New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau

EXC Article 7-A Exemptions

• Corporations organized under the religious corporations law, and other religious agencies and organizations, and charities, agencies, and organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization
• Educational institutions confining the solicitation of contributions to their student body, alumni, faculty and trustees, and their families
• Fraternal, patriotic, social, alumni, law enforcement support organizations and historical societies chartered by the New York state board of regents when solicitation is confined to their membership
• Persons requesting any contributions for the relief of any individual, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are paid to or for the benefit of the named beneficiary
• Charities that receive less than $25,000 in contributions and do not use a professional fundraiser or fund raising counsel
• Any charitable organization receiving an allocation from a federated fund, incorporated community appeal or a united way, provided such fund, appeal or united way is complying with the provisions of this article relating to registration and filing of financial reports with the attorney general, and provided such organization does not receive, in addition to such allocation, gross contributions in excess of $25,000 during the fiscal year, and provided further that all the fund-raising functions of such organizations are carried on by persons who are unpaid for such services
• A local post, camp, chapter or similarly designated element, or a county unit of such elements, of a bona fide veterans' organization which issues charters to such local elements throughout this state, a bona fide organization of volunteer firefighters, an organization providing volunteer ambulance service or a bona fide auxiliary or affiliate of such organizations, provided all its fund-raising activities are carried on by members of such an organization or an affiliate thereof and such members receive no compensation, directly or indirectly, therefor
• An educational institution which files annual financial reports with the regents of the university of the state of New York as required by the education law or with an agency having similar jurisdiction in another state or a library which files annual financial reports as required by the state education department
• A charitable organization which receives all or substantially all of its funds from a single governmental agency and reports annually to that agency provided such reports contain financial information substantially similar in content to that required by subdivision one of section 172-b of this article; provided, however, that such organization may receive no more than $25,000 from sources other than the government agency to which it reports
• Any police department, sheriff's department or other governmental law enforcement agency
• The state parent teachers association and any parent teachers association affiliated with an educational institution that is subject to the jurisdiction of the state education department

EPT Article 8 Exemptions

• The United States, any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or to any of their agencies or governmental subdivisions
• Any trustee which is required by any other provision of law to render a full, complete and itemized annual financial report to the congress of the United States or to the legislature of this state, provided that such report contains the information required of trustees pursuant to this article
• Corporations organized under the religious corporations law and other religious agencies and organizations, and charities, agencies and organizations operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization
• Educational institutions incorporated under the education law or by special act
• Any hospital
• Fraternal, patriotic, veterans, volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers, social, student or alumni organizations and historical societies chartered by the New York state board of regents
• A trust for which there is a corporate trustee acting as sole trustee or co-trustee under the terms of a will of a decedent who died domiciled in a state other than New York or a trust instrument executed by a non-resident of the state of New York
• Any trust in which and so long as the charitable interest is deferred or contingent
• Any person who, in his or her capacity as an officer, director or trustee of any corporation or organization mentioned in this paragraph, holds property for the religious, educational or charitable purposes of such corporation or organization so long as such corporation or organization is registered with the attorney general pursuant to this section
• Any cemetery corporation subject to the provisions of article fifteen of the not-for-profit corporation law
• The state parent teachers association and any parent teachers association affiliated with an educational institution that is subject to the jurisdiction of the state education department
• Any corporation organized under article 43 of the insurance law

Online

$0

NY EXC Article 7A § 172-A and NY EPT § 8-1.4

Online

$25 (there is no fee if exempt from registration under article 7a)

2-3 months

• The president and CFO / treasurer must sign.
• Some New York counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

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 New York, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. If your home state does not issue certificates of good standing, instead submit a certified copy of your articles of incorporation and all amendments.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code.
2. Create an online filing account and complete the charity registration application through the New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in New York. If not required, skip to number 3.
2. File foreign qualification documents with the New York Department of State - Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code.
3. Create an online filing account and complete the charity registration application through the New York Attorney General - Charities Bureau.

• Articles of incorporation
• Bylaws
• List of officers and directors
• Professional fundraising contracts
• IRS determination letter

Online

$25 for article 7a organizations. EPTL organizations pay a fee based on the net worth of the organization:

• $25, if the net worth is less than $50,000
• $50, if the net worth is $50,000 or more but less than $250,000
• $250, if the net worth is $1,000,000 or more but less than $10,000,000
• $100, if the net worth is $250,000 or more but less than $1,000,000
• $750, if the net worth is $10,000,000 or more but less than $50,000,000
• $1500, if the net worth is $50,000,000 or more

Dual filers pay 7A and EPTL fees.

• Annually by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, 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 dates are automatically extended for 180 days beyond the original due date.

• 7A filers are registered to solicit in New York under Article 7-A of the New York Executive Law.
• EPTL filers are registered under the New York Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law because they hold assets or conduct activities for charitable purposes in New York.
• Dual filers are registered under both 7A and the EPTL.
• Charities that contract with professional fundraisers, fundraising counsels, or commercial co-venturers are not required to submit a separate contract filing, but contract information is reported instead on schedule 4a of the CHAR500 renewal filing. A separate schedule must be prepared for each contract the charity has with one of the above-mentioned entities.
• A renewal filing can be submitted up to 12 months past its expiration date with no other requirements. If registration has lapsed for more than 12 months, organizations should submit a registration amendment and the required annual filings for each year not registered (up to 3 years).

• IRS form 990
• Audited financials (if applicable)
• Professional fundraising contracts

Financial Reports to Be Filed by Certain Not-for-Profit Organizations

Online

$25

• Within 30 days of the close of each applicable reporting period. Reporting period means the six-month period within a calendar year starting January 1 and ending June 30 and the six-month period within a calendar year starting July 1 and ending December 31.
• For example, an IRC Section 501(c)(4) organization is required to file a Financial Disclosure Report before January 31 whenever that entity spent more than $10,000 on covered communications after July 1 of the preceding calendar year.

New York Executive Law, Article 7a § 172-F

• Charities that are required to file a Financial Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law section 172-f are also required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.
• 501(c)(4) charities are required to file financial disclosure reports with the Department of State if they made expenditures on covered communications in an aggregate amount or fair market value exceeding $10,000 in a calendar year.
• Covered communications, as defined by statute, means:
  • A communication by a covered entity, not otherwise reported by such covered entity pursuant to article one-A of the legislative law or article fourteen of the election law, by a covered entity conveyed to five hundred or more members of a general public audience in the form of:
    • an audio or video communication via broadcast, cable or satellite;
    • a written communication via advertisements, pamphlets, circulars, flyers, brochures, letterheads; or
    • other published statement which: refers to and advocates for or against a clearly identified elected official, executive or administrative body or legislative body relating to the sponsorship, support, opposition, or outcome of any proposed legislation, pending legislation, rule, regulation, hearing or decision, or advocates for or against action by any elected official, executive or administrative body or legislative body.
  • Covered communication shall not include:
    • communications with a professional journalist or newscaster, including an editorial board or editorial writer of a newspaper, magazine, news agency, press association or wire service, relating to news, as these terms are defined in section seventy-nine-h of the civil rights law, and communications relating to confidential and non-confidential news as described in subdivisions (b) and (c) of section seventy-nine-h of the civil rights law respectively and communications made pursuant to community outreach efforts for broadcast stations required by federal law; or
    • a communication that is:
      • (A) directed, sent or distributed by the covered entity only to individuals who affirmatively consent to be members of the covered entity, contribute funds to the covered entity, or, pursuant to the covered entity's articles or bylaws, have the right to vote directly or indirectly for the election of directors or officers, or on changes to bylaws, disposition of all or substantially all of the covered entity's assets or the merger or dissolution of the covered entity; or
      • (B) for the purpose of promoting or staging any candidate debate, town hall or similar forum to which at least two candidates seeking the same office, or two proponents of differing positions on a referendum or question submitted to voters, are invited as participants, and which does not promote or advance one candidate or position over another.

Financial Reports to Be Filed by Certain Not-for-Profit Organizations

Online

$25

• Within 30 days of the close of each applicable reporting period. Reporting period means the six-month period within a calendar year starting January 1 and ending June 30 and the six-month period within a calendar year starting July 1 and ending December 31.
• For example, an IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization is required to file a Funding Disclosure Report before January 31 whenever that entity made an in-kind donation greater than $10,000 to an IRC Section 501(c)(4) organization between July 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year.

New York Executive Law, Article 7a § 172-E

• 501(c)(3) charities are required to file funding disclosure reports with the Department of State if they made an in-kind donation to a 501(c)(4) organization of more than $10,000 during a reporting period (6 month periods running from January 1 to June 30 and from July 1 to December 31).
• Charities that are required to file a Funding Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law Section 172-e are also required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.

• IRS form 990 schedule B (if applicable)

Financial Reports to Be Filed by Certain Not-for-Profit Organizations

Online

$25

Annually by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, renewal is due May 15.

New York Executive Law, Article 7a § 172-B(9)

Charities that are required to file a Funding Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law Section 172-e or a Financial Disclosure Report pursuant to Executive Law section 172-f are required to file an annual financial report with the Department of State.

• IRS form 990 (if the charity files with the Charities Bureau)
• Audited financials (if applicable)

Online

Fees will be calculated upon submission of the amendment. The system will notify you of the required payment. 

Mail

$0

To change your fiscal year you must email charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov and inform them of the change. They will then mail you a list of documents that they need from you and a cover letter that you must include when you mail these documents back. 

Online

$0

To withdraw a registration you must submit a letter requesting the withdrawal with the required annual financial filings.

CHAR 014: Fundraising Counsel Registration Statement

$800

Contracts - See §§172-d, 173-a, 174, 174-a, Executive Law

• No person shall enter into any contract or agreement with or otherwise employ or engage a Professional Fund Raiser (PFR), Fund Raising Counsel (FRC) or Professional Solicitor (PS) required to be registered under NYS Executive Law unless such PFR/FRC/PS has provided to such person a statement, signed under penalties for perjury, that it is registered with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau and in compliance with all filing requirements of the Executive Law.
• No person shall enter into any contract or agreement, employment or engagement to raise funds or conduct any fund raising activities for any charitable organization required to be registered under NYS Executive Law §172 unless such charitable organization is registered with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and in compliance with all filing requirements of the Executive Law.
• No person shall act as a PFR/FRC/CCV (Commercial Co-venturer) before that PFR/FRC/CCV has a written contract with the charitable organization, or other person benefitting from the services. A PFR/FRC must file with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, within 10 days of its execution, a copy of each contract entered into between the PFR/FRC and any charitable organization required to be registered under NYS Executive Law §172. At the time of the filing, the PFR/FRC must certify, under penalties for perjury, that the contract being filed is a true and correct copy of the original executed contract. For additional information, please refer to Form CHAR016A.
• Whenever a charitable organization contracts with a PFR/FRC, the organization has the right to cancel the contract without cost, penalty, or liability for a period of 15 days following the date on which the contract is filed by the PFR/FRC with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, regardless of the execution date of the contract. In order to cancel during this period, the organization must mail or hand deliver a notice of cancelation to the PFR/FRC and send a copy to the Attorney General's Charities Bureau. Such notice is sufficient if it indicates that the charitable organization does not intend to be bound by the contract. For additional
  information, please refer to Form CHAR016B.
• The failure of a PFR/FRC to discontinue solicitation or any other fund raising activity upon receipt of a notice of cancelation in accordance with the provisions of Article 7-A of the Executive Law within fifteen days of the cancelation of the contract shall be deemed to be a continuing fraud upon the people of New York State.
• Every contract between a PFR and a charitable organization shall contain, or shall be deemed to contain, a provision that within 5 days of receipt by the PFR or other person, the gross revenue received from a solicitation conducted by that PFR shall be deposited in a bank account under the exclusive control of the charitable organization.
• No contract filing should include Federal ID numbers or Social Security numbers of the PFR/FRC or the charitable organization or any representative of the PFR/FRC or charitable organization.
• No person shall act as a sub-contractor on behalf of another PFR prior to obtaining a written contract with such PFR and written consent from the charitable organization on whose behalf fund raising activities are to be conducted pursuant to such contract. A sub-contractor must file with the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, within 10 days of execution, a copy of such written consent attached to a copy of the contract between the subcontractor and the other PFR.
• No services shall be performed pursuant to any contract required to be filed by a PFR/FRC if, within fifteen days of filing, the Attorney General's Charities Bureau notifies the PFR/FRC and the charitable organization of any deficiencies in the contract and/or in the registration or filings of the PFR/FRC or the charitable organization.
• No services shall be performed under a contract required to be filed by a PFR until the PFR shall have received an acknowledgement from the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau or such contract shall have been on file with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau for at least fifteen days, whichever is shorter

Books and Records - See §173, Executive Law

• A PFR/FRC/CCV must maintain accurate and current books and records of all activities conducted under any contract with a charitable organization or other person benefitting from the services for a minimum of three years from the expiration date of such contract. Such books and records must be available for inspection, examination and/or audit by charitable organization and/or the Attorney General or any authorized representative at the address of the PFR/FRC/CCV.
• Within seven days of a request from a charitable organization with which it has contracted, a PFR/FRC/CCV must provide copies of all related records to that charitable organization

• Copies of all current contracts with charitable organizations required to be registered under the statute that were not previously filed
• Copies of all organizing documents, amendments to organizing documents, certificates of assumed name and “doing business as” (d/b/a) certificates that were not previously filed

CHAR 014: Fundraising Counsel Registration Statement (Renewal)

$800

Annually

CHAR 016A: Professional Fund Raiser/Fund Raising Counsel

$0

File a contract certification at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.

Every contract entered into pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall contain, in a conspicuous typeface:

• A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
• A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be canceled;
• The address to which the notice of cancelation is to be sent;
• The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancelation is to be sent;  and
• A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.

CHAR 013: Professional Fund Raiser Registration Statement

$800

• Copies of all current contracts with charitable organizations required to be registered under the statute that were not previously filed
• Copies of all organizing documents, amendments to organizing documents, certificates of assumed name and “doing business as” (d/b/a) certificates that were not previously filed
• Copies of all delinquent Professional Fund Raiser Interim/Closing Statements (Form CHAR037)

https://www.charitiesnys.com/fund_raising_professionals_new.html

$800

Annually

CHAR 016A: Professional Fund Raiser/Fund Raising Counsel

$0

File a contract certification at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.

• Every contract entered into pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
  • A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization's right to cancel;
  • A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be canceled;
  • The address to which the notice of cancelation is to be sent;
  • The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancelation is to be sent;  and
  • A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fund raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
• Every contract between a professional fund raiser and a charitable organization shall contain or shall be deemed to contain a provision that within five days of receipt by the professional fund raiser or any other person the gross revenue received from any solicitation shall be deposited in a bank account under the exclusive control of the charity.

CHAR 037: Professional Fundraising Interim/Closing Statement

$0

Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and within 15 months after the start of contract commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year and annually thereafter.