Massachusetts Charitable Registration Process — Explained

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If your organization operates as a public charity in Massachusetts, registering with the state is a crucial step to ensure compliance with state laws. The registration protects donors, promotes accountability, and ensures that funds are used for their intended purposes. Additionally, it also helps you gain trust and credibility for your nonprofit organization, making it easier to attract donors, grant opportunities, and partnerships.

To help you complete the registration process, we’ll break down the Massachusetts Charitable Registration process, covering the requirements, documentation, and filing steps. We’ll also explain how Harbor Compliance makes the charitable registration process stress-free and simple for nonprofit organizations.

Massachusetts Charity Registration Requirements

Public charities operating in Massachusetts must register with the Non-Profits/Public Charities Division and file annual financial reports with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). Once registered, you’ll receive an Attorney General Account Number (AG Number). If you plan to solicit donations, you must also obtain a Certificate for Solicitation before fundraising, which also requires annual renewal.

To register your charitable organization with the AGO, you need to gather the following information and documents for initial registration:

  • Basic information about the charity, including the address, contact information, type of organization (e.g., nonprofit corporation), and IRS tax-exempt status
  • Electronic copies (pdf, doc, docx) of the following attachments:
    • Organization’s charter
    • Articles of organization
    • Agreement of association
    • Instrument of trust or written statement of purpose (whichever applies)
  • The list of the current officers/directors and their residential addresses
  • Your organization’s bylaws
  • The IRS letter of 501(c) status (if applicable)

Massachusetts Charitable Solicitation Registration Exemptions

The following categories of organizations are exempt from registering in Massachusetts:

  1. The American Red Cross
  2. Certain veterans organizations
  3. Some religious organizations exempt based on guidelines from the AGO

In most cases, fraternal organizations, such as police and fire associations or unions, are not classified as public charities and are not required to register or file annually.

However, there is an important exception. If a police or fire group’s fundraising appeal states that donations will support a charitable purpose—such as a scholarship fund or assistance to a department—the organization must register and file with the AGO.

How To Complete the Massachusetts Charitable Registration

Once you’ve completed the filing requirements and ensured you are eligible for Massachusetts charitable solicitation registration, you can file it using the below steps:

  1. Complete the Registration eForm.
  2. Attach supporting documents, including your articles of organization or trust instrument, bylaws, and an IRS Determination letter (if available).
  3. Once the AGO reviews your submission, they’ll send you an AG Number with an email response. Follow the instructions in the email to complete your registration and pay the necessary fees through the Charity Portal using your AG Number.

After your registration is finalized, the AGO will email you a Certificate of Solicitation (if requested). You will also receive an email from the AGO outlining the next steps, including whether you need to submit a Schedule A2 if it is the charity’s first fiscal year operating in Massachusetts and planning to solicit.

Note: You don’t need to sign into the Charity Portal account to complete the initial registration.

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Massachusetts Charitable Registration Renewal

After your charitable organization completes its first year, you must file Form PC annually, including the appropriate IRS Form 990, the required filing fee based on annual revenue, and any necessary audit or review. These annual filings are due to the Division within four and a half months after the end of the charity’s fiscal year.

To complete the renewal process, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Charity Portal and create an account.
  2. Sign in using your credentials.
  3. Click the Manage Form PC button.
  4. Enter your Attorney General Account Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) in the search bar, then click Search Charity to view results.
  5. Select the correct charity from the dropdown menu and click Get Form-PC Filings.
  6. Scroll down to the Create a new Form PC section.
  7. Choose the fiscal year you want to file for using the dropdown menu. Only the past five years are available. Click Submit after selecting the year.
  8. Complete and submit the Form PC.

Why Self-Registering a Charity Can Be Challenging?

Registering a charitable organization in Massachusetts is a complex and time-consuming process that requires careful attention to detail. The challenges organizations face in this process include the following:

  • Completing the correct forms for Massachusetts registration, especially as first-time filers
  • Staying on top of annual renewal
  • Keeping thorough and up-to-date records
  • Meeting the AGO’s regulatory requirement with careful attention
  • Managing multi-state registrations while handling different registration rules and filing requirements

Failing to comply with registration laws can have serious consequences, including fines, criminal penalties, and even the loss of tax-exempt status or solicitation rights. It can also erode trust with donors and grantmakers. Fortunately, a reliable service provider like Harbor Compliance can simplify the process, ensuring your organization stays in good standing while focusing on its mission.

Simplify Your Massachusetts Charitable Registration With Harbor Compliance

With extensive experience managing tens of thousands of registrations each year, Harbor Compliance has established itself as a leader in the industry.

Through our Charitable Registration Service, you can focus on fundraising efforts—whether through mail, phone, email, social media, or grant applications—while a team of experts ensures full compliance with state regulations.

Following the acquisition of Labyrinth, Inc[.](https://labyrinthinc.com/), the nation’s largest provider of charitable registration services, Harbor Compliance now handles over 60% of registrations for organizations fundraising in at least 38 states, offering unmatched expertise and efficiency.

With a dedicated registration specialist handling your filings, Harbor Compliance simplifies the entire process. We even offer a Power of Attorney option, allowing us to sign applications on your behalf for maximum convenience.

Beyond charitable registrations, our tailored solutions support professional fundraisers, fundraising consultants, and commercial co-ventures, ensuring all aspects of compliance are covered. Our comprehensive services also include:

  • Registered Agent Service—We serve as your registered agent, managing all legal correspondence and delivering documents securely and promptly.
  • Foreign Qualification Service—Planning to expand into a new state? We oversee the entire foreign qualification process, from obtaining certificates of good standing to securing final approvals.
  • Tax Exemption Assistance—Our experts help your nonprofit obtain state tax exemptions, reducing administrative work and saving your organization valuable time and resources.

How To Order Our Charitable Registration Service

Looking to connect with our team for personalized guidance on your state’s charitable registration requirements? Here’s how you can get started:

  1. Visit our Charitable Registration Service page.
  2. Provide your details, including contact information, legal organization name, and business structure.
  3. Complete the form and click Submit to hear back from our experts.

Want to expand your knowledge on charitable registration and compliance? Download our free white papers:

Additional Services by Harbor Compliance

In addition to charitable registration, we provide a comprehensive range of services designed to help organizations fulfill their legal requirements and stay in good standing with the state. Explore the full list of our services in the table below:

Category Services
Document filing and retrieval Drop-off filing Articles of reinstatement Certificates of good standing Certificates of authority Certified copies
Licensing support General business licenses Industry-specific licenses, such as construction, engineering, and architecture
Entity lifecycle management Name reservation DBA registration Amendments Initial and annual reports
Nonprofit formation Incorporation 501(c) tax exemption
Tax services Payroll tax registration Sales and use tax registration Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting BOI reporting Records Manager
Harbor Compliance has combined with Labyrinth, Inc., the largest provider of charitable registration services in the country.{{ include_custom_fonts({"Museo Sans":["Bold","Bold Italic","Regular","Regular Italic"]}) }}

Charity Registration in Massachusetts FAQs

Below, we’ve addressed common questions about registering a charitable organization in Massachusetts. For more information, visit our Information Center.

If your organization is a public charity that needs to register with the Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division, you are still required to file a Form PC annually. When completing the form, you should indicate that your organization does not solicit funds. This means you won’t need to complete the Schedule A-2 section, and your organization will not receive a Certificate for Solicitation.

No, a foreign charitable corporation doesn’t need to file a Form PC for previous fiscal years unless specifically instructed by the AGO. It’s only required to file its first Form PC for the fiscal year in which it starts doing business in Massachusetts.

Registered charitable organizations that meet annual reporting requirements will receive a six-month extension automatically without the need to submit a written request.

Harbor Compliance—Your Path to Stress-Free Charity Registration

Charitable registration involves more than just completing forms—it requires meeting strict deadlines, dedicating substantial staff time, and managing financial costs. The process becomes even more challenging with ongoing filings, fluctuating fees, and ever-changing regulations that require constant attention.

Harbor Compliance eliminates the hassle of charitable registration, helping organizations save time and resources. Choose our Charitable Registration Service, and you can streamline the entire process and confidently fundraise in your state while staying focused on your mission.

With experienced specialists, tailored solutions, and efficient systems, we handle everything—from initial registrations and renewals to securing state tax exemptions—making compliance simple and stress-free.

Curious about your organization’s compliance status? Try our FREE Harbor Compliance Score™ to see if you meet essential state requirements. Additionally, you can reach out to inquire about our other services or schedule a demo to see our compliance software in action.

Interested in exploring charitable registration requirements and processes across the U.S.? Take a look at the table below:

Massachusetts charitable solicitation license, Massachusetts fundraising license
Filter LicensesClear Filters
Company Licenses
(3)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Individual Licenses
(1)

Company Licenses

Massachusetts Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Massachusetts Bingo License (Single Event)

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Initial Registration

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

Forms are issued by the commission upon request. Charities can only hold one single event bingo license per year.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Single day licenses are only good for a single bingo session and cannot be renewed.

More information: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Massachusetts Bingo License (Weekly)

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Initial Registration

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:

Forms are issued by the commission upon request. Weekly licenses allow charities to hold a bingo event once a week for a year.

Registration Renewal

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Massachusetts Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Not required



Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Massachusetts statutes exempt educational, charitable, benevolent, and religious organizations from life insurance company regulation related to charitable gift annuities.

Law:

MA Gen. Law Chapter 175 § 118

Massachusetts Charity Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

Massachusetts General Laws Ch 12, §8e and 8f; Ch 68 §18 through 35

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

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • An organization that is primarily religious in purpose and falls under the regulations 940 CMR 2.00
  • An organization that does not raise or receive contributions from the public in excess of $25,000 during a calendar year or does not receive contributions from more than ten persons during a calendar year, if all of their functions, including fundraising activities, are performed by persons who are not paid for their services and if no part of their assets or income inures to the benefit of, or is paid to, any officer or members
Law:

Massachusetts Law Title XI Chapter 86 Section 20

Notes:

Fraternal groups, such as police and fire associations/unions, are generally not considered public charities and thus do not have to register and file annually with the Division, with the following important exception: if a fundraising appeal by a police or fire group states that a charitable purpose (for example: scholarship fund, or assistance to the police or fire department) will benefit in any way by the donations, then the group must register and file.

Initial Registration

Instructions:
  • For Initial Charity Registrations:
    • Organizations that have never filed with the Attorney General's Office and do not currently have an Attorney General Account Number assigned can take the following steps: 
      • Start by submitting the Registration eForm online and attaching required supporting documents such as Articles of Organization, Bylaws, and IRS determination letter.  
      • After your Registration eForm has been reviewed, you will receive specific instructions via email on how to complete your registration through the new Charity Portal. 
      • You will then be able to pay the registration fee and submit any required filings through the Charity Portal after you have been assigned an Attorney General Account Number. 
  • For Annual Form PC Filings
    • Organizations that have been assigned an Attorney General Account Number and wish to submit Annual Form PC Filings:
      • Charities may now meet their annual filing requirements through the AGO’s new Charity Portal. 
      • Filers must first create a free Charity Portal account.  Click here for instructions on how to create this account. 
      • After creating a Charity Portal account, filers may complete the Form PC through the Charity Portal, available here.  Electronic signatures and payment of required fees will also be accomplished through the Charity Portal. 
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100 initial registration fee + either a $50 Schedule A-2 fee for organizations registering before their initial fiscal year end, or a fee based on gross support and revenue received during the preceding fiscal year for organizations that have already completed at least one fiscal year. The fee is calculated as follows:

 

  • $35 for gross support and revenue of $100,000 or less
  • $70 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000 but no more than $250,000
  • $125 for gross support and revenue of more than $250,000 but no more than $500,000
  • $250 for gross support and revenue of more than $500,000 but no more than $1,000,000
  • $500 for gross support and revenue of more than $1,000,000 but no more than $10,000,000
  • $1,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $10,000,000 but no more than $100,000,000
  • $2,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000,000
Turnaround:

4-6 months

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required
Notes:
  • The President and another officer or trustee must sign.
  • Please submit each registration document required as a separate PDF attachment.  When naming PDF files, please use the following naming conventions, and include the organization name and the type of submission being made:
    • For Charity Registration Form: “OrgName RegistrationForm.pdf”
    • For Articles of Incorporation: “OrgName Articles.pdf”
    • For Bylaws: “OrgName Bylaws.pdf”
    • For IRS determination letter: “OrgName IRS letter.pdf”
    • For Board of Directors list: “OrgName BoD list.pdf”
    • For Schedule A-2 Form: “OrgName ScheduleA2.pdf”
  • For any submission which includes one or more Form PC filings, please label each part of the filings (Form PC, 990, financial statement) as separate files and include the fiscal year. 
  • Charities that have been operating in the State before initially registering with the Attorney General need to provide financial statements for every year they were in operation, up to four years. 
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 Massachusetts, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  2. Complete a Public Charity Registration through the Charity Portal.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Massachusetts. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  3. Complete a Public Charity Registration through the Charity Portal.
Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990 (charities with gross support and revenue of less than $25,000 are not required to submit)
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bylaws
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross support and revenue for the preceding fiscal year:

 

  • $35 for gross support and revenue of $100,000 or less
  • $70 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000 but no more than $250,000
  • $125 for gross support and revenue of more than $250,000 but no more than $500,000
  • $250 for gross support and revenue of more than $500,000 but no more than $1,000,000
  • $500 for gross support and revenue of more than $1,000,000 but no more than $10,000,000
  • $1,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $10,000,000 but no more than $100,000,000
  • $2,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000,000
Due:
  • Annually by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your nonprofit's fiscal year. So if your fiscal calendar ends December 31, then the renewal is due by May 15.
  • 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 are automatically extended for 6 months beyond the original due date if a charity is in compliance.

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required
Penalties:

There is a late fee of $25 per month.

Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990 (charities with gross support and revenue of less than $25,000 are not required to submit)
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • List of officers and directors
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws
  • If applicable: list of other states the organization is registered in

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10B: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Commercial Co-venturers

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new co-venturing activity.

Notes:

Every contract or agreement between a professional solicitor or a commercial co-venturer and a charitable organization must include:

  1. A statement of the charitable purposes to be described in the solicitation; and
  2. A statement of the guaranteed minimum percentage of the gross receipts from fund-raising which will be utilized exclusively for the charitable purposes described in the solicitation.

Reinstatement

Not required



Formal reinstatement is not required. Charities who wish to renew an expired registration should submit a separate renewal filing along with the required financials, attachments, and registration fee(s) for each year not registered. A charity is only required to submit the 4 most recent fiscal years of past-due renewals if they have been out of compliance for more than 4 years. The Attorney General is not currently assessing any late fees. Expired registrations are periodically audited and can eventually become penalized and assessed fees payable only by the officers of the organization. 

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Online

Notes:

The fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process. Be sure to submit a cover letter and a copy of the organization's amended Articles of Incorporation with the annual filing. 

Cancelation

Filing Method:

Email to charities@mass.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, submit a letter indicating the desire to withdraw and include the date Massachusetts solicitations will end. If soliciting took place in a partial fiscal year, submit a renewal for that year.

Commercial co-venturer means any person who for profit or other commercial consideration, conducts, produces, promotes, underwrites, arranges or sponsors a performance, event, or sale to the public of a good or service which is advertised in conjunction with the name of any charitable organization or as benefiting to any extent any charitable purpose. Any such person who will benefit in good will only shall not be deemed a commercial co-venturer if the collection and distribution of the proceeds of the performance, event or sale are supervised and controlled by the benefiting charitable organization.

Massachusetts Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10: Registration Statement to be filed by Commercial Co-Venturers

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$200

Bond Amount:

$25,000

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10: Registration Statement to be filed by Commercial Co-Venturers (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Bond Amount:

$25,000

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10B: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Commercial Co-venturers

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new co-venturing activity.

Notes:

Every contract or agreement between a professional solicitor or a commercial co-venturer and a charitable organization must include:

  1. A statement of the charitable purposes to be described in the solicitation; and
  2. A statement of the guaranteed minimum percentage of the gross receipts from fund-raising which will be utilized exclusively for the charitable purposes described in the solicitation.
How to Apply:

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

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 copy of the amended agreement.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form 11B: Commercial Co-Venturer’s Annual Financial Report

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by February 28 of the year following the reporting year.

Original Ink:Required
Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

Annual financial reports need to be filed for every campaign the co-venturer engages in.

Professional fund-raising counsel means any person who is retained for a financial or other consideration by a charitable organization to plan, conduct, manage, carry on, advise or act as a consultant whether directly or indirectly in connection with the solicitation of contributions in this commonwealth for or on behalf of any charitable organization but who actually solicits no contributions and has neither custody nor control of contributions as part of such services. A bona fide salaried officer or regular, nontemporary employee of a charitable organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the commonwealth shall not be deemed to be a professional fund-raising counsel.

An individual or business retained by a charity to advise the charity on conducting of fundraising campaigns is considered a fundraising counsel. Fundraising counsels do not conduct solicitation themselves, nor do they ever have custody or control of contributed funds. 

 

Massachusetts Fundraising Counsel Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$400

Notarization Required?:Not Required
Before you Apply:
  • A list of all employees or agents who will be primarily responsible for conduction or supervision campaigns. Include subcontractors.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of each fundraising contract (to be filed with registration or within 10 days of signing).

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$400

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Contract Filing

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

File a copy of each additional fundraising contract within 10 days of signing.

Professional solicitor means any person who is retained for a financial or other consideration by a charitable organization to solicit in this commonwealth contributions for charitable purposes directly or in the form of payment for goods or services, whether such solicitation is done individually or through other persons under the direction of the professional solicitor. A person who otherwise is a professional fund-raising counsel shall be deemed a professional solicitor if at any time he has custody or control of contributions. A bona fide salaried officer or regular, nontemporary employee of a charitable organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the commonwealth shall not be deemed to be a professional solicitor. No attorney, investment counselor or banker who advises an individual corporation or association to make a charitable contribution shall be deemed, as the result of such advice, to be a professional fund-raising counsel or a professional solicitor.

Massachusetts Professional Solicitor Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required
Notes:
  • Professional solicitors should ensure that the charities for whom they are soliciting are registered and in possession of a valid Certificate for Solicitation prior to commencing solicitations.
Before you Apply:

  • Additional names by which the registrant is known or conducts business

  • Registrant’s employee(s) or agent(s) who will be primarily responsible for conducting and supervising campaigns at each office listed above.
    • Include ALL sub-contractors
    • Sub-contractors must be registered and bonded with Massachusetts before solicitation occurs
  • Report all states in which you are registered as a professional fundraiser, fundraising counsel or commercial co-venturer
  • Report details about all current and previous license or permit denial, cancellation, revocation or suspension, as well as any legal action taken against you in connection with the solicitation of funds for charitable purposes
  • Report details about all misdemeanor convictions for any employee or agent, including misappropriation, misapplication, or misuse of money of another or felonies. 
  • Report ALL solicitation-related employment from the last five years on another sheet.  
    • Include the name, address, and phone number of the employer, the nature of the employment, and the length of employment
  •  
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of each fundraising contract along with Form 10A (RTF), Registration Addendum (to be filed with registration or within 10 days or signing and prior to the commencement of any solicitation)
    • Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 68, Section 22 states that “Every contract or agreement between a professional fund-raising counsel or a commercial co-venturer or a professional solicitor and a charitable organization required to have a certificate of registration pursuant to [chapter sixty-eight] section nineteen shall be in writing, signed by two officers of the charitable organization, and filed with the director of the division within ten days after such contract or agreement is entered into.  No solicitation shall be conducted prior to the filing of such contract or agreement.”
  • A list including the  name and address of the charitable organization and the dates of the current or planned campaign
Bond Amount:

$25,000

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10A: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Professional Solicitors

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new solicitation contract.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form 11A: Professional Solicitor’s Annual Financial Report

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov or file online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by February 28 of the year following the reporting year.

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

Annual financial reports need to be filed for every charitable campaign the solicitor works on.

Massachusetts Raffle and Casino Night Licenses

Not required



Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

Raffle and casino night permits are issued at the municipal level.

Individual Licenses

Massachusetts Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Massachusetts Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

Not required



Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

Solicitors who are not employed by a professional fundraising firm but operate independently may be required to register. Employees of professional fundraising firms are generally not required to register as an individual solicitor in Massachusetts.

There’s a Better Way to Stay Compliant Stop spending precious time managing state-by-state fundraising requirements. Take advantage of our full-service compliance solutions and get back to focusing on what’s most important: fulfilling your organization’s mission. Reduce Your Workload

Learn about fundraising in other jurisdictions:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
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Harbor Compliance® proudly partners with the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network to provide insightful resources and compliance solutions to nonprofits in Massachusetts.


Related Resources
White Paper
Charitable Solicitation Compliance
An explanation of increasingly complex state charity requirements.

Revised June 13, 2025. Complete data last reviewed June 10, 2021.
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