Arkansas Fundraising Licensing

Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting charitable solicitation activities
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Below, you'll find licensing requirements for a range of fundraising activities. At a glance, you can see requirements, fees, filing instructions, and links to forms for everything from charitable gaming and cause marketing to professional fundraisers and charitable gift annuities.

Make sure your fundraising activities meet the unique requirements of each jurisdiction where you’re soliciting. Feel free to explore, bookmark, and share!

Arkansas charitable solicitation license, Arkansas fundraising license
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Company Licenses

Arkansas Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Arkansas Annual Bingo and Raffle License

Game Type:

Bingo and raffles

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Prize Limits:

Raffle cash prizes should not exceed $5,000.

Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Initial Registration

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Form:

AR-1R-BRLAO: Bingo and Raffle Registration Licensed Authorized Organizations Supplement

Agency Fee:

$100

Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Registration Renewal

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Form:

AR-1R-BRLAO: Bingo and Raffle Registration Licensed Authorized Organizations Supplement (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by the fiscal year end of the licensed organization.

Arkansas Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Agency:Arkansas Department of Insurance - Division of Finance
Law:

AR Code § 23-63-201

Organization Age Requirement:

5 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure.

Audit Requirements:

Audited financial statements are required with the annual permit renewal.

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Charitable Annuity Permit

Agency Fee:

$0

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

Charities must authorize the creation of the annuity fund by board resolution and must create a segregated reserve fund to qualify for issuance of charitable gift annuities.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Annual Permit Renewal

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually within 180 days of the organization's fiscal year end.

Arkansas Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division (BCS) - Charities Bureau
Law:

Arkansas Code Ann. § 4-28-402

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Bona fide, duly constituted, religious entities that are exempt from taxation pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code and no part of the entity’s income inures to the direct benefit of any individual
  • Educational institutions approved by any state or the United States or by an accrediting body and parent teacher organizations
  • Political candidates and organizations
  • Governmental organizations
  • Nonprofit hospitals
  • Charities that do not intent to solicit and receive and do not actually receive more than $50,000 in contributions during a fiscal year and do not use professional fundraisers
  • Persons or entities that solicit for exempt organizations
Form:

Form EX-01: Exempt Organization Verification

Filing Method:

Email to charities@sos.arkansas.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Law:

Arkansas Code Ann. § 4-28-404

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:
  • Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.
  • Educational institutions must submit a letter of accreditation with their exemption application.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of the appropriate Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status form, if applicable
  • A copy of the organization’s filed Articles of Incorporation
  • Satisfactory proof the organization is in good standing

Initial Registration

Form:

Form CR-01: Charitable Organization Registration Form

Instructions:

Charitable Registration in Arkansas

Filing Method:

File by mail or email to charities@sos.arkansas.gov.

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1-2 weeks

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:
  • One signature of officer, director, or incorporator required.
  • Some Arkansas counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
  • If you will foreign qualify in Arkansas, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
  2. Mail or email a completed Charitable Organization Registration Form and all required attachments to the Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division - Charities Section.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Arkansas. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Arkansas Secretary of State.
  3. Mail or email a completed Charitable Organization Registration Form and all required attachments to the Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division - Charities Section.
Required Attachments:

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form CR-03: Annual Financial Report Form

Filing Method:

Mail or email to charities@sos.arkansas.gov.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:
  • Annually within 180 days (6 months) of the organization's fiscal year end.
  • There is no official start to the renewal period, so renewals may be submitted as soon as financials become available for the most recently completed fiscal year.
Due Date Extension:

Due dates can be extended for 6 months beyond the original due date by emailing the secretary of state at charities@sos.arkansas.gov and including the words “Annual Financial Report Extension” in the subject line of the email.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Required
Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990
  • Audited financials (if the total contributions of the organization were in excess of $1,000,000 in any fiscal year)
  • New or updated relationships or contracts with fund-raising counsel, paid solicitors, or commercial coventurers
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws

Contract Filing

Form:

Form CR-04: Notice of Sales Promotion with Coventurer

Filing Method:

Email to charities@sos.arkansas.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1-2 business days

Due:

Every charitable organization subject to the registration requirements of A.C.A. § 4-28-402 that agrees to permit a charitable sales promotion to be conducted in its behalf shall obtain a written agreement from the commercial coventurer and file a copy of the agreement with the Secretary of State before the commencement of the charitable sales promotion within this state.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:An authorized representative of the charitable organization and the commercial coventurer must sign the agreement, and the terms of the agreement shall include at a minimum the following:
  1. The goods or services to be offered to the public;
  2. The geographic area where, and the starting and final date when, the offering is to be made;
  3. The manner in which the name of the charitable organization is to be used, including any representation to be made to the public as to the amount or percent per unit of goods or service purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization;
  4. A provision for an accounting on a per unit basis to be given by the commercial coventurer to the charitable organization and the date on which it is to be made; and
  5. The date when and the manner in which the benefit is to be conferred on the charitable organization.
How to Apply:

The charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or otherwise exempt for the contract to be accepted.

Reinstatement

Not required



Formal reinstatement is not required. Charities wishing to renew a lapsed registration should submit renewal filings and required financials for every year not registered since the last filing. If a charity has been out of compliance for over 5 years, it must also submit a new initial filing with updated copies of all the required documents.

Change of Fiscal Year

Form:

Form CR-03: Annual Financial Report Form

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1-2 business days

Notes:

File the short year form with the updated fiscal year information.

Cancelation

Filing Method:

Email to charities@sos.arkansas.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, send a signed and dated letter stating that you would like to withdraw. The request must list the last date of solicitation in Arkansas and all financial reports on file must be current to that date.

Arkansas Class I Temporary Raffle License

Game Type:

Raffles

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Initial Registration

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Form:

AR-1R-BRLAO: Bingo and Raffle Registration Licensed Authorized Organizations Supplement

Agency Fee:

$25

Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Temporary licenses allow for a single raffle event, so there is no need to renew. Organizations can apply for as many temporary licenses as they need.

More information: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section

Arkansas Class II Temporary Raffle License

Game Type:

Raffles

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Notes:

Class II licenses are issued for raffles where the prize has been donated and has a value of $5,000 or less.

Initial Registration

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Form:

AR-1R-BRLAO: Bingo and Raffle Registration Licensed Authorized Organizations Supplement

Agency Fee:

$10

Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Temporary licenses allow for a single raffle event, so there is no need to renew. Organizations can apply for as many temporary licenses as they need.

More information: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section

Commercial coventurer means any person who for profit or other consideration is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce other than in connection with the raising of funds or any other thing of value for a charitable organization and who advertises that the purchase or use of his or her goods, services, entertainment, or any other thing of value normally sold without a charitable appeal will benefit a charitable organization during a charitable sales promotion.

Arkansas Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Not required



Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Arkansas.

Arkansas does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for commercial co-venturers, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.

Contract Filing

Form:

Form CR-04 – Notice of Sales Promotion with Coventurer

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

A copy of the written agreement between the charity and commercial coventurer must be filed with the Secretary of State before the commencement of the charitable sales promotion.

Notes:

An authorized representative of the charitable organization and the commercial coventurer must sign the agreement, and the terms of the agreement must include, at a minimum, the following:

  1. The goods or services to be offered to the public;
  2. The geographic area where, and the starting and final date when, the offering is to be made;
  3. The manner in which the name of the charitable organization is to be used, including any representation to be made to the public as to the amount or percent per unit of goods or service purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization;
  4. A provision for an accounting on a per unit basis to be given by the commercial coventurer to the charitable organization and the date on which it is to be made; and
  5. The date when and the manner in which the benefit is to be conferred on the charitable organization.

Contract Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

An amendment filing should be made before the expiration date of a campaign in order to extend the campaign.

Notes:

To report an extension of a campaign or another change to a campaign agreement, submit a cover letter describing the change and include a signed copy of the amended agreement.

Fund-raising counsel means any person who for a flat fixed fee or fixed hourly rate under a written agreement plans, conducts, manages, carries on, advises, or acts as a consultant, whether directly or indirectly, in connection with soliciting contributions for or on behalf of any charitable organization, but who actually solicits no contributions as a part of the services.

Arkansas Fundraising Counsel Registration

Agency:Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division (BCS)
Law:

Arkansas Code § 4-28-406

Initial Registration

Form:

Form FC-01: Fundraising Counsel Annual Application for Registration

Agency Fee:

$100

Notarization Required?:Required
Before you Apply:
  • Names of any programs or promotions by which you are or have ever been known
  • In what other states have you acted or are acting as a fund-raising counsel?
  •  
Required Attachments:
  • An executed Consent for Service (Form FC-02), if applicable.
  • A copy of current contracts with any charity that have not been previously submitted.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form FC-01: Fundraising Counsel Annual Application for Registration (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Notarization Required?:Required

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Changes to any of the information submitted on the registration application must be reported within 30 days of the changes occurring, including new contract agreements.

Notes:

The contract must contain any information that will enable the Secretary of State to identify the services the fund-raising counsel is to provide and the manner of his or her compensation.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Changes to any of the information submitted on the registration application must be reported within 30 days of the changes occurring.

Paid solicitor means a person who for compensation, other than any nonmonetary gift of nominal value awarded to a volunteer solicitor as an incentive or token of appreciation, performs for a charitable organization any service in connection with which contributions are solicited by the person or by any other person he or she employs, procures, or engages to solicit for compensation.

Arkansas Paid Solicitor Registration

Agency:Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division (BCS)
Law:

Arkansas Code § 4-28-407

Bond Requirements:

$10,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Form PS-01: Paid Solicitor Annual Application for Registration

Agency Fee:

$200

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

The application for registration and all required attachments must be submitted
at least 15 days prior to commencing performance on the contract.

Before you Apply:
  • If any website will be used for fund-raising or solicitations that is not the registered charity’s website, please list the URLs. 
  •  
Required Attachments:
  • An executed Consent for Service (Form PS-03), if applicable
  • A completed Notice of Entry Into a Contract with a Charitable Organization (Form PS-04);
  • If you employ professional telemarketers, you must also submit an application for each such individual (Form PT-01) and (Form PT-02) if applicable
  • A properly executed copy of the contract between the paid solicitor and the charitable organization.
  • A list of the names of the registered charitable organization(s) for whom you will conducting solicitations or fundraising activities and the time frame for the service. 
  • A copy of the bond 
Bond Amount:

$10,000.00

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form PS-01: Paid Solicitor Annual Application for Registration (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Contract Filing

Form:

Form PS-04: Notice of Entry Into Contract

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

File a notice of entry into contract at least 15 days prior to the start of the performance of the contract.

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

A contract between a paid solicitor and a charitable organization must:

  • Be in writing;
  • Clearly state the respective obligations of the paid solicitor and the charitable organization, including the compensation or remuneration to be paid by the charitable organization to the paid solicitor;  and
  • Require delivery of the names and addresses of all persons making contributions and the amounts thereof to the charitable organization.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form PS-05: Financial Report for Solicitation Campaign

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year.

Notarization Required?:Required

Arkansas Temporary Bingo License

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Initial Registration

Agency:Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section
Form:

AR-1R-BRLAO: Bingo and Raffle Registration Licensed Authorized Organizations Supplement

Agency Fee:

$25

Law:

AR Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Temporary licenses allow for a single bingo session, so there is no need to renew. Organizations can apply for as many temporary licenses as they need.

More information: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration - Miscellaneous Tax Section

Individual Licenses

Arkansas Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Arkansas Professional Telemarketer Registration

Agency:Arkansas Secretary of State - Business and Commercial Services Division (BCS)
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