Illinois Fundraising Licensing
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!
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- Illinois Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Illinois Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Illinois Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Illinois Bingo License
Initial Registration
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $200 for a regular bingo license or $50 for a limited license. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Illinois Charitable Gaming Licenses
Game Type: | Various games of chance |
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Age Restrictions: | Participants must be at least 18 years old. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | Form RCG-1: Application for Charitable Games License (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $400 |
Due: | Biennially |
Notes: | Organizations must also submit Form RCG-25: Expenditure of Funds Earned Through Charitable Games when renewing. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Illinois Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Illinois exempts charities from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities if they meet the following conditions: "The insurance laws of this State, including this Code, do not apply to any charitable gift annuity, as defined in Section 501(m)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, issued by an organization that is described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, if either (i) an insurer authorized to transact business in this State is directly obligated to the annuitant or (ii) the organization has been in active operation for not less than 20 years before the date the annuity is issued and has an unrestricted fund balance of not less than $2,000,000 on the date the annuity is issued. For purposes of this Section, "Internal Revenue Code" refers to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and corresponding provisions of subsequent federal tax laws.".
Law: | 215 ILCS 5/121-2.10 |
Illinois Charitable Organization Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Law: | 760 Illinois Compiled Statutes § 55/1 et seq., Charitable Trust Act and Solicitation for Charity Act |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Yes |
Fact Checked: | 4/10/20 |
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Notes: | Fax a letter to the charitable trust bureau requesting exemption. |
Fact Checked: | 1/8/20 |
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Religious organizations |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notarize: | Required |
Notes: | Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria. |
Fact Checked: | 8/15/18 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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How to Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 4/14/20 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Instructions: | Small nonprofits who raised <$15,000 in contributions during the calendar year do not need to file. In contrast, large nonprofits will need to submit audited finanical statements. |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Due: | Due annually 6 months after the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, then renewal is due June 30. |
Due Date Extension: | Due dates can be extended for 60 days beyond the original due date by sending a letter including the name, CO number, and EIN number of the charity to the attorney general's office. If more time is needed, a second extension of an additional 2.5 months is available. When applying for a second extensions, charities must submit an unsigned AG990IL with "draft" written at the top, a letter requesting extension, preliminary income statement and balance sheet, IRS Form 8868, and the $15 renewal fee. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Penalties: | There is a late fee of $100. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 2/4/20 |
Change of Fiscal Year
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Send a letter indicating change of fiscal year and then draft AG990-IL (unsigned) and letter requesting extension. |
Fact Checked: | 12/7/18 |
Cancellation
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, file a final annual report with "FINAL" written across the top and original signatures. Organizations must also provide a letter indicating that they wish to withdraw and proof of dissolution or withdrawal from the Secretary of State. |
Fact Checked: | 7/14/20 |
Illinois Commercial Co-Venturer Campaign Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
CCVs are not licensed in Illinois, but they must meet contract filing and financial reporting requirements.
More information: Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust BureauContract Filing
Form: | CO-1: Registration Statement and CO-2: Financial Information Form |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Due: | Contracts must be filed before fundraising activity begins. |
Notes: | For a CCV to partner with a charity, the charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or be otherwise exempt from registration. |
Contract Amendment
Agency Fee: | $15 |
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 copy of the amended agreement. |
Fact Checked: | 8/12/20 |
Financial Reporting
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Due: | Within 6 months after the end of the campaign. |
Illinois Professional Fundraiser Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Bond Requirements: | $10,000 |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form PFR-01: Professional Fund-Raiser Registration Statement |
Agency Fee: | $100 + $25 for each contract |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 10/4/19 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/register_report.html |
Agency Fee: | $100 + $25 for each contract |
Due: | Annually by June 30. |
Fact Checked: | 10/4/19 |
Contract Filing
Form: | Form PFR-06: Professional Fund-Raiser List of Charities and Contracts |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 10 days of the date of execution of each new contract. |
Fact Checked: | 10/4/19 |
Financial Reporting
Annual Financial Report
Form: | Form PFR-02: Professional Fund-Raiser Annual Financial Report |
Agency Fee: | $25 |
Due: | Annually by April 30. |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 10/4/19 |
Financial Reporting
Mid-Year Financial Report
Form: | Form PFR-02: Professional Fund-Raiser Annual Financial Report |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by September 30. |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 10/4/19 |
Illinois Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Yes |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form PFC-01: Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Form PFC-01: Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Biennially by June 30. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Copies of all fundraising contracts must be submitted to Charitable Trust Bureau upon registration. Changes to the registration application, including new contract agreements, must be filed within 10 days of the changes. |
Fact Checked: | 9/11/20 |
Amendment
Form: | PFC-01 Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement (Amendment) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | If any of the information in the submitted registration statement changes, the Charitable Trust Bureau must be notified in writing within ten (10) days of the changes. |
Fact Checked: | 9/11/20 |
Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games License
Initial Registration
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 for a regular license, $50 for a limited license, and $0 for a special license. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | Form PT-6: Application for Pull Tabs and Jar Games License (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $500 for a regular license, $50 for a limited license, and $0 for a special license. |
Due: | Annually |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Illinois Raffle License
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
Raffle licenses are issued at the county or municipal level.
Individual Licenses
Illinois Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Illinois Professional Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/register_report.html |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by June 30. |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
