Wisconsin 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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- Wisconsin Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Wisconsin Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Wisconsin Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Wisconsin Bingo License
Initial Registration
Agency: | Wisconsin Division of Gaming - Office of Charitable Gaming |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $10 fee for each bingo occasion + $5 fee for the designated member. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Registration Renewal
Wisconsin Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Wisconsin.
No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities.
Law: | WI Stat. § 632.65 |
Wisconsin Charitable Organization Registration
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: | |
Fact Checked: | 1/16/20 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
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
Charitable Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $54 |
Due: | Annually by July 31. An organization that files an initial registration on or after June 1 does not need to renew their registration until the following calendar year. If an initial registration is filed before June 1, renewal must be filed by July 31 of the same calendar year. |
Due Date Extension: | Wisconsin does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration. |
Penalties: | There is a $25 late fee. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 2/4/20 |
Registration Renewal
Charitable Organization Annual Financial Report
Form: | Annual Financial Reports may be filed on one of three forms that your firm can use based on qualifying factors. |
Filing Method: | Mail. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | You must file an annual financial report within 12 months after the close of your fiscal year if you received >$5,000 in contributions. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Fact Checked: | 2/4/20 |
Change of Fiscal Year
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
Notes: | Submit the short year financials during the standard renewal process. |
Fact Checked: | 12/7/18 |
Cancellation
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, send a letter including the charity name, FEIN, date of closure, and reason for closure in writing. |
Fact Checked: | 7/14/20 |
Wisconsin Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin Fundraising Counsel Registration
Agency: | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Corporation Section |
Bond Requirements: | $20,000 |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Automatic Exemption
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Fundraising counsels that do not have custody of contributions may not be required to register. See sections A and B of the Application for Registration as a Fund-Raising Counsel to determine whether or not you will need to register. |
Fact Checked: | 6/12/20 |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form 294: Application for Registration as a Fund-Raising Counsel |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Form 294: Application for Registration as a Fund-Raising Counsel (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Due: | Annually by August 31. |
Fact Checked: | 7/5/18 |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Before a fund-raising counsel performs any material services for a charitable organization that is required to be registered, the charitable organization and the fund-raising counsel shall contract in writing, and the fund-raising counsel shall file the contract with the department. |
Fact Checked: | 8/5/19 |
Wisconsin Professional Fundraiser Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | Form 294: Application for Registration as a Professional Fund-Raiser or Fund-Raising Counsel |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Due: | Annually by August 31. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Fact Checked: | 12/15/16 |
Contract Filing
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | File a solicitation notice prior to the start of the performance of a contract with a charity. |
Fact Checked: | 8/5/19 |
Financial Reporting
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Upon request from the Department of Financial Institutions. |
Notes: | A final accounting of each fundraising event should be kept for three years and presented upon request. |
Fact Checked: | 8/5/19 |
Wisconsin Raffle License
Game Type: | Raffles |
Agency: | Wisconsin Division of Gaming - Office of Charitable Gaming |
Organization Age Requirement: | 3 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure. |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Initial Registration
Agency: | Wisconsin Division of Gaming - Office of Charitable Gaming |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $25 |
Fact Checked: | 1/10/18 |
Individual Licenses
Wisconsin Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Wisconsin Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin.
