North Dakota Secretary of State

• An organization that solicits funds for an institution of higher learning
• A private or public elementary or secondary school
• An organization that uses only volunteer unpaid fundraisers and that solicits funds for a political subdivision or other government entity or for a civic or community project in which the contributions received are used solely for the project and none of the contributions inure to the benefit of any individual
• A charitable organization or person that solicits contributions for any person specified by name at the time of the solicitation if all the contributions received are transferred within a reasonable time after receipt to the person named or that person's parent, guardian, or conservator with no restriction on their expenditure and with no deduction
• A religious society or organization that is exempt from filing a federal annual information return pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(2)(A) (i) and (iii) [26 U.S.C. 6033(a)(2)(A)(i) and (iii)] or Internal Revenue Code section 6033(a)(2)(C)(i) [26 U.S.C. 6033(a)(2)(C)(i)]

NDCC § 50-22-01

Online

$25. Out-of-state nonprofits will also incur fees to qualify and appoint a registered agent.

4-6 weeks

• One officer must sign and it must be notarized.
• Some North Dakota counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

Domestic Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in North Dakota.
• 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.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in North Dakota.
• Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 6 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Domestic Applicants:

1. Create a FirstStop online account and file entity formation documents through the North Dakota Secretary of State.
2. After entity approval, file a charitable organization registration using FirstStop.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Create a FirstStop online account and file foreign qualification documents through the North Dakota Secretary of State.
2. After entity approval, file a charitable organization registration using FirstStop.

• IRS form 990
• IRS determination letter
• List of officers and directors
• Professional fundraising contracts
• A list of officer and director compensation

Online

$10

Due annually by September 1. If you file in July/August, you get a waiver until the following September.

Due dates can be extended for 90 days beyond the original due date by submitting an amendment through the online portal.

• List of officers and directors
• A list of officer and director compensation

Online

$10

Changes to the fiscal year of a charity can be reported through the online portal.

To close out your registration, either file a final report with “Final” across the top of front page and submit it with a $10 filing fee (if you haven’t filed the charity annual report for this year yet) or simply send an e-mail requesting the cancellation (if you have already filed a report for this year).

Online

$450

Online

$90

Annually by March 1

Online

$300

Online

$60

Annually by March 1.