Georgia Fundraising Licensing

Georgia charities must provide notice on the day they first enter into a charitable gift annuity agreement. Notices must identify the organization, certify that the organization is a charity and that the annuities issued are qualified charitable gift annuities, and be signed by an officer or director.

• Any charitable organization which does not have any agreement with a paid solicitor and whose total revenue from contributions has been less than $25,000 for both the immediately preceding and current calendar years
• Religious organizations
• Educational institutions and those organizations, foundations, associations, corporations, charities, and agencies operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with a nonprofit educational institution, provided that those entities qualify for exemption under IRC 501(c)
• Business, professional, and trade associations and federations which do not solicit members or funds from the general public
• Fraternal, civic, benevolent, patriotic, and social organizations, when solicitation of contributions is carried on by persons without any form of compensation and which solicitation is confined to their membership
• Appeals for individuals provided that 100% of proceeds are turned over to the named beneficiary and that if the contributions collected exceed $5,000, the person requesting contributions shall file a written accounting of funds with the Secretary of State
• Any local or state-wide organization of hunters, fishermen, and target shooters which has been recognized as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(4) of the IRC
• Any volunteer fire department or rescue service operating in conjunction with a city or county government in this state and which has received less than $25,000 in both the immediately preceding and current calendar years
• Political parties, candidates for federal or state office, and political action committees required to file financial information with federal or state elections commissions
• Local community and state-wide organizations affiliated with or acting on behalf of a registered or exempt state-wide or national parent organization by contract or agreement

URS with Control Persons form (page 5 of state form) or Form C-100: Charitable Organization Registration

Mail or online.

$35

• Carefully ensure you include all required attachments
• Notarized signature of an authorized executive officer is required.
• Some Georgia counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

Charitable Organization Renewal

Mail or online.

$20

Your license must be renewed bienially by the registration date. If you registered on January 15, 2016, your registration is due by January 15, 2018.

• Carefully ensure you include all required attachments, including financial statements

Contracts can be emailed to charities@sos.ga.gov.

1-2 business days.

Charities that contract with a commercial co-venturer for a charitable sales promotion should submit a copy of the contract within 30 days of the contract being signed.

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

$0

Georgia does not track organization's fiscal years, but attach a cover letter to the renewal explaining the change.

Contract

Contracts can be emailed to charities@sos.ga.gov.

Charities that contract with a commercial co-venturer for a charitable sales promotion should submit a copy of the contract within 30 days of the contract being signed.