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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!
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
Michigan statutes do not address charitable gift annuities, however, an attorney general opinion that exempted the Michigan State University Foundation from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities is also applied to other charitable organizations so long as the issuance of annuities remains secondary to the object and purpose of the organization.
Michigan Charitable Solicitation Registration
Agency:
Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section
Law:
Michigan Compiled Laws §400.271 through 400.292
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:
No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?
Yes
Fact Checked:
4/10/20
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations:
Organizations exempt under both the Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act (COSA) and the Supervision of Trustees for Charitable Purposes Act (STCPA):
An organization that requests contributions only for the relief or benefit of a named individual or family with all fundraising conducted by persons who are unpaid for their service
A Michigan educational institution approved by the Michigan Board of Education
A veterans organization incorporated under federal law
A licensed hospital (Health systems and other affiliates are not exempt even if they include a licensed hospital)
A school booster organization operating with the knowledge and approval of an educational institution for the support or promotion of educational, artistic, musical, or athletic programs or events
A governmental unit or instrumentality
An advocacy or lobbying organization, or an organization associated with an advocacy organization, political party, candidate or committee, that does not have 501(c)(3) status (If the organization's IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter requires it to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N, the organization likely does not qualify for this exemption)
An organization that will not have 501(c)(3) status and whose principal purpose is not charitable but that solicits from time to time for a charitable purpose (To qualify for this exemption the organization must not have or intend to receive 501(c)(3) status, all fundraising must be performed by members of the organization who are not paid for their services, and all funds must be wholly used for the purposes for which they were solicited)
Organizations exempt under COSA:
An organization that confines solicitations to drives solely among members, directors and their immediate families, where the general public is not invited to become a member. This includes a private foundation for IRS tax purposes that receives contributions solely from incorporators, directors, stockholders or their families, or from a sponsoring business
An organization whose sole source of contributions is a charitable organization registered with this office to solicit contributions
A hospital-based foundation or auxiliary that solicits contributions solely for 1 or more licensed hospitals
An organization that does not intend to solicit and receive, and does not actually receive, contributions in excess of $25,000 (Excluding grants from government agencies or restricted grants from foundations) during any 12-month period (All fundraising functions must be conducted by persons, whether staff or contractors, who are not paid for their services and the organization must make a financial statement of its activities of its most recent fiscal year available to its members and the public)
A nonprofit corporation whose purpose is the owning and operating of facilities for the aged and chronically ill that is under the sole control of a religious or fraternal society
An organization at least 50% of whose activities are licensed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to serve children and families
Organizations exempt under STCPA:
An organization incorporated or organized in a state other than Michigan that will never hold assets in Michigan, including cash, savings accounts, investment accounts, land, building, equipment, etc.
An organization that receives operating funds from United Way
An amateur theater, band, orchestra, chorale or dance organization
One principal officer or director must sign. Signatures need not be notarized.
Verify that the attorney general's office received the registration form by searching for the organization at www.michigan.gov/AGCharitySearch
Following review if your initial registration or exemption, the Attorney General may instruct your organization to complete additional forms.
Some Michigan 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.
Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Michigan.
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.
Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Michigan.
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 Michigan, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 30 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:
Domestic Applicants:
File entity formation documents with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.
Submit an Initial Solicitation Registration Form and all required attachments to the Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section.
Foreign Applicants:
Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Michigan. If not required, skip to number 3.
File foreign qualification documents with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.
Submit an Initial Solicitation Registration Form and all required attachments to the Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section.
Renewal is due annually 7 months after the close of your nonprofit's fiscal year. So if your fiscal calendar ends December 31, then the renewal is due by July 31.
Due Date Extension:
Due dates can be extended for 5 months beyond the original due date by emailing ct_email@michigan.gov with an explanation of your request for extension. A copy of IRS form 8868 must be included when requesting an extension.
Notes:
Note the list of ~5 attachments you must include with the application. Larger organiztaions must attach financial statements / audit.
Required Attachments:
IRS form 990
Audited accrual basis financials (if applicable)
List of officers and directors
Professional fundraising contracts
Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws
Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process.
Fact Checked:
12/7/18
Cancellation
Agency Fee:
$0
Notes:
To close out your registration, submit a letter indicating the organization will no longer accept contributions from Michigan sources (including via internet). The process may be different for organizations that hold assets in Michigan.
Fact Checked:
7/14/20
Michigan Charity Game Ticket License
Game Type:
Pull-tabs
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Fact Checked:
1/10/18
Initial Registration
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
Michigan 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.
Michigan Fundraising Counsel Registration
Not required
Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
Michigan no longer requires fundraising counsels to register.
More information: Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section
Michigan Large Bingo License
Game Type:
Bingo
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Fact Checked:
1/10/18
Initial Registration
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Notes:
Licensing is a two step process in Michigan. Organizations must first apply to qualify as an organization, then qualifying organizations can apply for gaming licenses.
Fact Checked:
1/10/18
Initial Registration
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
There is no specific requirement to update an organization's qualification, however, charities may be required to submit periodic updates to the information on file with the state.
More information: Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Michigan Professional Fundraiser License
Agency:
Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section
Varies by number of drawings and prizes offered: 1) If the total value of prizes awarded in a day is $500 or less, fee is $15 for up to 3 events + $5 for each additional event. 2) If the total value of prizes awarded in a day is more than $500, fee is $50 for each drawing event.
Fact Checked:
1/10/18
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Raffle licenses are issued for specific events dates and do not need to be renewed.
More information: Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Michigan Special Bingo License
Game Type:
Bingo
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Fact Checked:
1/10/18
Initial Registration
Agency:
Michigan State Lottery - Charitable Gaming Division
Filing fees depend on your individual situation. We do our best to calculate your filing fees
upfront and collect those fees today so we can get started. Your specialist will determine your
exact filing fees and invoice additional fees if required.
When processing government applications or disbursing filing fees, we may add an order processing fee to cover our administrative expenses.