Illinois 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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- Illinois Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Illinois Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Illinois Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Illinois Bingo License
Initial Registration
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $200 for a regular bingo license or $50 for a limited license. |
Illinois Charitable Gaming Licenses
Game Type: | Various games of chance |
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Age Restrictions: | Participants must be at least 18 years old. |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | Form RCG-1: Application for Charitable Games License (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $400 |
Due: | Biennially |
Notes: | Organizations must also submit Form RCG-25: Expenditure of Funds Earned Through Charitable Games when renewing. |
Illinois Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Illinois exempts charities from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities if they meet the following conditions: "The insurance laws of this State, including this Code, do not apply to any charitable gift annuity, as defined in Section 501(m)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, issued by an organization that is described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, if either (i) an insurer authorized to transact business in this State is directly obligated to the annuitant or (ii) the organization has been in active operation for not less than 20 years before the date the annuity is issued and has an unrestricted fund balance of not less than $2,000,000 on the date the annuity is issued. For purposes of this Section, "Internal Revenue Code" refers to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and corresponding provisions of subsequent federal tax laws.".
Law: | 215 ILCS 5/121-2.10 |
Illinois Charitable Organization Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Yes |
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: |
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Form: | Form CO-1 Registration Statement, Form CO-2 Financial Information Form, and Form CO-3 Religious Exemption Form (if requesting an exemption as a religious organization) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Law: | |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notes: | Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria. |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Notes: | President and CFO or another authorized officer must sign. They must be two individuals. Notarization of signatures is not needed. |
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
Illinois Charitable Organization Annual Report
Form: | Form AG990-IL: Illinois Charitable Organization Annual Report |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Due: |
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Due Date Extension: | Due dates can be extended for 60 days beyond the original due date by sending a letter including the name, CO number, and EIN number of the charity to the attorney general's office. If more time is needed, a second extension of an additional 2.5 months is available. When applying for a second extensions, charities must submit an unsigned AG990IL with "draft" written at the top, a letter requesting extension, preliminary income statement and balance sheet, IRS Form 8868, and the $15 renewal fee. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Penalties: | There is a late fee of $100. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Reinstatement
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $200 re-registration fee + $200 late registration fee + $15 annual report filing fee (for each missing report) + $100 late annual report filing fee (for each missing report) |
Penalties: | Charities suspected of violating the Illinois Solicitation for Charity Act are subject to an investigation by the Attorney General who may cancel an organization’s registration. If found to violate this Act and upon application from the Attorney General, the court can administer one of the following judgments:
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Notes: | Charities that do not submit their annual report by the due date or granted extension date or who have their registration canceled must go through the re-registration process and pay all applicable fees. |
Required Attachments: |
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Change of Fiscal Year
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Send a letter indicating change of fiscal year and then draft AG990-IL (unsigned) and letter requesting extension. |
Cancelation
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, file a final annual report with "FINAL" written across the top and original signatures. Organizations must also provide a letter indicating that they wish to withdraw and proof of dissolution or withdrawal from the Secretary of State. |
Illinois Commercial Co-Venturer Campaign Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
Illinois does not issue a CCV-specific license, but some CCVs may need to register under the Charitable Trust Act.
More information: Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust BureauContract Filing
Form: | CO-1: Registration Statement and CO-2: Financial Information Form |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Due: | Contracts must be filed before fundraising activity begins. |
Notes: | For a CCV to partner with a charity, the charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or be otherwise exempt from registration. |
Background Check Requirements: | ACCESS PREMIUM DATA |
Contract Amendment
Agency Fee: | $15 |
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. |
Financial Reporting
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $15 |
Turnaround: | 4-6 weeks |
Due: | Within 6 months after the end of the campaign. |
Professional fund raiser means any person who for compensation or other consideration, conducts, manages, or carries on any solicitation or fund raising drive or campaign in this State or from this State or on behalf of a charitable organization residing within this State for the purpose of soliciting, receiving, or collecting contributions for or on behalf of any charitable organization or any other person, or who engages in the business of, or holds himself out to persons in this State as independently engaged in the business of soliciting, receiving, or collecting contributions for such purposes. A bona fide director, officer, employee or unpaid volunteer of a charitable organization shall not be deemed a professional fund raiser unless the person is in a management position and the majority of the individual's salary or other compensation is computed on a percentage basis of funds to be raised, or actually raised.
Illinois Professional Fundraiser Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Bond Requirements: | $10,000 |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Yes |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form PFR-01: Professional Fund-Raiser Registration Statement |
Instructions: | Mail to: |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $100 + $25 for each contract |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | Form PFR-01: Professional Fund-Raiser Registration Statement (Re-registration) |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $100 + $25 for each contract |
Due: | Annually by June 30. |
Required Attachments: |
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Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 10 days of the date of execution of each new contract. |
Notes: |
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Financial Reporting
Mid-Year Financial Report
Form: | Form PFR-02: Professional Fund-Raiser Annual Financial Report |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by September 30. |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Required Attachments: |
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Financial Reporting
Annual Financial Report
Form: | Form PFR-02: Professional Fund-Raiser Annual Financial Report |
Agency Fee: | $25 |
Due: | Annually by April 30. |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Required Attachments: |
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Professional fund raising consultant means any person who is retained by a charitable organization or trustee for a fixed fee or rate that is not computed on a percentage of funds to be raised, or actually raised, under a written agreement, to only plan, advise, consult, or prepare materials for a solicitation of contributions in this State, but who does not manage, conduct or carry on a fundraising campaign and who does not solicit contributions or employ, procure, or engage any compensated person to solicit contributions and who does not at any time have custody or control of contributions. A volunteer, employee or salaried officer of a charitable organization or trustee maintaining a permanent establishment or office in this State is not a professional fundraising consultant. An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who advises an individual, corporation or association to make a charitable contribution is not a professional fundraising consultant as a result of the advice.
Illinois Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | Yes |
Initial Registration
Form: | Form PFC-01: Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | Form PFC-01: Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Biennially by June 30. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Required |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Copies of all fundraising contracts must be submitted to Charitable Trust Bureau upon registration. Changes to the registration application, including new contract agreements, must be filed within 10 days of the changes. |
Notes: | Contracts must contain the charity's legal name, their registration number, a street address, a contact party, and the party's daytime telephone number. |
Amendment
Form: | PFC-01 Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration Statement (Amendment) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | If any of the information in the submitted registration statement changes, the Charitable Trust Bureau must be notified in writing within 10 days of the changes. |
Illinois Pull Tabs and Jar Games License
Initial Registration
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $500 for a regular license, $50 for a limited license, and $0 for a special license. |
Registration Renewal
Agency: | Illinois Department of Revenue |
Form: | Form PT-6: Application for Pull Tabs and Jar Games License (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $500 for a regular license, $50 for a limited license, and $0 for a special license. |
Due: | Annually |
Illinois Raffle License
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Illinois.
Raffle licenses are issued at the county or municipal level.
Individual Licenses
Illinois Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Illinois Professional Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Illinois Attorney General - Charitable Trust Bureau |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Form PS-01: Professional Solicitor Registration Statement (Re-registration) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by June 30. |