Maryland 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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- Maryland Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Maryland Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Maryland Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Maryland Bingo and Raffle Licenses
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.
There is no state level licensing for games of chance in Maryland, however, many Maryland counties license charitable organizations for games of bingo and raffles.
Maryland Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Initial Registration
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Maryland requires charities to apply for a permit to receive exemption from state insurance laws. There is no form, but the charity should submit proof that it meets the requirements for exemption. To qualify organizations must have been in existence as a 501(c)(3) for at least 10 years and must maintain a separate fund reserve fund for annuity funds. |
Registration Renewal
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually within 90 days of the charity's fiscal year end. |
Notes: | There is no renewal form, but charities should submit the required statements and audit to renew their permit. |
Maryland Charitable Organization Registration
Agency: | Maryland Secretary of State - Charitable Organizations Division |
Law: | Maryland Ann. Code, Business Regulation Article, § 6-401 et seq |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | No |
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
Charitable organizations that do not use a professional solicitor and either:
Additionally, the Secretary of State may exempt from the requirement of a registration statement or annual report a charitable organization that:
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Law: | Maryland Ann. Code, Business Regulation Article, § 6-102 and Maryland Ann. Code, Business Regulation Article, § 6-413 |
Notes: | There is no registration requirement, but charities must submit a letter to the Secretary of State stating their claim of an exemption. |
Registration to Obtain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Charities that received less than $25,000 in contributions during their most recent fiscal year |
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail, email dlcharity_sos@maryland.gov, or online |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Renewal to Maintain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | Charities that received less than $25,000 in contributions during their most recent fiscal year |
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail, email dlcharity_sos@maryland.gov, or online |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually within 8 months after fiscal year end. |
Initial Registration
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | Depends on charitable contributions:
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Turnaround: | 15-45 days |
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
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | Depends on charitable contributions:
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Due: |
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Due Date Extension: | Due dates are automatically extended for 4.5 months beyond the original due date. |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Penalties: | There is a late fee of $25 for each month that passes after the due date. The late fees do not cap off. |
Notes: | Make sure to include all required attachments, including annual financial report |
Required Attachments: |
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Reinstatement
Not required
Formal reinstatement is not required. Charities who wish to renew a canceled registration should submit a renewal filing along with the required financials, attachments, and payment of both the late fees and registration fees for each year not registered.
Change of Fiscal Year
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | Varies |
Notes: | Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process. |
Cancelation
Filing Method: | Mail or email dlcharity_sos@maryland.gov |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, submit articles of dissolution or a letter stating the organization is no longer soliciting in Maryland. Past due filings or fees are not required in order to close an organization's registration. |
Maryland Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.
Maryland 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.
A Fund-Raising Counsel definition under Business Regulation Article, §6-101(h) is a person who is compensated for advising a charity about a solicitation in Maryland or holding, planning, or managing a solicitation in Maryland. The Fund-Raising Counsel is prohibited from directly soliciting or receiving charitable contributions.
Maryland Fund-Raising Counsel Registration
Agency: | Maryland Secretary of State - Charitable Organizations Division |
Initial Registration
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $250 |
Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $250 |
Due: | Annually |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | A Fund-Raising Counsel is required to submit a copy of each fund-raising agreement by the tenth day after the agreement is made or the start of the charitable solicitation, whichever is earlier. |
A Professional Solicitor is a person who is compensated for advising a charity about a charitable solicitation, holding, planning, or managing a solicitation in Maryland, or soliciting or receiving contributions for a charitable organization. The solicitation or receipt of contributions is the distinction between a fund-raising counsel and Professional Solicitor.
Maryland Professional Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Maryland Secretary of State - Charitable Organizations Division |
Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $350 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarization Required?: | Not required |
Notes: | Prior to starting a solicitation, a Professional Solicitor is required under Business Regulation Article, §6-502 to submit a fund-raising notice for each fund- raising campaign. The notice requests information concerning the type of fund-raising method to be used and the dates of the solicitation. In addition to completing the fund-raising notice, a solicitor is required to submit with the notice a copy of the fund-raising agreement. Business Regulation Article, §6-616 requires that agreements between Professional Solicitors and charities include the names and addresses of the parties, the minimum percentage of the gross receipts from the solicitations that will be used by the charity exclusively to advance its charitable purpose, and the text used in each solicitation. In addition to submitting a copy of any fund-raising agreements between a solicitor and a charity, the solicitor is also required to submit copies of any subcontracts or other contracts in furtherance of the agreement between the charity and solicitor. This includes the submission of caging agreements, generally defined as an agreement between a solicitor or charity and a person engaged to receive or hold contributions resulting from an agreement between a charity and solicitor. |
Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Bond Amount: | $25,000 |
Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $350 |
Due: | Annually |
Contract Filing
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | A Professional Solicitor is required to submit a copy of each fund-raising agreement by the tenth day after the agreement is made or the start of the charitable solicitation, whichever is earlier. |
Financial Reporting
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | A final accounting report is required within three months after the end of each fund-raising campaign and must account for all funds received and disbursed during the entire fund-raising campaign. |
Individuals raising money on behalf of public safety organizations are required to register and disclose certain information. Business Regulation Article, §6-101(1) defines a Public Safety Solicitor as a person who, for pay, solicits or receives public safety contributions, personally or through another.
Maryland Public Safety Solicitor Registration
Agency: | Maryland Secretary of State - Charitable Organizations Division |
Bond Requirements: | $25,000 |
Initial Registration
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $100 per contract |
Notes: | This application must be submitted by a Public Safety Solicitor for each Public Safety Organization with which the Public Safety Solicitor contracts. |
Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $100 per contract |
Due: | Annually by date of issuance |
Notes: | This application must be submitted by a Public Safety Solicitor for each Public Safety Organization with which the Public Safety Solicitor contracts. |
Individual Licenses
Maryland Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Maryland Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Maryland.
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 Maryland.