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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!
10 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure.
Initial Registration
Agency Fee:
$0
Notes:
In order to apply for a charitable gift annuity permit, a charity must have tax exempt status and adopt a board resolution pertaining to annuities and naming the segregated trust. The application process includes submitting proof of tax exemption, financial reports showing segregation of assets, and other documents. New York also offers exemptions from the permit requirement for charities whose reserve fund requirement is less than $1,000,000.
Registration Renewal
Form:
There is no renewal form.
Agency Fee:
$0
Due:
Annually by March 1.
New York Charitable Organization Registration
Agency:
New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau
Law:
New York Executive Law, Article 7a, §§ 171-a to 177, Not-For-Profit Corporation Law § 101 et seq.
Two NY statutes separately require charitable registration:
Article 7-A of the Executive Law (Article 7-A) requires registration of charitable and other nonprofit organizations that solicit contributions from New York State (including residents, foundations, corporations, government agencies and other entities).
EPTL: Section 8-1.4 of the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) requires registration of charitable organizations that are incorporated, are formed or otherwise conduct activity in New York State.
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:
No
Notes:
Every contract entered into with a professional fund raiser, fund raising counsel, or commercial co-venturer must contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be canceled;
The address to which the notice of cancellation is to be sent;
The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancellation is to be sent; and
A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?
No
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations:
EXC Article 7-A Exemptions
Corporations organized under the religious corporations law, and other religious agencies and organizations, and charities, agencies, and organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization
Educational institutions confining the solicitation of contributions to their student body, alumni, faculty and trustees, and their families
Fraternal, patriotic, social, alumni, law enforcement support organizations and historical societies chartered by the New York state board of regents when solicitation is confined to their membership
Persons requesting any contributions for the relief of any individual, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are paid to or for the benefit of the named beneficiary
Charities that receive less than $25,000 in contributions and do not use a professional fundraiser or fund raising counsel
Any charitable organization receiving an allocation from a federated fund, incorporated community appeal or a united way, provided such fund, appeal or united way is complying with the provisions of this article relating to registration and filing of financial reports with the attorney general, and provided such organization does not receive, in addition to such allocation, gross contributions in excess of $25,000 during the fiscal year, and provided further that all the fund-raising functions of such organizations are carried on by persons who are unpaid for such services
A local post, camp, chapter or similarly designated element, or a county unit of such elements, of a bona fide veterans' organization which issues charters to such local elements throughout this state, a bona fide organization of volunteer firefighters, an organization providing volunteer ambulance service or a bona fide auxiliary or affiliate of such organizations, provided all its fund-raising activities are carried on by members of such an organization or an affiliate thereof and such members receive no compensation, directly or indirectly, therefor
An educational institution which files annual financial reports with the regents of the university of the state of New York as required by the education law or with an agency having similar jurisdiction in another state or a library which files annual financial reports as required by the state education department
A charitable organization which receives all or substantially all of its funds from a single governmental agency and reports annually to that agency provided such reports contain financial information substantially similar in content to that required by subdivision one of section 172-b of this article; provided, however, that such organization may receive no more than $25,000 from sources other than the government agency to which it reports
Any police department, sheriff's department or other governmental law enforcement agency
The state parent teachers association and any parent teachers association affiliated with an educational institution that is subject to the jurisdiction of the state education department
EPT Article 8 Exemptions
The United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or to any of their agencies or governmental subdivisions
Any trustee which is required by any other provision of law to render a full, complete and itemized annual financial report to the congress of the United States or to the legislature of this state, provided that such report contains the information required of trustees pursuant to this article
Corporations organized under the religious corporations law and other religious agencies and organizations, and charities, agencies and organizations operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization
Educational institutions incorporated under the education law or by special act
Any hospital
Fraternal, patriotic, veterans, volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers, social, student or alumni organizations and historical societies chartered by the New York state board of regents
A trust for which there is a corporate trustee acting as sole trustee or co-trustee under the terms of a will of a decedent who died domiciled in a state other than New York or a trust instrument executed by a non-resident of the state of New York
Any trust in which and so long as the charitable interest is deferred or contingent
Any person who, in his or her capacity as an officer, director or trustee of any corporation or organization mentioned in this paragraph, holds property for the religious, educational or charitable purposes of such corporation or organization so long as such corporation or organization is registered with the attorney general pursuant to this section
Any cemetery corporation subject to the provisions of article fifteen of the not-for-profit corporation law
The state parent teachers association and any parent teachers association affiliated with an educational institution that is subject to the jurisdiction of the state education department
Any corporation organized under article 43 of the insurance law
Some New York 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.
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.
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 New York, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. If your home state does not issue certificates of good standing, instead submit a certified copy of your articles of incorporation and all amendments.
How to Apply:
Domestic Applicants:
File entity formation documents with the New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code.
Create an online filing account and complete the charity registration application through the New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau.
Foreign Applicants:
Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in New York. If not required, skip to number 3.
File foreign qualification documents with the New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code.
Create an online filing account and complete the charity registration application through the New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau.
$25 for 7A organizations. $0-$1,500 depending on net worth for EPTL organizations. Dual filers pay 7A and EPTL fees.
Due:
Annually within 4.5 months after the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, 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 180 days beyond the original due date.
Notes:
7A filers are registered to solicit in New York under Article 7-A of the New York Executive Law.
EPTL filers are registered under the New York Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law because they hold assets or conduct activities for charitable purposes in New York.
Dual filers are registered under both 7A and the EPTL.
Charities that contract with professional fundraisers, fundraising counsels, or commercial co-venturers are not required to submit a separate contract filing, but contract information is reported instead on schedule 4a of the CHAR500 renewal filing. A separate schedule must be prepared for each contract the charity has with one of the above mentioned entities.
Required Attachments:
IRS form 990
Audited financials (if applicable)
Professional fundraising contracts
Financial Reporting Annual Financial Report
Agency:
New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
Charitable organizations that receive more than $250,000 in gross revenue and support in a fiscal year must file annual financial reports with the Department of State.
Charities that are required to file a Funding Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law Section 172-e or a Financial Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law section 172-f are also required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.
Required Attachments:
IRS form 990 (if the charity files with the Charities Bureau)
Audited financials (if applicable)
Financial Reporting Funding Disclosure Report
Agency:
New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
Within 30 days of the close of each applicable reporting period. Reporting period means the six-month period within a calendar year starting January 1 and ending June 30 and the six-month period within a calendar year starting July 1 and ending December 31.
For example, an IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization is required to file a Funding Disclosure Report before January 31 whenever that entity made an in-kind donation greater than $10,000 to an IRC Section 501(c)(4) organization between July 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year.
501(c)(3) charities are required to file funding disclosure reports with the Department of State if they made an in-kind donation to a 501(c)(4) organization of more than $10,000 during a reporting period (6 month periods running from January 1 to June 30 and from July 1 to December 31).
Charities that are required to file a Funding Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law Section 172-e are also required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.
Required Attachments:
IRS form 990 schedule B (if applicable)
Financial Reporting Financial Disclosure Report
Agency:
New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code
Within 30 days of the close of each applicable reporting period. Reporting period means the six-month period within a calendar year starting January 1 and ending June 30 and the six-month period within a calendar year starting July 1 and ending December 31.
For example, an IRC Section 501(c)(4) organization is required to file a Financial Disclosure Report before January 31 whenever that entity spent more than $10,000 on covered communications after July 1 of the preceding calendar year.
Charities that are required to file a Financial Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law section 172-f are also required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.
501(c)(4) charities are required to file financial disclosure reports with the Department of State if they made expenditures on covered communications in an aggregate amount or fair market value exceeding $10,000 in a calendar year.
Covered communications, as defined by statute, means:
A communication by a covered entity, not otherwise reported by such covered entity pursuant to article one-A of the legislative law or article fourteen of the election law, by a covered entity conveyed to five hundred or more members of a general public audience in the form of:
an audio or video communication via broadcast, cable or satellite;
a written communication via advertisements, pamphlets, circulars, flyers, brochures, letterheads; or
other published statement which: refers to and advocates for or against a clearly identified elected official, executive or administrative body or legislative body relating to the sponsorship, support, opposition, or outcome of any proposed legislation, pending legislation, rule, regulation, hearing or decision, or advocates for or against action by any elected official, executive or administrative body or legislative body.
Covered communication shall not include:
communications with a professional journalist or newscaster, including an editorial board or editorial writer of a newspaper, magazine, news agency, press association or wire service, relating to news, as these terms are defined in section seventy-nine-h of the civil rights law, and communications relating to confidential and non-confidential news as described in subdivisions (b) and (c) of section seventy-nine-h of the civil rights law respectively and communications made pursuant to community outreach efforts for broadcast stations required by federal law; or
a communication that is:
(A) directed, sent or distributed by the covered entity only to individuals who affirmatively consent to be members of the covered entity, contribute funds to the covered entity, or, pursuant to the covered entity's articles or bylaws, have the right to vote directly or indirectly for the election of directors or officers, or on changes to bylaws, disposition of all or substantially all of the covered entity's assets or the merger or dissolution of the covered entity; or
(B) for the purpose of promoting or staging any candidate debate, town hall or similar forum to which at least two candidates seeking the same office, or two proponents of differing positions on a referendum or question submitted to voters, are invited as participants, and which does not promote or advance one candidate or position over another.
Change of Fiscal Year
Agency Fee:
$0
Turnaround:
1-2 business days
Notes:
Email Charbur.CharBur@ag.ny.gov to update fiscal year.
Cancellation
Agency Fee:
$0
Notes:
In order to close out your registration, simply submit a letter requesting the close, and explaining why it is necessary. The organization must be current with all filings before it can close out.
Commercial co-venturer means any person who for profit is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce other than in connection with the raising of funds or any other thing of value for a charitable organization and who advertises that the purchase or use of goods, services, entertainment, or any other thing of value will benefit a charitable organization.
New York Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in New York.
New York 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.
Every contract entered into with a charity must contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be cancelled;
The address to which the notice of cancellation is to be sent;
The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancellation is to be sent; and
A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
Fund raising counsel means any person who for compensation consults with a charitable organization or who plans, manages, advises, or assists with respect to the solicitation in this state of contributions for or on behalf of a charitable organization, but who does not have access to contributions or other receipts from a solicitation or authority to pay expenses associated with a solicitation and who does not solicit. A bona fide officer, volunteer, or employee of a charitable organization or an attorney at law retained by a charitable organization or an individual engaged solely to draft applications for funding from a governmental agency or an entity exempt from taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, shall not be deemed a fund raising counsel.
Contracts - See §§172-d, 173-a, 174, 174-a, Executive Law
No person shall enter into any contract or agreement with or otherwise employ or engage a Professional Fund Raiser (PFR), Fund Raising Counsel (FRC) or Professional Solicitor (PS) required to be registered under NYS Executive Law unless such PFR/FRC/PS has provided to such person a statement, signed under penalties for perjury, that it is registered with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau and in compliance with all filing requirements of the Executive Law.
No person shall enter into any contract or agreement, employment or engagement to raise funds or conduct any fund raising activities for any charitable organization required to be registered under NYS Executive Law §172 unless such charitable organization is registered with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and in compliance with all filing requirements of the Executive Law.
No person shall act as a PFR/FRC/CCV (Commercial Co-venturer) before that PFR/FRC/CCV has a written contract with the charitable organization, or other person benefitting from the services. A PFR/FRC must file with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, within 10 days of its execution, a copy of each contract entered into between the PFR/FRC and any charitable organization required to be registered under NYS Executive Law §172. At the time of the filing, the PFR/FRC must certify, under penalties for perjury, that the contract being filed is a true and correct copy of the original executed contract. For additional information, please refer to Form CHAR016A.
Whenever a charitable organization contracts with a PFR/FRC, the organization has the right to cancel the contract without cost, penalty, or liability for a period of 15 days following the date on which the contract is filed by the PFR/FRC with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, regardless of the execution date of the contract. In order to cancel during this period, the organization must mail or hand deliver a notice of cancellation to the PFR/FRC and send a copy to the Attorney General's Charities Bureau. Such notice is sufficient if it indicates that the charitable organization does not intend to be bound by the contract. For additional information, please refer to Form CHAR016B.
The failure of a PFR/FRC to discontinue solicitation or any other fund raising activity upon receipt of a notice of cancellation in accordance with the provisions of Article 7-A of the Executive Law within fifteen days of the cancellation of the contract shall be deemed to be a continuing fraud upon the people of New York State.
Every contract between a PFR and a charitable organization shall contain, or shall be deemed to contain, a provision that within 5 days of receipt by the PFR or other person, the gross revenue received from a solicitation conducted by that PFR shall be deposited in a bank account under the exclusive control of the charitable organization.
No contract filing should include Federal ID numbers or Social Security numbers of the PFR/FRC or the charitable organization or any representative of the PFR/FRC or charitable organization.
No person shall act as a sub-contractor on behalf of another PFR prior to obtaining a written contract with such PFR and written consent from the charitable organization on whose behalf fund raising activities are to be conducted pursuant to such contract. A sub-contractor must file with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, within 10 days of execution, a copy of such written consent attached to a copy of the contract between the subcontractor and the other PFR.
No services shall be performed pursuant to any contract required to be filed by a PFR/FRC if, within fifteen days of filing, the Attorney General's Charities Bureau notifies the PFR/FRC and the charitable organization of any deficiencies in the contract and/or in the registration or filings of the PFR/FRC or the charitable organization.
No services shall be performed under a contract required to be filed by a PFR until the PFR shall have received an acknowledgement from the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau or such contract shall have been on file with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau for at least fifteen days, whichever is shorter
Books and Records - See §173, Executive Law
A PFR/FRC/CCV must maintain accurate and current books and records of all activities conducted under any contract with a charitable organization or other person benefitting from the services for a minimum of three years from the expiration date of such contract. Such books and records must be available for inspection, examination and/or audit by charitable organization and/or the Attorney General or any authorized representative at the address of the PFR/FRC/CCV.
Within seven days of a request from a charitable organization with which it has contracted, a PFR/FRC/CCV must provide copies of all related records to that charitable organization
Required Attachments:
Copies of all current contracts with charitable organizations required to be registered under the statute that were not previously filed
Copies of all organizing documents, amendments to organizing documents, certificates of assumed name and “doing business as” (d/b/a) certificates that were not previously filed
File a contract certification at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.
Notes:
Every contract entered into pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be cancelled;
The address to which the notice of cancellation is to be sent;
The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancellation is to be sent; and
A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
New York Games of Chance License
Game Type:
Casino nights, raffles (with net profits over $30k per year), and bell jar.
A professional fund raiser is any person who directly or indirectly, by contract, including but not limited to sub-contract, letter or other agreement or other engagement on any basis, for compensation or other consideration (a) plans, manages, conducts, carries on or assists in connection with a charitable solicitation or who employs or otherwise engages on any basis another person to solicit from persons in this state for or on behalf of any charitable organization or any other person, or who engages in the business of, or holds himself out to persons in this state as independently engaged in the business of soliciting for such purpose; (b) solicits on behalf of a charitable organization or any other person; or (c) who advertises that the purchase or use of goods, services, entertainment or any other thing of value will benefit a charitable organization but is not a commercial co-venturer. A bona fide director, trustee, officer, volunteer, or employee of a charitable organization or a fund raising counsel shall not be deemed a PFR.
Copies of all current contracts with charitable organizations required to be registered under the statute that were not previously filed
Copies of all organizing documents, amendments to organizing documents, certificates of assumed name and “doing business as” (d/b/a) certificates that were not previously filed
Copies of all delinquent Professional Fund Raiser Interim/Closing Statements (Form CHAR037)
File a contract certification at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.
Notes:
Every contract entered into pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be cancelled;
The address to which the notice of cancellation is to be sent;
The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancellation is to be sent; and
A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
Every contract between a professional fund raiser and a charitable organization shall contain or shall be deemed to contain a provision that within five days of receipt by the professional fund raiser or any other person the gross revenue received from any solicitation shall be deposited in a bank account under the exclusive control of the charity.
Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and within 15 months after the start of contract commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year and annually thereafter.
New York Raffle License
Game Type:
Raffles
Agency:
New York State Gaming Commission
Organization Age Requirement:
3 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure.
Age Restrictions:
Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Notes:
Charities that hold raffles but fail to raise more than $20,000 over the course of a year, and never raise more than $5,000 during a single raffle event may be exempt from registration. Forms are provided by the Gaming Commission but are filed with the municipality where the gaming events will take place.
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.
