A Complete Guide to North Carolina Charitable Registration

p>In North Carolina, any charity, sponsor, or individual requesting public contributions for a charitable cause must be registered with the state. This includes those involved in charitable sales promotions, where a portion of the proceeds from goods or services sold are donated to a charitable cause.

This article will walk you through the North Carolina charitable registration process, covering the necessary steps to apply for and renew a license annually. We’ll also discuss how Harbor Compliance simplifies charitable registration, ensuring your organization remains compliant and helps you navigate the process with ease.

Charities Eligible for North Carolina Charity Registration Exemption

According to the North Carolina General Statute 131F, certain charities are exempt from registering with the state, including:

• Religious institution solicitations
• Federal, state, or local government solicitations
• Organizations receiving under $50,000 in contributions annually with no paid officers or solicitors (requires annual financial review by the Charitable Solicitation Licensing (CSL) Division)
• Educational institutions accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or equivalent bodies
• Licensed hospitals and their associated foundations
• Noncommercial radio or TV stations
• Qualified community trusts
• Bona fide volunteers, employees, or officers of a charitable organization
• Attorneys, investment counselors, or bankers advising on charitable contributions
• Volunteer fire departments, REACT, rescue squads, or EMS services
• Christian associations for young men and women
• Nonprofit continuing care facilities
• Tax-exempt nonprofit fire or emergency medical service organizations that sell goods or services without asking for donations

To qualify for an exemption, certain organizations must submit a written request along with supporting documentation to the department.

Educational institutions approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (or equivalent), or those in compliance with Article 39 of Chapter 115C of GS, must submit a one-time exemption questionnaire (Form 131f-3(4)). Additionally, any foundation or department affiliated with these institutions, or any organization with 20 or more educational institutions as members, must submit this form.

Charities with less than $50,000 in annual contributions must submit a yearly exemption request (Form 131f-3(3)) unless they compensate any board members, officers, or contract with a fundraising consultant.

All other exemption-eligible organizations are automatically exempt and do not need to submit a request. Once approved, the organization will receive an exemption letter. The department can review or revoke exemptions at its discretion.

North Carolina Charitable Registration Requirements

To file online with the CSL, you’ll need to provide the following documentation in the PDF format:

• Statement of your charity’s purpose and ways the contributions will be used
• A list of all the major program activities
• A copy of the IRS tax determination letter (if not previously submitted to CSL)
• A list of all names under which the entity solicits contributions
• Documentation of legal authority to use the entity name and any other “doing business as” (DBA) names
• A list of all other states where the entity is authorized to solicit contributions
• A list of names and street addresses for all directors, officers, trustees, and salaried personnel (the entity’s address can be used)
• A list of individuals in charge of solicitation activities
• A list of names, street addresses, and phone numbers for individuals or officers responsible for the custody and/or distribution of contributions
• The total amount of contributions received in the last fiscal year

Additionally, you may need to provide explanatory statements in case any of the following situations apply to you:

• Any officers, directors, trustees, or salaried executive personnel have been prohibited from soliciting contributions in any jurisdiction.
• Any of these individuals have been found to have engaged in unlawful practices related to soliciting contributions or managing charitable assets.
• The organization’s authority to solicit contributions has been denied, suspended, or revoked by any government agency.
• The applicant has entered into any assurance of voluntary compliance or similar agreements in any jurisdiction.

North Carolina Charitable Solicitation Registration Process

To get started with the registration process, you’ll need to create an online account on the North Carolina Secretary of State website. Once done, you may proceed with the filing following these steps:

1. Navigate to the Divisions tab and click on Apply for a License Online under the Charities section.
2. Set the application type to Initial Charity/Sponsor if you’re filing for the first time.
3. Input details about your charitable organization, including your charitable purpose, fiscal year-end, federal tax exemption determination status, and other formation information.
4. Upload all the required documents for registration (the documentation must be notarized and signed by the CFO and the treasurer).
5. Pay the registration fee and submit the form. The fee will be automatically calculated based on your contribution amount.

Note that you can also file your registration via mail.

North Carolina Charitable Registration Renewal

All North Carolina registered charities are required to file for annual renewal by the 15th day of the fifth month following the end of your fiscal year.

An automatic two-month extension applies to all active charities. You can request an additional four-month extension (making the total extension six months) by submitting IRS Form 8868 before the first extension expires.

To renew, you need to complete the same application as the initial registration. To do so, select the renewal option, submit the application along with your financial records, and pay the applicable fee (based on the contributions amount from the previous fiscal year).

Hurdles in Self-Registering as a Charity in North Carolina

Self-registration can be time-consuming and requires great attention to detail. You must be thoroughly aware of your state’s registration requirements and stay on top of annual renewal filings.

Since charitable compliance is an ongoing effort that can drain your time and resources, having a reliable compliance provider by your side can be a huge help in simplifying the process and reducing complexities. If you want to outsource your charitable registration workload to a service provider like that, look no further than Harbor Compliance.

Outsource Charitable Registration to Harbor Compliance

Harbor Compliance has years of experience handling tens of thousands of registrations annually, significantly more than any other compliance provider in the industry.

Our Charitable Registration Service helps charitable organizations confidently solicit donations in their state through letters, phone calls, emails, social media, and grant applications while we handle every detail of compliance management.

After the acquisition of Labyrinth, Inc.—the largest provider of charitable registration services in the U.S.—we can now facilitate over 60% of charitable registrations for organizations in at least 38 states.

When you sign up for our services, a dedicated registration specialist will handle all your filings. You can also appoint a Power of Attorney to sign applications on your behalf.

We also offer other tailored services for professional fundraisers, fundraising consultants, and commercial co-ventures, which include:

• Registered Agent Service—Appoint us as your registered agent, and we’ll manage all your legal communications and ensure their secure and prompt delivery.
• Foreign Qualification Service—Planning to expand into another state? We handle the entire foreign qualification process, from obtaining certificates of good standing to confirming approvals.
• Tax Exemption—Our experts assist in securing state tax exemptions, helping your nonprofit conserve resources while eliminating administrative hassle.

How To Order Charitable Registration Service

If you wish to connect with our team and understand your state’s charitable registration requirements, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Charitable Registration, Renewal, and Compliance page.
2. Provide the details about your contact information, legal company name, and business structure.
3. Submit the form.

To get deep insights into charitable registration regulations, download our free white papers: Charitable Solicitation Compliance and Charitable Registration - Navigating the Complexities.

Other Services by Harbor Compliance

In addition to charitable registration, we provide a comprehensive suite of services to help organizations fulfill their legal requirements and maintain compliance with state regulations. Explore our offerings in the table below:

Category	Services
Entity lifecycle management	Name reservation DBA registration Amendments Initial and annual reports
Beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting	BOI reporting Records Manager
Licensing support	General business licenses Industry-specific licenses, such as construction, engineering, and architecture
Document filing and retrieval	Drop-off filing Articles of reinstatement Certificate of good standing Certificate of Authority Certified copies
Nonprofit formation	Incorporation 501(c) tax exemption
Tax services	Payroll tax registration Sales and use tax registration Employer Identification Number (EIN)

North Carolina Charitable Registration FAQs

In this section, you’ll find the answers to some frequently asked questions about registering your charitable organization in North Carolina. If you need to learn more, visit our Information Center.

Harbor Compliance—Your Partner for Hassle-Free Charity Registration

The process of charitable registration involves more than filling out application forms—it requires managing strict deadlines, dedicating significant time to understanding the requirements, and managing your financial resources. In addition, ongoing renewals, varying fees, and state-specific regulations only add to the complexity.

Harbor Compliance can make the process straightforward, allowing you to focus on your mission while confidently soliciting donations in your state. Order our Charitable Registration Service to receive expert guidance, tailored solutions, and efficient systems—we handle everything from initial registrations to renewals and state tax exemptions seamlessly.

To learn more about our other services, connect with our team, and we’ll be at your service. You can also schedule a demo of our Software Suite to explore how its modules streamline and improve your operations. Meanwhile, don’t forget to try our free Harbor Compliance Score™ tool to evaluate your organization’s current regulatory standing.

If you want to learn how charitable registration works in other U.S. states and territories, browse our other guides in the table below:

• Jump To:
• North Carolina Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
• North Carolina Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Learn about fundraising in other jurisdictions: