Ohio Attorney General Charitable Registration—A Complete Overview

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Registering a charitable organization in Ohio is a crucial step for any nonprofit planning to fundraise in the state. With specific requirements for registration and annual reporting, the process ensures transparency and accountability in the nonprofit sector.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the Ohio Attorney General charitable registration process, covering essential steps, such as initial registration, filing annual reports, and determining exemptions. We’ll also explain how Harbor Compliance streamlines charitable registration and helps ensure regulatory compliance.

What Does Ohio Charitable Registration Entail?

Charitable registration is a legal requirement for most nonprofit organizations soliciting donations within the state. All charities and organizations soliciting fundraising in Ohio, regardless of their tax-exempt status, must register with the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section.

The idea is to help protect donors and foster trust in the nonprofit sector by making financial and operational information accessible to the public.

Ohio Charitable Registration Exemptions

Under the Charitable Trust Act and Charitable Organizations Act, the following types of organizations are exempt from Ohio charitable registration:

  • Churches
  • Schools with a regular faculty, established curricula, and a physical location where students attend classes
  • Qualifying charitable remainder trusts or trusts with revocable charitable interests
  • Charitable trusts that:
    • Are not located or incorporated in Ohio
    • Have not filed IRS information indicating an Ohio location
    • Do not conduct program services in Ohio
    • Have no assets in the state
  • Educational institutions, if solicitations are limited to alumni, faculty, trustees, students, and their families

Note: This list is not exhaustive. For the full list of exempted organizations, please check out Section 109.26 of the Ohio Revised Code (Rule 109: 1-1-02).

How To Determine if Your Organization Is Exempt From Ohio Charity Registration

If you think you’re eligible for an exemption, you must submit an exemption determination request through the Ohio Attorney General’s online charitable registration system. It’s important to select all applicable exemptions applicable to you when making this request.

Keep in mind that your organization may need to register under two different statutes. This means that you could be exempt under one statute but still required to file annual reports under another.

Additionally, you must provide supporting documents, such as bylaws or other relevant materials. These documents can be uploaded to the online system, emailed to CharitableRegistration@OhioAGO.gov, or mailed to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Requirements for Charitable Registration in Ohio

Before starting the registration process, make sure to complete the following prerequisites for an error-free application process:

  • Gather the articles of incorporation, charter, constitution, or other foundational documents.
  • Include a Federal Tax Exemption Determination Letter if your organization has a tax-exempt status or an Affirmation of IRS Status Form if it doesn’t.
  • If you’re seeking an exemption, provide detailed information showing how the exemption applies within three weeks of the request.
  • If you’re registering your foreign organization in Ohio, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state and submit it with your foreign qualification.

Ohio Charitable Registration Process

Once you’ve obtained all the required documentation, follow these steps to start the charitable registration process:

  1. Go to the Charity Registration page and create an account. It’s recommended to have multiple individuals associated with the account to ensure notifications and reminders are received.
  2. Complete the system prompts with basic information about your organization and its activities.
  3. Upload the IRS Determination Letter (if applicable) or the Affirmation of IRS Status Form.
  4. Submit foundational documents, such as articles of incorporation or other creating documents.
  5. Submit the application and pay the specified Ohio Attorney General charitable registration fees, ranging from $0–$200 based on contributions.

Note that your organization must continue to file annual reports by the 15th day of the fifth month following the fiscal year. Additionally, you must regularly update your organization’s file to reflect any changes.

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Penalties for Violating the State of Ohio Charitable Registration Requirements

If you fail to register your charitable organization with the Ohio Attorney General, the implications may include the following:

Violation Penalty
Not registering your nonprofit organization within six months of its formation Late fee of $200 per year
Failing to register your organization A lawsuit against the organization filed by the Ohio Attorney General
Failing to file a Statement of Continued Existence with the Ohio secretary of state every five years (to confirm your active status) Cancellation of your organization’s articles of incorporation

Difficulties of DIY Charitable Registration

Ohio has specific nonprofit registration regulations that can be difficult to navigate on your own. Organizations must stay on top of registration prerequisites and reporting deadlines while keeping their information updated with the Ohio Attorney General’s office.

Additionally, requesting an exemption can be a complex process. It requires getting familiar with the online registration system, submitting supporting documentation, and waiting for a formal decision. Failure to provide the required documentation within the specified timeframe can result in the rejection of the exemption request.

All of this can be streamlined with the help of an expert familiar with Ohio’s charitable laws and regulations. Outsourcing the registration process to a reliable service provider like Harbor Compliance can be an effective solution.

How Harbor Compliance Eases the Registration Burden

Harbor Compliance’s Charitable Registration Service simplifies state fundraising registrations for charitable organizations. With extensive experience handling tens of thousands of registrations annually, we help organizations with filing, allowing them to focus on soliciting donations via letters, phone calls, emails, social media, and grant applications.

After acquiring Labyrinth, Inc. (the largest provider of charitable registration services in the U.S.), Harbor Compliance now oversees and supports more than 60% of the charitable registrations for organizations registered across at least 38 states.

Our service includes a dedicated registration specialist who handles all filings, with the option of a Power of Attorney to sign applications on your behalf. In addition, we offer a variety of managed services for professional fundraisers, fundraising consultants, commercial co-ventures, and others, offering a streamlined and effective solution for all your charitable registration needs.

Besides charitable registration, we also help nonprofit organizations with the following services:

  • Registered Agent Service—You can appoint us as your registered agent (we offer nationwide coverage), and rest assured that your legal correspondence will be handled responsibly and promptly.
  • Foreign Qualification Service—If you’re expanding your operations into another state, we’ll handle the end-to-end foreign qualification process for you, from obtaining a certificate of good standing to sending confirmation when your filings are approved.
  • Tax Exemption—If eligible, we’ll help you with obtaining state tax exemptions for your nonprofit organization.

Ordering Harbor Compliance’s Charitable Registration Service

Ordering our charitable registration services is pretty straightforward. Follow these steps to have our team review your state registration requirements and provide assistance:

  1. Visit the Charitable Registration Service page.
  2. Complete the form by providing personal information, including your contact details, legal company name, business structure, etc.
  3. Hit the Submit button.

If you want to learn more, download our free white papers: Charitable Solicitation Compliance and Charitable Registration - Navigating the Complexities.

Other Services by Harbor Compliance

Charitable registration is just one of our many areas of expertise. We offer a wide range of services to help you navigate your state’s regulatory requirements. The table below highlights some of our most popular solutions from our comprehensive portfolio:

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

Ohio Attorney General Charitable Registration FAQs

This section addresses some common queries organizations have about completing their charitable registration with the state. For more information, visit our Information Center.

Organizations intending to solicit within the state must complete the registration process before seeking donations. New organizations in Ohio need to register within six months of establishing the trust and before soliciting. Should an organization register after the fiscal year-end, they might need to submit any overdue annual reports.

Any incorporated or organized charity in Ohio holding assets or providing program services in the state must register under the Charitable Trust Act. Additionally, any organization soliciting for charitable purposes must register under the Charitable Organization Act in Ohio.

You must request an exemption determination using the online charitable registration system to check whether your charity is exempt. You can forward your request by emailing CharitableRegistration@OhioAGO.gov or sending a mail to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Enjoy Stress-Free Charitable Registration in Ohio With Harbor Compliance

Managing charitable registration on your own can be complex and time-consuming, draining your resources and staff’s energy. Harbor Compliance can help streamline the process and significantly reduce your workload. Order our Charitable Registration Service, and we’ll make sure all the regulatory requirements are met, enabling you to stay focused on your nonprofit’s mission. With a dedicated registration specialist and an intuitive online system, we make it easy to manage your filings without the stress of missing deadlines or managing complex forms.

Use our FREE Harbor Compliance Score™ if you want to check whether your nonprofit meets other regulatory requirements. From there, we’ll assist you with our various solutions if there are areas that could use improvement. Contact us to get started with our other services and schedule a free demo to explore our software.

If you’re interested in learning more about charitable registration requirements and processes throughout the U.S., check out our other guides below:

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Company Licenses

Ohio Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Ohio Bingo License

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Ohio Attorney General
Organization Age Requirement:

2 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure.

Prize Limits:

The aggregate prize for a bingo session cannot exceed $6,000.

Law:

ORC § 2915.01 et seq.

Notes:

Charities may not need a license if they only intend to hold a raffle.

Initial Registration

Agency:Ohio Attorney General
Filing Method:

Online only.

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.

Registration Renewal

Agency:Ohio Attorney General
Filing Method:

Online only.

Agency Fee:

Fees vary by type of games offered. $200 for bingo and as much as $5,000 for instant bingo, depending on revenue.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Ohio Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Not required



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

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 § 1716.01 and Ohio Revised Code § 109.26

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

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

Charitable Trust Act Exemptions:

  • Any governmental unit. For purposes of this paragraph, "governmental unit" means a political subdivision, agency, department, county, parish, municipal corporation, instrumentality or other unit of the government of the United States, a state, or a foreign country.
  • Organizations which are organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes. These include churches, conventions and associations of churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church.
  • Educational institutions which normally maintain a regular faculty and curriculum and normally have a regular body of pupils or students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are carried on
  • Charitable trusts in which all charitable interests are contingent, revocable, or subject to an unlimited power of invasion for purposes other than charitable purposes
  • Charitable trusts which are not located in Ohio. For purposes of this paragraph, a charitable trust is located in Ohio and must register if not otherwise exempt if it is incorporated or otherwise organized in Ohio, conducts program services in Ohio or has assets in Ohio. For the purpose of this paragraph, "assets" includes cash, inventory, equipment, real estate, securities, investments, financial accounts and any other property

 

Charitable Organizations Act Exemptions:

  • Any religious agencies and organizations, and charities, agencies, and organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious organization
  • Any charitable organization that meets all of the following requirements:
    • It has been in continuous existence in this state for a period of at least two years;
    • It has received from the internal revenue service a determination letter that is currently in effect, stating that the charitable organization is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
    • It has registered with the attorney general as a charitable trust pursuant to section 109.26 of the Revised Code;
    • It has filed an annual report with and paid the required fee to the attorney general pursuant to section 109.31 of the Revised Code.
  • Any educational institution, when solicitation of contributions is confined to alumni, faculty, trustees, or the student membership and their families
  • Every person other than an individual, when solicitation of contributions for a charitable purpose or on behalf of a charitable organization is confined to its existing membership, present or former employees, or present or former trustees
  • Any public primary or secondary school, when solicitation of contributions is confined to alumni, faculty, or the general population of the local school district
  • Any booster club that is organized and operated in conjunction with and for the benefit of students of public primary or secondary schools
  • Any charitable organization that does not receive gross revenue, excluding grants or awards from the government or an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(a) and described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, in excess of $25,000 during its immediately preceding fiscal year, if the organization does not compensate any person primarily to solicit contributions.
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Law:

ORC § 1716.03 and OAC 109:1-1-02

Notes:
  • The registration requirement for charities in Ohio is established in two separate sections of law, meaning that charities may be exempt under one act but required to register under the other.
  • 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

Filing Method:

Online

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.

Turnaround:

1 week

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required
Notes:
  • The CFO / treasurer must sign
  • Some Ohio 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 Ohio, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Ohio Secretary of State.
  2. Create a filing account online and complete a charitable registration through the Ohio Attorney General's office.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Ohio. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Ohio Secretary of State.
  3. Create a filing account online and complete a charitable registration through the Ohio Attorney General's office.
Required Attachments:

  • IRS form 990
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bylaws
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

For organizations registering under the Ohio Charitable Trust Act:

  • $0 if assets are less than $25,000
  • $50 if assets are $25,000 to $100,000
  • $100 if assets are $100,000 to $500,000
  • $200 if assets are $500,000 or more

 

For organizations registering under the Ohio Charitable Organizations Act:

  • $0 if contributions are less than $5,000
  • $50 if contributions are $5,000 to $25,000
  • $100 if contributions are $25,000 to $50,000
  • $200 if contributions are $50,000 or more
Due:
  • Annually by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, then 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.

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

There is a $200 late fee per year per report.

Required Attachments:

  • List of officers and directors

Reinstatement

Not required



Charities wishing to renew a lapsed registration must submit a renewal filing and financial documents for each year not registered. These filings must be submitted separately with the required fee for each year + $200 per year late fee.

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Email to charitableregistration@ohioago.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1-2 business days

Notes:

Your fiscal year can be changed by emailing charitableregistration@ohioago.gov written notice of the change including when the change occurred and what the new fiscal year end date is. Alternatively, the organization can email a copy of the short year Form 990 that was filed with the IRS. 

Cancelation

Form:

Final Annual Report and Asset Disposition

Filing Method:

Mail, fax, or email to CharitableRegistration@OhioAGO.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

An organization that no longer solicits in Ohio should fill out and return a Solicitation Withdrawal form, which the state provides upon request. Fees and/or final annual reports may be required, depending on when the organization ceased soliciting.

Ohio Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Not required



Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Ohio.

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.

Ohio Fundraising Counsel Registration

Not required



Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Ohio.

Fundraising counsels are no longer required to register with the Attorney General's Office.

More information: Ohio Attorney General

With some limited exceptions, a professional solicitor is any person, group, or other entity that, for compensation, performs on behalf of or for the benefit of a charitable organization any service in connection with which contributions are or will be solicited in Ohio by the compensated professional or by any person it employs, procures, or otherwise engages directly or indirectly to solicit contributions; see Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 1716.01.

Ohio Professional Solicitor Registration

Agency:Ohio Attorney General
Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by March 31.

Contract Filing

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

File a solicitation notice prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.

Notarization Required?:Required

Financial Reporting

Filing Method:

Online

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.

Notarization Required?:Required

Ohio Raffle License

Not required



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

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

City of Columbus Charitable Solicitations Permit

Agency:City of Columbus - Department of Building and Zoning - License Section (OH)
Law:

Columbus Code of Ordinances Ch. 525

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Any bona fide, publicly recognized evangelical, missionary, or religious organization or charities, agencies, or organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by such organizations
  • Any college, university or school accredited by a regional accrediting association such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or approved by the Department of Education of the state of Ohio, or person acting under the auspices of such colleges, universities or schools
  • An organization where the solicitation is made solely from the membership of said organization
  • Any person requesting contributions for the relief of any individual or family, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are turned over to the named beneficiary
  • Any person, when contemplated gross contributions of a fund solicitation will not exceed $500 in any one year
Law:

Columbus Code of Ordinances § 525.03

Initial Registration

Form:

Charitable Solicitations Application

Agency Fee:

$60

Notarization Required?:Required
Required Attachments:
  • Proof of Registration with the State of Ohio, Attorney General’s Office
  • Proof of Registration with the State of Ohio, Secretary of State’s Office (Required if organization is located in Ohio)
  • Copy of IRS determination letter
  • Articles of incorporation
  • List of officers, directors, trustees, and/or executive personnel
  • List of professional fundraisers and solicitors who will act on behalf of the organization (including copies of contracts)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Charitable Solicitations Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Required Attachments:
  • Proof of Registration with the State of Ohio, Attorney General’s Office
  • Proof of Registration with the State of Ohio, Secretary of State’s Office (Required if organization is located in Ohio)
  • List of officers, directors, trustees, and/or executive personnel
  • List of professional fundraisers and solicitors who will act on behalf of the organization (including copies of contracts)

City of Columbus Professional Fundraiser License

Agency:City of Columbus - Department of Building and Zoning - License Section (OH)

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Fundraiser Application

Agency Fee:

$20 application fee + $150 license fee.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Professional Fundraiser Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$20 application fee + $150 license fee.

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Individual Licenses

Ohio Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Ohio Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

Not required



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

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.

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

Revised February 10, 2025. Complete data last reviewed June 11, 2021.
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