California 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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- California Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Local Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- California Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
California Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
California Bingo License
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in California.
Bingo licenses are issued at the county and city level in California.
California Charitable Fundraising Platform Registration
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: |
Initial Registration
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $625 |
Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $625 |
Due: |
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Financial Reporting
Annual Fundraising Report for Charitable Fundraising Platforms or Platform Charities
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by July 15. |
Law: | 11 CA ADC § 315 |
California Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | Application for Certificate of Authority as a Grants and Annuities Society |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $4,233 |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Notes: | Charities must authorize the creation of the annuity fund by board resolution. In addition, charities need a segregated reserve fund and must follow reserve fund regulations to qualify for issuance of charitable gift annuities. |
Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $136 |
Due: | Annually within 120 days of the organization's fiscal year end. |
Notes: | In addition to annual statements, charities must submit quarterly statements with information on each annuity agreement. |
California Charitable Solicitation Registration
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Law: | California Government Code § 12585; California Code of Regulations, Title 11 § 300 |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: | |
Notes: | If you believe you are exempt, submit a letter requesting exemption, a copy of the organization's founding document(s), and IRS determination letter for review. Exemptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Instructions: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Turnaround: | 2-3 months |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
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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Registration Renewal
Form: |
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Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | The renewal fee is based on the registrant's total revenue for the prior fiscal year:
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Due: |
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Due Date Extension: | Due dates are automatically extended for 6 months beyond the original due date, however, charities should file a copy of their IRS form 8868 when submitting their renewal if an IRS extension was granted. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Penalties: | Failure to submit renewal on time can result in loss of tax exemption and assessment of minimum tax of $800, plus interest, and/or fines or filing penalties. The Attorney General will notify the California Franchise Tax Board to disallow your state tax exemption. Directors, trustees, officers, and return preparers are personally liable for these fees and penalties - you cannot use charitable assets to pay them, they must be paid out of pocket! |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Change of Fiscal Year
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | Varies |
Notes: | File a Form RRF-1 for the partial-year (along with all required attachments). The renewal fee will be required based on the total revenue for the reporting period. |
Supplemental Reporting
Notification from Platform Charities
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 30 days of entering into a partnership with a charitable fundraising platform, unless notification was already provided through the platform charity’s registration as a trustee/charity, or through registration of the partnering platform. |
Law: | 11 CA ADC § 315 |
Notes: |
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Cancelation
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online |
Agency Fee: | Varies depending on gross annual revenue. |
Notes: | To close out your registration, file a final report with the required fee along with a letter explaining that you would like to cancel your registration. Domestic organizations must also submit proof of dissolution with Secretary of State and distribution of assets. |
Commercial coventurer is defined as any person who, for profit, is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce other than in connection with the raising of funds, assets, or property for charitable organizations or charitable purposes, and who represents to the public that the purchase or use of any goods, services, entertainment, or any other thing of value will benefit a charitable organization or will be used for a charitable purpose.
California Commercial Co-Venturer Annual Registration
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Law: |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Turnaround: | 2-3 weeks |
Notes: | Contracts must be included if any director, officer, or employee of the commercial coventurer is a director, officer, or employee of any charitable organization with which it has contracted to solicit. |
Bond Amount: | None |
Background Check Requirements: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Form CT-5CF: Commercial Coventurer Annual Registration (Renewal) |
Filing Method: | Paper |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Turnaround: | 2-3 weeks |
Due: | Annually by January 15. |
Bond Amount: | None |
Financial Reporting
Form: | Form CT-6CF: Commercial Coventurer for Charitable Purposes Annual Financial Report |
Filing Method: | Mail or email to pf@doj.ca.gov |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | If emailed, approval can take place within 2-3 business days. |
Due: | Annually by January 30th. |
A commercial fundraiser is a type of professional fundraiser. A commercial fundraiser can be a person, corporation, or unincorporated association who is paid by a charity to solicit money or property on the charity's behalf. The commercial fundraiser may solicit donations through various means, such as: direct mail, telephone, email or internet platform, auction at charity events, event ticket sales, vehicle donation, or thrift store operation. Commercial fundraisers may be paid either a flat fee or a percentage of the donations collected in the charity's name.
California Commercial Fundraiser Registration
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Bond Amount: | $25,000 |
Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Due: | Annually by January 15. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Contract Filing
Form: | Form CT-10CF: Notice of Intent To Solicit For Charitable Purposes - Commercial Fundraiser |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | File a notice of entry into contract at least 10 days prior to the start of the performance of the contract. |
Financial Reporting
Form: | Form CT-2CF: Annual Financial Report – Commercial Fundraisers |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by January 30th. |
A fundraising counsel can be a person or organization who is hired by a charity to plan, manage, advise, counsel, consult, or prepare materials to solicit donations for charitable purposes. Unlike the commercial fundraiser, a fundraising counsel does not solicit donations from the public, and does not receive or exercise any control over the solicited funds or property. Instead, the donations go directly to the charity.
California Fundraising Counsel Registration
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | Form CT-3CF: Annual Registration Form - Fundraising Counsel (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Due: | Annually by January 15. |
Contract Filing
Form: | Form CT-11CF: Notice of Intent To Solicit For Charitable Purposes - Fundraising Counsel |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | File a notice of entry into contract at least 10 days prior to the start of the performance of the contract. |
Notes: | The written contract must contain or state:
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California Raffle Registration
Game Type: | Raffles |
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Organization Age Requirement: | 1 year of continuous existence in California. |
Initial Registration
Agency: | California Attorney General - Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $30 |
California Registration Certificate
Initial Registration
Agency: | California Office of the Attorney General - Bureau of Gambling Control |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $100 |
Local Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Los Angeles Charitable Solicitation Information Card
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $62 |
Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $62 |
Due: | Information cards issued for a general purpose expire one year from the date of issuance. Charities must reapply each year if they will continue to solicit in the city. |
Required Attachments: |
Required only if there has been a change in the entity's prior year organizational structure or status:
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Financial Reporting
Report of Results
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 30 days after the termination date of the solicitation. For persons filing the Report based on an annual Notice of Intention, the termination date shall be one year after the initial date for which the Notice of Intention was filed. |
Law: | |
Notes: | The Report must detail all receipts, expenses and distributions of proceeds. The Report must be made on a form provided by the Department and signed by two officers, if practicable, or other natural persons authorized by the person filing the Report. |
Los Angeles County Charitable Solicitation Information Card
Agency: | Los Angeles County Business License Commission (CA) |
Law: |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | A notice of intention must be filed at least 30 days prior to the beginning of solicitation. |
Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Information cards issued for a general purpose expire one year from the date of issuance. Charities must reapply each year if they will continue to solicit in the county. |
Required Attachments: |
Indicate "On File" if previously submitted:
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Financial Reporting
Report of Results
Form: | Report of Results of Activity Conducted for a Charitable Purpose |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 30 days after the close of the solicitation. For general purpose solicitations, the close of solicitations is one year after the initial date for which the Notice of Intention was filed. |
Law: | |
Notes: | The report must be signed by an officer of the organization. |
Individual Licenses
California Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
California Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in California.
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 California.