Connecticut Fundraising Licensing

Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting charitable solicitation activities
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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!

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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

Agency:Connecticut Insurance Department
Law:

CT Stat. § 38a-1030 et seq.

Organization Age Requirement:

3 years of continuous existence immediately preceeding licensure.

Minimum Unrestricted Cash or Cash Equivalent Requirement:

$300,000

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:

Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-190a et seq.

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Religious organizations
  • Educational institutions using curricula that are registered or approved by any state or the United States or that have been accepted by an accrediting body
  • Parent-teacher associations
  • Nonprofit hospitals
  • Government organizations
  • Charities that receive $50,000 or less in contributions annually provided such organizations do not compensate any person primarily to conduct solicitations
  • Persons who solicit for exempt organizations
Filing Method:

Online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Law:

Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-190d

Notes:

Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.

Initial Registration

Form:

Initial Charitable Organization Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$50

Turnaround:

2-3 weeks

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • One authorized representative must sign. Notarized signatures are not required.
  • Some Connecticut 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 your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited or reviewed financial report (audited and reviewed financials need not be submitted when registering). 
  • 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 your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited or reviewed financial report (audited and reviewed financials need not be submitted when registering).
  • 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 Connecticut, 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.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Connecticut Secretary of State.
  2. Submit a Charitable Organization Registration Application and all required attachments to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Connecticut. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Connecticut Secretary of State.
  3. Submit a Charitable Organization Registration Application and all required attachments to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990
  • Either IRS determination letter or IRS form 1023/1024

Registration Renewal

Form:

Charitable Organization Renewal Notice

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:
  • Annually by the last day of the 11th month after the organization’s fiscal year ends. For example, organizations with December fiscal year-ends are due by November 30.
  • 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 Date Extension:

No extensions are available for charitable registration due dates.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Penalties:
  • $25/month late fee
  • Charities that do not renew their registration within 6 months of its expiration will need to go through the reinstatement process
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:

Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-190g

Notes:

Contracts, at a minimum, must include:

  1. The goods or services to be offered to the public;
  2. The geographic area where, and the starting and final date when, such offering is to be made;
  3. The manner in which the name of the charitable organization is to be used, including any representation to be made to the public as to the amount or per cent per unit of goods or services purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization;
  4. A provision for a final accounting on a per unit basis to be given by the commercial coventurer to the charitable organization and the date when it is to be made; and
  5. The date when and the manner in which the benefit is to be conferred on the charitable organization.
How to Apply:

The charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or otherwise exempt for the contract to be accepted.

Reinstatement

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:
  • $50 re-registration fee
  • If an organization has not been soliciting since the registrations expiration then no late fees or penalties will be applicable
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: 

  • civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation (for wilful violations)
  • temporary or permanent injunction
  • appoint receiver
  • restitution
  • accounting to ensure the due application of funds

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:
  • All IRS Form(s) 990, 990EZ, 990N, or 990PF for all years since the expiration date in which solicitation took place
  • Audit reports if the IRS Form 990 reports more than $500,000 in gross revenue for the year being reported (only years in which solicitations took place)

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:

CT Gen Stat. § 21a-190g.

Notes:

Contracts, at a minimum, must include:

  1. The goods or services to be offered to the public;
  2. The geographic area where, and the starting and final date when, such offering is to be made;
  3. The manner in which the name of the charitable organization is to be used, including any representation to be made to the public as to the amount or per cent per unit of goods or services purchased or used that is to benefit the charitable organization;
  4. A provision for a final accounting on a per unit basis to be given by the commercial coventurer to the charitable organization and the date when it is to be made; and
  5. The date when and the manner in which the benefit is to be conferred on the charitable organization.

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:

CT Stat § 21a-190e

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:

CT Stat. § 21a-190e

Initial Registration

Form:

Fundraising Counsel Registration Statement

Agency Fee:

$120

Notes:

Registration is only required of fundraising counsels that have custody or control of contributions.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Fundraising Counsel Registration Statement (Renewal)

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:

CT Gen Stat. § 21a-190e.

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:

Paid Solicitor Registration Statement

Instructions:

Mail to: 
Department of Consumer Protection
 Attn: Public Charities Unit
 450 Columbus Blvd, Ste 801
 Hartford, CT 06103 

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • .Attach a list of the names, residence addresses and titles of all officers, directors
  • Attach a list of persons or entities with a 25% or more ownership interest in the paid solicitor 
  • Attach an explanation of any conviction by a court of any state or the United States of any felony, or of any misdemeanor involving dishonesty or arising from the  conduct of a solicitation for a charitable organization or purpose for all people listed on your application
  • Attach a list of other states in which you are registered to solicit funds

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$500

Due:

Annually by the registration anniversary date.

Contract Filing

Form:

Solicitation Notice

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:

Campaign Report

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

Game Type:

Sealed ticket games

Agency:Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Notes:

Individual volunteers may also need to apply for a permit before aiding a charity with sealed ticket game activities.

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.

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