Many nonprofits are familiar with corporate promotions like “$1 per purchase will be donated to [charity]” or “a portion of proceeds supports [organization].” These arrangements are commonly referred to as commercial co-ventures.
What is less widely known is that, in many states, these agreements are required to be filed with state regulators—and in some cases, those filings are publicly accessible.
For nonprofits, this creates an opportunity to better understand how these partnerships are structured in practice.
What Is a Commercial Co-Venturer?
A commercial co-venturer (often abbreviated as CCV) is a for-profit company that advertises that the purchase or use of its goods or services will benefit a charitable organization.
These arrangements typically involve:
- A written agreement between the company and the nonprofit
- A defined promotion (e.g., fixed dollar amount per sale or percentage of revenue)
- Specific disclosure language to the public
- In some states, registration and/or contract filing requirements
While these partnerships can be valuable fundraising and marketing tools, they also come with compliance obligations that vary by state.
Where You Can Find These Agreements
Some states make commercial co-venturer filings publicly available. One of the more accessible examples is Hawaii.
Through the State of Hawaii’s charity search portal, you can search for commercial co-venturer filings by either the nonprofit or the for-profit company.
Using this tool, you can:
- Search for a nonprofit and see which companies it has partnered with
- Search for a company and see which nonprofits it has supported
- View filings that may include the underlying agreement and attachments
In many cases, these filings include the full commercial co-venturer agreement and supporting documentation.
What You Can Learn from Reviewing These Agreements
Reviewing publicly available commercial co-venturer agreements can provide practical insight into how these arrangements are typically structured.
Common elements include:
- Donation structure (e.g., fixed amount per sale, percentage of revenue, or capped contributions)
- Duration of the promotion
- Payment timing and reporting requirements
- Responsibilities of each party
- Marketing language and disclosures used in the promotion
In some cases, the filings also include the promotional materials or descriptions of how the campaign will be presented to the public.
Practical Uses for Nonprofits
For organizations considering a corporate promotion or partnership, these filings can be a useful reference point.
They can help with:
- Benchmarking typical terms before entering into an agreement
- Understanding how similar organizations structure partnerships
- Evaluating potential corporate partners based on past activity
- Identifying provisions that may warrant closer review
This type of visibility is not always top of mind, but it can provide helpful context when evaluating new opportunities.
Compliance Considerations
Commercial co-venturer arrangements are subject to state-specific requirements, which can vary significantly.
Depending on the state, requirements may include:
- Registration of the commercial co-venturer
- Filing of the written agreement
- Specific disclosures in advertising materials
- Reporting on the results of the promotion
If these requirements are not met, it can create compliance issues for both the nonprofit and the company involved.
Because requirements differ by state, it is important to understand which rules apply based on where the promotion will be conducted.
Are Other States Similar?
Hawaii is one of the more accessible examples, but it is not the only state with commercial co-venturer requirements.
Other states also require filings or registrations related to these arrangements, although:
- Public access varies
- The level of detail available differs
- Search tools may not be as straightforward
As a result, the ability to review agreements across states is not always consistent, but similar information may be available depending on the jurisdiction.
Final Thoughts
Commercial co-venturer filings are an often-overlooked resource for nonprofits exploring corporate partnerships.
They provide a practical way to see how these arrangements are structured in real-world scenarios, while also highlighting the compliance considerations that come with them.
If you are considering a commercial co-venturer arrangement—or want to better understand how these agreements are typically structured—I am always happy to point to additional examples or discuss how state requirements may apply.