Tennessee 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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- Tennessee Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Tennessee Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Tennessee Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Tennessee Charitable Gaming Licenses
Initial Registration
Registration Renewal
Tennessee Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $675 |
Notarize: | Required |
Notes: | Charities must maintain a separate reserve fund that contains either 110% of the reserves required by TN Code § 56-52-104(b) or the total amount of donations for outstanding charitable gift annuities. |
Fact Checked: | 12/4/17 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | There is no renewal form, instead send a letter of intent to renew to the department along with the renewal fee. |
Agency Fee: | $100 |
Due: | Annually by March 1. |
Notes: | In addition to renewing the certificate of authority, charities should also submit an annual report within 90 days after the close of their fiscal year. |
Fact Checked: | 12/4/17 |
Tennessee Charitable Organization Registration
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: | |
Fact Checked: | 1/16/20 |
Registration to Obtain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Charities with less than $50,000 in gross contributions during the preceding fiscal year |
Form: | Form SS-6042: Annual Request for $50,000 and Under Exemption |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Charities must register within 30 days if they exceed $50,000 in contributions. |
Fact Checked: | 2/3/20 |
Renewal to Maintain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Charities with less than $50,000 in gross contributions during the preceding fiscal year |
Form: | Form SS-6042: Annual Request for $50,000 and Under Exemption (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually within 6 months of the organization's fiscal year end. |
Fact Checked: | 2/3/20 |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form SS-6001: Application for Registration of a Charitable Organization |
Instructions: | Filing instructions for registration of a charitable organization |
Filing Method: | Online or mail. |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Turnaround: | 1 month |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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How to Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 4/14/20 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Form SS-6002: Application to Renew Registration of a Charitable Organization |
Instructions: | Filing instructions for renewing registration of a charitable organization |
Filing Method: | Online or mail. |
Agency Fee: | $80-240, depending on gross revenue |
Due: | Renewal must be filed annually within 6 months after the close of your fiscal year. So if yoru fiscal year ends December 31, then file by June 30. |
Due Date Extension: | Due dates can be extended for 150 days beyond the original due date by submitting a request for extension through the online portal. A copy of IRS form 8868 must be included when requesting an extension. |
Penalties: | There is a late fee of $25 for each month that passes after the due date. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 2/4/20 |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Charities must submit copies of every contract they have with professional fundraisers, fundraising counsels, and commercial co-venturers during initial charitable registration and during charitable registration renewal. |
Fact Checked: | 10/9/19 |
Financial Reporting
Quarterly Financial Report
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 30 days after the end of each quarter of the organization's current fiscal year. |
Notes: | During their first year of operation, newly registered charitable organizations must provide quarterly financial reports to the Secretary of State. |
Fact Checked: | 10/29/20 |
Change of Fiscal Year
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
Notes: | Send the state a copy of the short IRS 990 once it is available. |
Fact Checked: | 12/7/18 |
Cancellation
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, submit a Notice of Intent to Cease Solicitations, the most recently filed IRS form 990, and a brief letter of explanation. |
Fact Checked: | 7/14/20 |
Tennessee Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee Professional Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming |
Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $250 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | http://sos.tn.gov/charitable-solicitations-and-gaming/professional-solicitors?page=2 |
Agency Fee: | $250 |
Due: | Annually by December 31. |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
Contract Filing
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | File a solicitation campaign notice before beginning a new campaign. |
Fact Checked: | 8/5/19 |
Financial Reporting
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year for campaigns lasting more than a year. |
Notarize: | Required |
Fact Checked: | 8/5/19 |
Individual Licenses
Tennessee Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Tennessee Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
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 Tennessee.
