Connecticut 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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- Connecticut Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Connecticut Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Connecticut Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Connecticut Bingo, Raffle, and Bazaar Permits
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Connecticut.
Bingo, bazaar, and raffle permits are now issued only at the municipal level.
Connecticut Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Initial Registration
Notes: | Connecticut charities must provide notice on the day they first enter into a charitable gift annuity agreement. Notices must identify the organization, certify that the organization is a charity and that the annuities issued are qualified charitable gift annuities, and be signed by an officer or director. |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Connecticut Charity Registration
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection - Public Charities Unit |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Law: | |
Notes: | Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria. |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Turnaround: | 2-3 weeks |
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: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Due: |
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Due Date Extension: | No extensions are available for charitable registration due dates. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Penalties: |
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Notes: | Renewal notices (forms) are sent in the mail approximately 30-45 days prior to the expiration date. The renewal notice will include a Fast Track Renewal PIN and License Number. The "Fast Track" renewal is a simplified form for licenses that are in good standing. |
Contract Filing
Filing Method: | Email to dcp.publiccharities@ct.gov |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
Due: | Every charitable organization which agrees to permit a charitable sales promotion to be conducted in its behalf, shall obtain a written agreement from the commercial coventurer and submit a copy of such agreement to the Department of Consumer Protection not less than ten days prior to the commencement of the charitable sales promotion within this state. |
Law: | |
Notes: | Contracts, at a minimum, must include:
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How to Apply: | The charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or otherwise exempt for the contract to be accepted. |
Reinstatement
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: |
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Penalties: | Charities suspected of violating the Connecticut Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act are subject to an investigation by the Department of Consumer Protection who may deny, suspend, or revoke an organization's registration. Upon application from the Attorney General, the Superior Court may issue one of the following judgments:
Charities who solicit without a valid registration will pay a penalty fee of $25/month (maximum $300). Knowingly violating this section is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 1 year. |
Notes: | Charities can renew a late registration for up to 6 months past its expiration date and then they must go through the reinstatement process. |
Required Attachments: |
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Change of Fiscal Year
Notes: | Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process. Submit the last 990 prior to change and include the short year 990 as well. |
Cancelation
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Closing a charity registration is optional in Connecticut. The state will accept a letter stating intent to withdraw, but charities can also simply allow their registration to expire. You may also request immediate inactivation on the state's portal. |
Commercial coventurer means a person who for profit is regularly and primarily engaged in trade or commerce in this state other than in connection with the raising of funds for charitable organizations or purposes and who conducts a charitable sales promotion.
Connecticut Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Connecticut.
Connecticut 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.
Contract Filing
Filing Method: | Email to dcp.publiccharities@ct.gov |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | A copy of the written agreement between the charity and the commercial coventurer must be filed with the Department of Consumer Protection not less than 10 days prior to the commencement of the charitable sales promotion. |
Law: | |
Notes: | Contracts, at a minimum, must include:
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Contract Amendment
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | An amendment filing should be made before the expiration date of a campaign in order to extend the campaign. |
Notes: | To report an extension of a campaign or another change to a campaign agreement, submit a cover letter describing the change and include a copy of the amended agreement. |
Fund-raising counsel means a person who for compensation plans, manages, advises or consults with respect to the solicitation in this state of contributions by a charitable organization, but who does not solicit contributions and who does not directly or indirectly employ, procure or engage any person compensated to solicit contributions. A bona fide nontemporary salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization shall not be deemed to be a fund-raising counsel.
Connecticut Fundraising Counsel Registration
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection - Public Charities Unit |
Law: | |
Bond Requirements: | $20,000 |
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Fundraising counsels that do not have custody or control of charitable contributions are exempt from the registration requirement, however, other requirements from the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act apply. |
Law: |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $120 |
Notes: | Registration is only required of fundraising counsels that have custody or control of contributions. |
Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $120 |
Due: | Annually by the registration anniversary date. |
Contract Filing
Filing Method: | Email to dcp.publiccharities@ct.gov |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Each contract between a charitable organization and a fund-raising counsel shall be in writing and must be filed by the fund-raising counsel with the department at least 15 days prior to the performance by the fund-raising counsel of any material services pursuant to such contract. |
Law: |
Paid solicitor means a person who for any consideration, other than any nonmonetary gift of nominal value awarded to a volunteer solicitor as an incentive or token of appreciation, performs for a charitable organization any service in connection with which contributions are solicited by such person or by any person he directly or indirectly employs, procures or engages to solicit for such compensation. A bona fide nontemporary salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization shall not be deemed to be a paid solicitor.
Connecticut Paid Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection - Public Charities Unit |
Bond Requirements: | $20,000 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Instructions: | Mail to: |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 |
Due: | Annually by the registration anniversary date. |
Contract Filing
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Not less than one business day prior to the commencement of each solicitation campaign, a paid solicitor shall file with the department a copy of the contract. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Notes: | A contract between a paid solicitor and a charitable organization shall be in writing, shall clearly state the respective obligations of the paid solicitor and the charitable organization and shall state the minimum amount that the charitable organization shall receive as a result of the solicitation campaign, which minimum amount shall be stated as a percentage of the gross revenue. Such minimum amount shall not include any amount that the charitable organization is to pay as expenses of the solicitation campaign. |
Financial Reporting
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year. |
Connecticut Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets
Initial Registration
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
Form: | Application for Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets (Organization) |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
Form: | Application for Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets (Organization) |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Due: | Annually |
Connecticut Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets Monthly
Game Type: | Sealed ticket games |
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
Initial Registration
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
Form: | Application for Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets (Organization) Monthly |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection |
Form: | Application for Permit to Sell Sealed Tickets (Organization) Monthly |
Agency Fee: | $50 |
Due: | Permits expire at the end of the monthly permit period. |
Individual Licenses
Connecticut Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Connecticut Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Connecticut.
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 Connecticut.