Maine 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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- Maine Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Maine Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Maine Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Maine Beano/Bingo Registration
Game Type: | Bingo |
Agency: | Maine Department of Public Safety - Gambling Control Unit |
Age Restrictions: | Participants must be at least 16 years old. |
Initial Registration
Registration Renewal
Maine Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Maine.
No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Maine exempts charities from following insurance regulations regarding charitable gift annuities if the following conditions are met: "A. The organization is a nonprofit organization that is either: (1) An organization to which the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act applies; or (2) Organized under the laws of a jurisdiction within the United States and qualified as a foreign corporation pursuant to Title 13-B, chapter 12. B. The organization qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3) or a successor provision. C. The organization: (1) Has been operating continuously for 5 or more years; (2) Is a parent or subsidiary of a qualified organization; or (3) Is the successor to an organization that meets the requirements of paragraphs A and B and both organizations together have operated continuously for 5 or more years.".
Law: | ME Rev Stat. Title 24-A Chapter 1 § 3 and ME Rev Stat. Title 24-A Chapter 9 § 703-A |
Maine Charitable Organization License
Agency: | Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation |
Law: | |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $20 |
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: | Charitable Organization Application and Annual Fundraising Activity Report for Charitable Organization |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $20 |
Due: | Annually by November 30. Renewals can be filed as early as October 1. |
Due Date Extension: | Maine does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Penalties: | There is a $50 late fee for renewals filed within 90 days after the expiration date. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Reinstatement
Not required
Formal Reinstatement is not required. Charities can renew an existing license for up to 90 days past its expiration date. After 90 days, they must go through the initial licensing process again. Late fees do not apply to charities filing going through this process.
Change of Fiscal Year
Filing Method: | Mail or email |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
Notes: | Email notification of the change to charitable.sol@maine.gov |
Cancelation
Form: | Annual Fundraising Activity Report for Charitable Organization |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, submit a letter indicating your withdrawal request and a final annual fundraising activity report, which can be emailed, faxed, or mailed. |
Maine Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Maine.
Maine 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.
Maine Cribbage Tournament Registration
Game Type: | Cribbage tournament |
Agency: | Maine Department of Public Safety - Gambling Control Unit |
Initial Registration
Registration Renewal
Maine Fundraising Counsel Registration
Not required
Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Maine.
Maine does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for fundraising counsels, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.
Maine Games of Chance License
Game Type: | Various card games |
Agency: | Maine Department of Public Safety - Gambling Control Unit |
Notes: | Charities must also obtain approval from the relevant municipal body for this license. |
Initial Registration
Agency: | Maine Department of Public Safety - Gambling Control Unit |
Form: | Form MGCU 5300: License to Conduct Games of Chance (Card Games) |
Agency Fee: | Fees vary by type of games offered and duration of license. See the form for details. |
Registration Renewal
Maine Games of Chance Registration
Game Type: | Various games of chance (including raffles) |
Agency: | Maine Department of Public Safety - Gambling Control Unit |
Initial Registration
Registration Renewal
Maine Professional Solicitor License
Agency: | Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation |
Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $20 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $20 |
Due: | Annually by November 30. |
Notes: | Renewal reminders are sent via email approximately 60 days prior to expiration. |
Required Attachments: |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | A copy of new contracts between a professional solicitor and a charity must be filed within 10 days after entering into the contract. |
Law: | |
Notes: | There is no form, simply file a copy of the contract with the department. |
Amendment
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | As an ongoing condition of licensure, a professional solicitor must notify the director of a change to the information contained in the licensee's application for initial or renewal licensure, including any additional disciplinary or court action taken against the licensee, within 10 days of the change. |
Law: |
Individual Licenses
Maine Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Maine Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Maine.
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 Maine.