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!
- Jump To:
- 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
| Game Type: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Organization Age Requirement: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Prize Limits: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| 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: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| 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: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| 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: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
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 |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
One-Time Exemption Registration
| Exemption Eligible Organizations: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Law: | |
| Notes: |
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Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| 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. |
| Original Ink: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notarize: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notes: |
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Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $0-200, depending on contributions received from Ohio residents during the preceding fiscal year |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Original Ink: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notarize: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Penalties: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notes: |
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Change of Fiscal Year
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Turnaround: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| 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
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: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $200 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $200 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Financial Reporting
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notarize: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Ohio Professional Solicitor Registration
| Agency: | Ohio Attorney General |
| Bond Requirements: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $200 |
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $200 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Contract Filing
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notarize: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Financial Reporting
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $0 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Notarize: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
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
City of Columbus Charitable Solicitations Permit
| Agency: | City of Columbus Department of Public Safety |
Initial Registration
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $60 |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $60 |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
City of Columbus Professional Fundraiser License
| Agency: | City of Columbus Department of Public Safety |
Initial Registration
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $20 application fee + $150 license fee. |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
| Agency Fee: | $20 application fee + $150 license fee. |
| Due: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
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
