are commonly used. | Colorado Secretary of State, Charities Program |
| Connecticut charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $50 | About 11 months after fiscal year end. Monthly accruing late fee. | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
| Florida charitable solicitation registration | $0 to $400, based on contributions | $0 to $400, based on contributions | Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. Monthly accruing late fee. | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
| Georgia charitable solicitation registration | $35 | $20 | Biennial renewal, generally tied to the anniversary month of registration. | Georgia Secretary of State, Charities Division |
| Hawaii charitable solicitation registration | $0 | $0 to $600, based on revenue | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. Daily accruing late fee. | Hawaii Attorney General, Tax and Charities Division |
| Illinois charitable solicitation registration | $15 | $15 | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Illinois Attorney General, Charitable Trust Bureau |
| Kansas charitable solicitation registration | $25 | $25 | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Kansas Attorney General |
| Kentucky charitable solicitation registration | $0 | $0 | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; initial registrations generally expire December 31. | Kentucky Attorney General |
| Louisiana charitable solicitation registration | $25 | $25 | Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. | Louisiana Attorney General |
| Maine charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $20 | November 30 each year. | Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation |
| Maryland charitable solicitation registration | $0 to $300, based on contributions | $0 to $300, based on contributions | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Maryland Secretary of State |
| Massachusetts charitable solicitation registration | $100 | $35 to $2,000, based on revenue | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Massachusetts Attorney General, Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division |
| Michigan charitable solicitation registration | $0 | $0 | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Michigan Attorney General, Charitable Trust Section |
| Minnesota charitable solicitation registration | $25 | $25 | About 6.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Minnesota Attorney General |
| Mississippi charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $50 | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Mississippi Secretary of State |
| Missouri charitable solicitation registration | $15 | $15 | About 2.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Missouri Attorney General |
| Nevada charitable solicitation registration | $0 for charity registration; corporate filing may apply | $0 for charity renewal; corporate renewal may apply | Anniversary month of registration. | Nevada Secretary of State |
| New Hampshire charitable solicitation registration | $25 | $75 | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | New Hampshire Department of Justice, Charitable Trusts Unit |
| New Jersey charitable solicitation registration | $30 to $250, based on revenue | $30 to $250, based on revenue | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Charities Registration Section |
| New Mexico charitable solicitation registration | $0 | $0 | About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | New Mexico Department of Justice |
| New York charitable solicitation registration | $25 to $1,500, based on assets | 25 to $1,500, based on assets | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; a 6-month extension is commonly available. | New York Attorney General, Charities Bureau |
| North Carolina charitable solicitation registration | $0 to $200, based on contributions | $0 to $200, based on contributions | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| North Dakota charitable solicitation registration | $75 charitable registration plus possible $50 corporate filing | $10 charitable renewal plus possible $10 corporate renewal | September 1 each year; extensions may be available. | North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Ohio charitable solicitation registration | $0 to $200, based on assets and locality | $0 to $200, based on assets and locality | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; IRS-based extensions may be available. | Ohio Attorney General |
| Oklahoma charitable solicitation registration | $15 to $65, based on contributions | $15 to $65, based on contributions | Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. | Oklahoma Secretary of State |
| Oregon charitable solicitation registration | $20 to $400, based on Oregon-specific contributions | $20 to $400, based on Oregon-specific contributions | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Oregon Department of Justice |
| Pennsylvania charitable solicitation registration | $15 to $250, based on contributions | $15 to $250, based on contributions | About 135 days after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations |
| Rhode Island charitable solicitation registration | $90 | $90 | Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation |
| South Carolina charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $50 | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extension availability is limited. | South Carolina Secretary of State |
| Tennessee charitable solicitation registration | $50 | $0 to $240, based on gross revenue | About 6 months after fiscal year end. | Tennessee Secretary of State, Charitable Solicitations and Gaming |
| Virginia charitable solicitation registration | $100, plus $30 to $425 based on contributions | $30 to $425, based on contributions | On or before the 15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year end. | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
| Washington charitable solicitation registration | $60 | $40 | About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. | Washington Secretary of State, Charities Program |
| West Virginia charitable solicitation registration | $15 to $50, based on contributions | $15 to $50, based on contributions | Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. | West Virginia Secretary of State |
| Wisconsin charitable solicitation registration | $15 | $54 | Renewal registrations are commonly due July 31; annual reports are tied to the fiscal year. | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions |
These summaries are written for planning. Click through when you need the state-specific page title, forms, exemptions, required documents, penalties, and official source links.
Alabama is best handled early in the post-year-end cycle because the renewal window is shorter than many fiscal-year states.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 90 days after fiscal year end; extensions may be available when requested.
Because Alaska uses a fixed date, it should sit on the calendar even for organizations whose fiscal year ends at another time.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: September 1 each year.
Arkansas has no state filing fee, but the financial reporting threshold still deserves attention for larger organizations.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end.
California is different from most states: the trigger is tied to receiving charitable assets in the state, not only starting a solicitation campaign.
Registration timing: Generally within 30 days after first receiving charitable funds or property connected to California. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions generally follow the IRS extension.
Colorado often requires coordination between the charity registration and corporate authority pieces, so do not budget only for the charity fee.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; IRS-based extensions are commonly used.
Connecticut's renewal date is later than most states, which can make it easy to overlook after the main renewal rush has passed.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 11 months after fiscal year end. Monthly accruing late fee.
Florida is a high-priority state for national digital fundraising because the fee and review path depend heavily on contribution volume.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available. Monthly accruing late fee.
Georgia runs on a two-year cycle, so it should be tracked separately from annual renewal states.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Biennial renewal, generally tied to the anniversary month of registration.
Hawaii has no initial state fee, but renewal fees and late penalties can still become expensive if the filing calendar slips.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available. Daily accruing late fee.
Illinois asks for a classic charity packet: state forms, organizing records, IRS status, leadership details, and financial statements. Corrections can turn into a messy back-and-forth if instructions aren't carefully followed.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Kansas is straightforward on fees, but exemption status should be documented before broad mail or online campaigns begin.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Kentucky does not charge a standard fee, but the renewal timing can surprise newly registered charities because the first term may be short.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; initial registrations generally expire December 31.
Louisiana is more limited than many states; the professional-solicitor relationship is often the fact that changes the analysis.
Registration timing: Registration is commonly tied to solicitation activity involving a professional solicitor; confirm the trigger before filing. Renewal timing: Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available.
Maine uses a fixed November deadline, so calendar-year nonprofits should not assume it follows the Form 990 date.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: November 30 each year.
Maryland's fee is contribution-based, so reconcile the fundraising totals before starting the renewal.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Massachusetts is one of the higher-fee states for large organizations, so the renewal should be budgeted before audit work is finalized. The penalization for delinquent filers can be just as high.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Michigan is usually low-cost from a fee standpoint, but the registration analysis still depends on fundraising method and exemption status.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Minnesota's renewal deadline sits a little later than the standard 4.5-month states, but still depends on clean financial reporting.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Mississippi is a standard annual-renewal state, but the portal and fee payment should be completed before public campaigns continue.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Missouri has a narrower registration profile than many states, and many 501(c)(3) organizations will be exempt.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 2.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Nevada often looks inexpensive until corporate registration or renewal obligations are included in the budget. If you have 'boots on the ground' in the state, expect a $50 registration fee.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Anniversary month of registration.
New Hampshire renewal is more expensive than the initial filing, so do not carry forward the first-year fee in the budget.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
New Jersey's short-form and long-form paths are driven by revenue and fundraising activity, so choose the form after reviewing the latest financials.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
New Mexico does not charge a filing fee, but has a $100 late fee if deadlines are missed.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
New York should be treated as a high-documentation state because some organizations report under both solicitation and trust-law frameworks.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; a 6-month extension is commonly available.
North Carolina calls the registration a license, so confirm that the license is active before continuing campaigns in the state. They are finicky about their form; it is one of few that require notarization.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
North Dakota combines a fixed charity deadline with possible corporate filings, so build both into the annual checklist.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: September 1 each year; extensions may be available.
Ohio's fee and reporting path depend on contribution volume, so reconcile gross receipts before the portal filing. Ohio-based organizations get a discount.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; IRS-based extensions may be available.
Oklahoma is anniversary-based, which means the due date may not line up with the organization's Form 990 calendar.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available.
Keep track of the contributions that come from Oregon sources, specifically: the state cares.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Pennsylvania is a useful exemption benchmark because the state publishes a clear small-organization threshold, but the paid-solicitor caveat matters.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 135 days after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
Rhode Island uses a flat fee and anniversary timing, so renewals should be tracked from the approval date rather than fiscal year end alone.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available.
South Carolina often requires Form 990 information separately, so the charity filing should not be treated as a simple fee renewal. A daily-accruing late fee makes their deadlines important to meet.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extension availability is limited.
Tennessee's renewal fee can be zero for smaller organizations, but the exemption and renewal analysis should be revisited as revenue grows.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 6 months after fiscal year end.
Virginia treats late/lapsed organizations seriously; missing the renewal can force an initial registration path instead of a simple annual renewal.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: On or before the 15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year end.
Washington has clear fee amounts, but larger organizations should coordinate annual reporting with audit timing.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: About 4.5 months after fiscal year end; extensions may be available.
West Virginia uses a small sliding fee scale, but anniversary timing makes renewal tracking just as important as fee budgeting.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Anniversary date of registration; extensions may be available.
Wisconsin separates some fee and annual report timing, so build the July renewal into the calendar even when the financial report follows a different date.
Registration timing: Before soliciting charitable contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. Renewal timing: Renewal registrations are commonly due July 31; annual reports are tied to the fiscal year.
The District of Columbia is not counted in the 38 states, but nonprofits fundraising nationally often track it with the same compliance calendar. View the District of Columbia charitable registration guide.
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RegiSTAR-US can review where your nonprofit solicits, flag likely registration states, estimate government fees, and build a renewal calendar before deadlines start piling up.
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