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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!
Charities that do not use professional fundraisers or fundraising counsels are automatically exempt from registration.
If a charity uses a professional solicitor in another state but not when soliciting in Louisiana, they are still eligible for exemption in Louisiana.
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations:
Religious Institutions that include ecclesiastical or denominational organizations, churches, or established physical places for worship in this state at which nonprofit religious services and activities are regularly conducted and carried on and shall also include those bona fide religious groups which do not maintain specific places of worship
Religious institutions that include such separate groups or corporations which from an integral part of those institutions which are exempt from federal income tax as exempt organizations under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or of a corresponding section of any subsequently enacted Federal Revenue Act, and which are not primarily supported by funds solicited outside its own membership or congregation
Religious institutions that include such institutions soliciting contributions for construction and maintenance of a house of worship or clergyman's residence
Educational institutions recognized and/or approved by the State Department of Education or the appropriate state educational board, of the appropriate accrediting agency
Any hospital organized under the laws of this state, or any voluntary health organization organized under the laws of this state and/or under federal laws
Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.
Required Attachments:
To apply for exemption based upon educational institution:
Letter of Accreditation from the State Department of Education or the appropriate state educational board or accrediting agency;
Articles of Incorporation;
Bylaws;
IRS Determination Letter;
Copy of all contracts with current professional solicitors or fundraisers
To apply for exemption based upon religious institution:
IRS Determination letter;
Articles of Incorporation;
Bylaws;
An explanation of how the religious institution/organization meets the religious institution requirement for exemption status. The definition of a religious institution can be found at 16 LAC Pt. III §515;
Copy of all contracts with current professional solicitors or fundraisers;
Include signatures as required in the URS form instructions
Some Louisiana 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.
If filing the URS, appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Louisiana.
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.
If filing the URS, appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Louisiana.
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 Louisiana, 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.
Submit an Initial Charitable Registration Form and all required attachments to the Louisiana Department of Justice - Public Protection Division - Charities.
Foreign Applicants:
Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Louisiana. If not required, skip to number 3.
Submit an Initial Charitable Registration Form and all required attachments to the Louisiana Department of Justice - Public Protection Division - Charities.
To close out your registration, send a signed letter indicating the organization is no longer required to maintain an active registration (does not use professional solicitors) in Louisiana.
Louisiana Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.
Louisiana 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.
Louisiana Fundraising Counsel Registration
Not required
Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.
Louisiana does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for fundraising counsels, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.
Louisiana License Exemption
Agency:
Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:
Not Set
Notes:
See this page for examples of organizations eligible for exemption.
See this page for examples of organizations eligible for exemption.
Registration Renewal
Agency:
Louisiana Office of Charitable Gaming
Agency Fee:
$0
Due:
Annually by June 30.
A professional solicitor generally is a person or corporation who is paid by a charity to raise money or create a charity’s donation campaign on the charity's behalf. Employees or volunteers of a charity who raise funds for that charity are not professional solicitors.
Louisiana Professional Solicitor Registration
Agency:
Louisiana Department of Justice - Public Protection Division - Charities
Full name and business address of solicitor (Include city, state, zip and telephone number) and name under which business will operate in Louisiana.
The names and residence addresses of all officers, directors, trustees and executive personnel of the professional solicitor
names and addresses of all persons in charge of any solicitation activity
Information about any of its directors, officers, persons with controlling interest in the applicant, employees or agents been convicted within the last 5 years of any felony or of a misdemeanor arising from the conduct of a solicitation for any charitable organization or sponsor or a charitable or sponsor purpose; or has the applicant or any of its directors, officers, persons with controlling interest in the applicant, employees or agents been enjoined from violating a charitable solicitation law in this or any other state
Required Attachments:
If the professional solicitor has custody or control of contributions made to a charitable organization, the professional solicitor shall file a department-approved bond, at least in the amount of $25,000.00, with the Louisiana State Treasurer.
Louisiana Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.
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 Louisiana.
Harbor Compliance® proudly partners with the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit
Organizations to provide insightful resources and compliance solutions to nonprofits in Louisiana.
Filing fees depend on your individual situation. We do our best to calculate your filing fees
upfront and collect those fees today so we can get started. Your specialist will determine your
exact filing fees and invoice additional fees if required.