Washington D.C. Nonprofit Compliance

• Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year provided that all functions, including fund raising functions, are carried on by individuals who are unpaid and that no part of the contributions shall inure to the benefit of any officer, member, or solicitor.
• Religious institutions
• Membership organizations
• Entities making solicitations solely for the American National Red Cross

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District of Columbia Code Ann. § 44-1703

• Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year provided that all functions, including fund raising functions, are carried on by individuals who are unpaid and that no part of the contributions shall inure to the benefit of any officer, member, or solicitor.
• Religious institutions
• Membership organizations
• Entities making solicitations solely for the American National Red Cross

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Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.

District of Columbia Code Ann. § 44-1703

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3-4 weeks

• Some District of Columbia 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.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• 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.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

• IRS determination letter
• Professional fundraising contracts
• Certificate of occupancy
• DC tax number or certificate
• Certified resolution

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• Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.
• Licenses can be renewed as early as 75 days prior to their expiration date.

D.C. does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

• $250/month late fee (maximum of $500)
• Charities who do not renew their license within 6 months past its expiration date will need to go through the initial licensing process again

None

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Within 30 days after the period for which a certificate of registration is issued OR within 30 days after a demand by the Mayor

Each registrant shall file a report with the Mayor, stating the contributions secured as a result of any solicitation authorized by such certificate and in detail all expenses of or connected with such solicitation, and showing exactly for what use and in what manner all such contributions were or are intended to be dispensed or distributed.

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To close out your registration, submit a BBL cancelation request form online.