Ohio 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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- Ohio Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Local Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Ohio Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Ohio Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Ohio Bingo License
Initial Registration
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | Fees vary by type of games offered. $200 for bingo and as much as $5,000 for instant bingo, depending on revenue. |
| Law: | ORC § 2915.01 et seq. |
Ohio Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
Ohio statutes do not address charitable gift annuities, but the state generally considers charities that issue annuities exempt from insurance regulation.
Ohio Charitable Registration
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Law: | Ohio Revised Code Ann. § 1716.01 et seq., Ohio Revised Code §§ 109.23 to 109.32 |
One-Time Exemption Registration
| Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $0 |
| Notes: | Charities should file an online request for exemption determination if they believe they are exempt. Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria. |
Initial Registration
| Instructions: | Charitable Registration User Guide, including requesting an exemption |
| Filing method: | Online (paper forms are no longer accepted) |
| Agency fee: | $0 for organizations that have not yet solicited in Ohio. Fees range from $0-$200, depending on contributions, for organizations that have previously solicited in Ohio. |
| Notes: |
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Registration Renewal
| Filing method: | Online (paper forms are no longer accepted) |
| Agency fee: | $0-200, depending on contributions received from Ohio residents during the preceding fiscal year |
| Due: | Renewal is due annually 4.5 months after the end of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, then renewal is due May 15. |
| Penalties: | There is a $200 late fee. |
| Notes: |
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Change of Fiscal Year
| Agency fee: | $0 |
| Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
| Notes: | Email the state to inform them of the change. |
Ohio Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Ohio 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.
Registration Not Required
Not required
Financial Reporting
| Due: | A commercial co-venturer shall provide to the attorney general a copy of the final accounting for each charitable sales promotion that it conducts not later than ten days after the attorney general requests it. |
Ohio Fundraising Counsel Registration
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Notes: | The fundraising counsel registration is only required of counsels that collect or at any time have custody of charitable contributions. |
Initial Registration
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $200 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $200 |
| Due: | Annually by March 31. |
Financial Reporting
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | $0 |
| Due: | Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year. |
| Notarize: | Required |
Ohio Professional Solicitor Registration
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $200 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $200 |
| Due: | Annually by March 31. |
Contract Filing
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | $0 |
| Due: | File a solicitation notice prior to the start of each solicitation campaign. |
| Notarize: | Required |
Financial Reporting
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | $0 |
| Due: | Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year. |
| Notarize: | Required |
Ohio Raffle License
Not required
There is no state-level raffle license in Ohio, but the law limits which organizations can hold a raffle event.
Local Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Individual Licenses
Ohio Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Ohio Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
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 Ohio.
Registration Not Required
Not required
Learn about fundraising in other states:
Free Webinar
Charitable Solicitation Compliance
What does it take to be compliant?
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Free White Paper
Charitable Solicitation Compliance
An explanation of increasingly complex state charity requirements.
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Free White Paper
How Compliance Affects Grantseeking
Learn what grant makers and grantseekers need to know to ensure compliance.
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