Last Updated: February 2026
Nonprofits that solicit contributions from Minnesota residents are generally required to register with the Minnesota Attorney General prior to fundraising unless a qualifying exemption applies. Minnesota’s framework is somewhat unique in that the initial registration is followed by an annual financial reporting obligation rather than a traditional annual renewal filing.
Organizations conducting nationwide fundraising should plan for Minnesota’s reporting timeline as part of their broader compliance calendar.
Managing registrations in multiple states? Contact Ironwood Registrations
Explore all charitable solicitation registration requirements by state
At-a-Glance Overview
Regulating Agency
Minnesota Attorney General — Charities Division
Initial Registration Required
Yes, unless exempt.
Registration Fee
$25 initial filing fee. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Annual Renewal
No traditional renewal filing. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Annual Financial Report
Required each year. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Annual Financial Report Due Date
Approximately 6½ months after the close of the organization’s fiscal year. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Registered Agent Requirement
Not required. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Who Must Register in Minnesota
A nonprofit generally must register before soliciting contributions if it:
- Requests donations from Minnesota residents
- Conducts fundraising campaigns accessible to donors in the state
- Uses professional fundraisers or third parties
These requirements apply to both Minnesota-based and out-of-state organizations.
Initial Registration Process
Filing Agency
Minnesota Attorney General — Charities Division
Typical Initial Filing Includes
- Formation documents
- IRS determination letter
- Most recent IRS Form 990 series return or financial information
- Officer and director listings
- Bank account information
- Disclosure of professional fundraiser relationships
The application must be approved by the governing body and signed by two officers or directors.
Financial Reporting & Audit Thresholds
Minnesota does not impose tiered audit or review thresholds tied specifically to charitable solicitation registration.
Instead:
- Organizations generally submit their IRS Form 990 or equivalent financial information as part of the annual financial report.
- No automatic audit or CPA review requirement is triggered solely by contribution level under the charitable registration statute.
Because many other states do impose audit thresholds, nonprofits fundraising nationally often still maintain audited or reviewed financials for multi-state compliance purposes.
Exemption Overview
Minnesota provides several exemption categories.
Small Organization Threshold
- Organizations that do not receive more than $25,000 in total nationwide contributions during the fiscal year may qualify for exemption if all fundraising is conducted by volunteers and no professional fundraisers are engaged. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Government grants are not counted toward this threshold. nonprofitfundraisingregistratio…
Other commonly exempt organizations include:
- Religious organizations not required to file Form 990
- Accredited educational institutions
- Certain membership organizations that solicit only their own members
- Appeals conducted for a specifically identified individual
Organizations seeking exemption must submit an exemption filing to confirm eligibility.
Nationwide comparison of exemption rules
Ongoing Annual Reporting
Minnesota requires an annual financial report rather than a traditional renewal.
Typical annual submission includes:
- IRS Form 990 or equivalent financial documentation
- Updated organizational information
The report is due approximately 6½ months after the end of the fiscal year.
For nationwide deadline comparisons:
https://www.ironwoodregistrations.com/resources/charitable-solicitation-renewal-deadlines/
Minnesota in a Multi-State Compliance Strategy
Because Minnesota separates initial registration from annual financial reporting, organizations managing multi-state registrations often track Minnesota on a different schedule from states with anniversary or renewal-based filings.
Coordinating Form 990 completion with Minnesota’s reporting deadline can reduce compliance risk.
For broader planning guidance: Multi-State Fundraising Compliance Guide
Need Help Managing Minnesota Compliance?
Ironwood Registrations assists nonprofits with multi-state charitable registration strategy, annual reporting coordination, and compliance calendar management.
Or contact our team directly.