General Questions
What are charitable solicitation registrations?
Charitable solicitation registrations are state-level filings required for many nonprofits that solicit donations from residents of a state. These registrations help states regulate charitable fundraising and typically must be renewed annually.
Which nonprofits are required to register?
Requirements vary by state, but many nonprofits must register before soliciting contributions from residents of a state, even if the organization is not physically located there. Online fundraising, email campaigns, and direct mail can trigger registration obligations.
Do all states require charitable solicitation registration?
No. Not every state has a charitable solicitation registration requirement. However, most do, and each state has its own rules, forms, and renewal timelines.
Scope and Coverage
How many states do nonprofits typically register in?
This depends on where a nonprofit actively solicits contributions. Some organizations register in a handful of states, while many others maintain registrations in many or most states each year.
Does online fundraising require registration?
In many cases, yes. States may consider online donation requests, email campaigns, and website donation pages to be forms of solicitation, depending on how they are structured and targeted.
Can you help determine which states we need to register in?
Yes. We work with nonprofit finance and development teams to review fundraising activities and identify applicable registration requirements.
Do you work with businesses?
No. We only work with nonprofits. While we offer services such as annual reports and registered agents, we only provide these to our charitable solicitation registration clients.
Annual Renewals and Timing
How often do charitable solicitation registrations need to be renewed?
Most charitable solicitation registrations are renewed annually. Renewal deadlines vary by state and are often tied to an organization’s fiscal year end or a fixed calendar deadline.
What happens if a registration is filed late?
Late filings can result in penalties, late fees, or restrictions on fundraising activities in a state. In some cases, reinstatement filings may be required.
How do you track deadlines?
We maintain tracking systems for each client’s registrations and renewal deadlines to help ensure filings are submitted on time.
Information and Documentation
What information is typically required each year?
Commonly required information includes organizational details, officer and director information, financial statements, and copies of IRS Form 990. Requirements vary by state.
Will we need to gather documents for every filing?
Our process is designed to minimize internal effort. Much of the information used for annual filings carries forward from year to year, with updates made as needed.
Do you retain prior-year filings?
Yes. We maintain records of filings we prepare, which helps streamline renewals and reduce repetitive information requests.
Working With Ironwood Registrations
Who will we work with on our account?
Each client works with a consistent account manager who oversees registrations, renewals, and communications throughout the engagement.
How much time will our team need to spend on compliance each year?
We aim to keep client involvement minimal. After initial onboarding, most clients spend limited time providing updates or responding to occasional clarification requests.
Do you only work with nonprofits?
Yes. Our services are focused exclusively on nonprofit organizations and their charitable solicitation compliance needs.
When does it make sense to outsource registration management?
Organizations often choose to outsource when they fundraise in multiple states, face varying renewal deadlines, approach audit thresholds, or want to reduce internal administrative burden and compliance risk.
Can you help if we already have registrations but want better tracking and oversight?
Yes. Many clients engage us to centralize renewals, improve documentation, and align registration management with audits and governance processes.
Related Compliance Services
Do you handle annual report filings?
In some states, annual report filings are required in connection with charitable solicitation registrations. We assist with these filings when needed and can also provide support in other states as appropriate.
Do you provide registered agent services?
We can provide registered agent services for nonprofit clients where required by state law.
Scope, Risk & Multi-State Complexity
Do we need to register before we receive donations, or only after?
In many states, registration is required before soliciting donations, not after funds are received. Some states allow limited post-solicitation filing, but relying on that approach can increase compliance risk.
What happens if we are registered in most states but missed one or two?
Registration gaps are common and often discovered during audits or grant reviews. In many cases, issues can be resolved through corrective filings, but addressing them proactively is typically less disruptive than waiting until a problem is identified.
Is registration required even if fundraising is not a major part of our activities?
Possibly. Registration requirements are based on solicitation activity and donor location, not the percentage of revenue derived from fundraising. Even limited or ancillary fundraising can trigger obligations in some states.
Online Fundraising & Platforms
Do donation platforms register charities on our behalf?
Generally, no. While platforms may have their own regulatory obligations, nonprofits remain responsible for their own charitable solicitation registrations and maintaining good standing with state regulators.
Does recurring giving or peer-to-peer fundraising change registration requirements?
It can. Ongoing solicitation, recurring donations, and peer-to-peer campaigns may strengthen the expectation that registration is required in states where donors are located.
Grants, Foundations & Due Diligence
Do grant applications trigger charitable solicitation registration requirements?
Grant activity can raise registration questions, especially when funding is sought across state lines or as part of a broader fundraising program. Registration issues often surface during grantor due diligence even if registration was not required at the time of solicitation.
Why do funders ask about charitable solicitation registration?
Foundations and institutional funders increasingly review governance and compliance practices as part of risk management. Registration compliance is often viewed as an indicator of internal controls and organizational oversight.
Financial Reporting & Audits
Are audit or financial review requirements tied to registration?
In many states, yes. Registration renewals may require audited or reviewed financial statements once certain contribution thresholds are met. These thresholds vary by state and are often based on contributions rather than total revenue.
What if our audit is not finished by the renewal deadline?
Many states allow extensions, but they typically must be requested before the renewal due date. Coordinating audit timing with renewal schedules is an important part of compliance planning.
Exemptions & Non-Registration Decisions
If we believe we are exempt, do we still need to file anything?
Sometimes. Some states require an exemption filing or periodic confirmation even when an organization qualifies for exemption. Assuming “exempt” means “no filing” can lead to compliance gaps.
Should we document decisions not to register in certain states?
Yes. Documenting why registration is not required can be helpful during audits, grant reviews, and governance discussions.
Getting Started
How do we begin working with you?
The first step is a consultation to discuss your organization’s fundraising activities, registration requirements, and annual compliance needs. You also can start the process by filling out our contact form.
Do you provide quotes before work begins?
Yes. After an initial discussion and review of scope, we provide clear information about services and fees. Our fees are based on the number of states you need to register in.
Additional Questions
What if our situation is unique or complex?
Many nonprofits have unique structures or fundraising models. We’re happy to discuss specific circumstances and answer questions during a consultation.
If your organization’s situation is not addressed above or involves multiple states or fundraising channels, we’re happy to discuss it.