Massachusetts 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!

Massachusetts charitable solicitation license, Massachusetts fundraising license
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Company Licenses

Massachusetts Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Massachusetts Bingo License (Single Event)

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Initial Registration

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$50

Notes:

Forms are issued by the commission upon request. Charities can only hold one single event bingo license per year.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Single day licenses are only good for a single bingo session and cannot be renewed.

More information: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Massachusetts Bingo License (Weekly)

Game Type:

Bingo

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

Initial Registration

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:

Forms are issued by the commission upon request. Weekly licenses allow charities to hold a bingo event once a week for a year.

Registration Renewal

Agency:Massachusetts State Lottery Commission
Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by the date of issuance.

Massachusetts Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Not required



Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Massachusetts statutes exempt educational, charitable, benevolent, and religious organizations from life insurance company regulation related to charitable gift annuities.

Law:

MA Gen. Law Chapter 175 § 118

Massachusetts Charity Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

Massachusetts General Laws Ch 12, §8e and 8f; Ch 68 §18 through 35

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

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • An organization that is primarily religious in purpose and falls under the regulations 940 CMR 2.00
  • An organization that does not raise or receive contributions from the public in excess of $5,000 during a calendar year or does not receive contributions from more than ten persons during a calendar year, if all of their functions, including fundraising activities, are performed by persons who are not paid for their services and if no part of their assets or income inures to the benefit of, or is paid to, any officer or members
Notes:

Massachusetts Law Title XI Chapter 86 Section 20

Initial Registration

Instructions:
  • For Initial Charity Registrations:
    • Organizations that have never filed with the Attorney General's Office and do not currently have an Attorney General Account Number assigned can take the following steps: 
      • Start by submitting the Registration eForm online and attaching required supporting documents such as Articles of Organization, Bylaws, and IRS determination letter.  
      • After your Registration eForm has been reviewed, you will receive specific instructions via email on how to complete your registration through the new Charity Portal. 
      • You will then be able to pay the registration fee and submit any required filings through the Charity Portal after you have been assigned an Attorney General Account Number. 
  • For Annual Form PC Filings
    • Organizations that have been assigned an Attorney General Account Number and wish to submit Annual Form PC Filings:
      • Charities may now meet their annual filing requirements through the AGO’s new Charity Portal. 
      • Filers must first create a free Charity Portal account.  Click here for instructions on how to create this account. 
      • After creating a Charity Portal account, filers may complete the Form PC through the Charity Portal, available here.  Electronic signatures and payment of required fees will also be accomplished through the Charity Portal. 
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100 initial registration fee + either a $50 Schedule A-2 fee for organizations registering before their initial fiscal year end, or a fee based on gross support and revenue received during the preceding fiscal year for organizations that have already completed at least one fiscal year. The fee is calculated as follows:

 

  • $35 for gross support and revenue of $100,000 or less
  • $70 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000 but no more than $250,000
  • $125 for gross support and revenue of more than $250,000 but no more than $500,000
  • $250 for gross support and revenue of more than $500,000 but no more than $1,000,000
  • $500 for gross support and revenue of more than $1,000,000 but no more than $10,000,000
  • $1,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $10,000,000 but no more than $100,000,000
  • $2,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000,000
Turnaround:

4-6 months

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • The President and another officer or trustee must sign.
  • Please submit each registration document required as a separate PDF attachment.  When naming PDF files, please use the following naming conventions, and include the organization name and the type of submission being made:
    • For Charity Registration Form: “OrgName RegistrationForm.pdf”
    • For Articles of Incorporation: “OrgName Articles.pdf”
    • For Bylaws: “OrgName Bylaws.pdf”
    • For IRS determination letter: “OrgName IRS letter.pdf”
    • For Board of Directors list: “OrgName BoD list.pdf”
    • For Schedule A-2 Form: “OrgName ScheduleA2.pdf”
  • For any submission which includes one or more Form PC filings, please label each part of the filings (Form PC, 990, financial statement) as separate files and include the fiscal year. 
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 financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • 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 financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • 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 Massachusetts, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  2. Complete a Public Charity Registration through the Charity Portal.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Massachusetts. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  3. Complete a Public Charity Registration through the Charity Portal.
Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990 (charities with gross support and revenue of less than $25,000 are not required to submit)
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bylaws
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross support and revenue for the preceding fiscal year:

 

  • $35 for gross support and revenue of $100,000 or less
  • $70 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000 but no more than $250,000
  • $125 for gross support and revenue of more than $250,000 but no more than $500,000
  • $250 for gross support and revenue of more than $500,000 but no more than $1,000,000
  • $500 for gross support and revenue of more than $1,000,000 but no more than $10,000,000
  • $1,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $10,000,000 but no more than $100,000,000
  • $2,000 for gross support and revenue of more than $100,000,000
Due:
  • Annually by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your nonprofit's fiscal year. So if your fiscal calendar ends December 31, then the renewal is due by May 15.
  • 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:

Due dates are automatically extended for 6 months beyond the original due date if a charity is in compliance.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Penalties:

There is a late fee of $25 per month.

Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990 (charities with gross support and revenue of less than $25,000 are not required to submit)
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • List of officers and directors
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws
  • If applicable: list of other states the organization is registered in

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10B: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Commercial Co-venturers

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new co-venturing activity.

Notes:

Every contract or agreement between a professional solicitor or a commercial co-venturer and a charitable organization must include:

  1. A statement of the charitable purposes to be described in the solicitation; and
  2. A statement of the guaranteed minimum percentage of the gross receipts from fund-raising which will be utilized exclusively for the charitable purposes described in the solicitation.

Reinstatement

Not required



Formal reinstatement is not required. Charities who wish to renew an expired registration should submit a renewal filing along with the required financials, attachments, and registration fee(s) for each year not registered. The Attorney General is not currently assessing any late fees. Expired registrations are periodically audited and can eventually become penalized and assessed fees payable only by the officers of the organization. 

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Online

Notes:

The fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process. Be sure to submit a cover letter and a copy of the organization's amended Articles of Incorporation with the annual filing. 

Cancelation

Filing Method:

Email to charities@mass.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, submit a letter indicating the desire to withdraw and include the date Massachusetts solicitations will end. If soliciting took place in a partial fiscal year, submit a renewal for that year.

Commercial co-venturer means any person who for profit or other commercial consideration, conducts, produces, promotes, underwrites, arranges or sponsors a performance, event, or sale to the public of a good or service which is advertised in conjunction with the name of any charitable organization or as benefiting to any extent any charitable purpose. Any such person who will benefit in good will only shall not be deemed a commercial co-venturer if the collection and distribution of the proceeds of the performance, event or sale are supervised and controlled by the benefiting charitable organization.

Massachusetts Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10: Registration Statement to be filed by Commercial Co-Venturers

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$200

Bond Amount:

$25,000

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10: Registration Statement to be filed by Commercial Co-Venturers (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Bond Amount:

$25,000

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10B: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Commercial Co-venturers

Filing Method:

Email to professionalfundraiser@mass.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new co-venturing activity.

Notes:

Every contract or agreement between a professional solicitor or a commercial co-venturer and a charitable organization must include:

  1. A statement of the charitable purposes to be described in the solicitation; and
  2. A statement of the guaranteed minimum percentage of the gross receipts from fund-raising which will be utilized exclusively for the charitable purposes described in the solicitation.
How to Apply:

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

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.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form 11B: Commercial Co-Venturer’s Annual Financial Report

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by February 28 of the year following the reporting year.

Original Ink:Required
Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

Annual financial reports need to be filed for every campaign the co-venturer engages in.

Professional fund-raising counsel means any person who is retained for a financial or other consideration by a charitable organization to plan, conduct, manage, carry on, advise or act as a consultant whether directly or indirectly in connection with the solicitation of contributions in this commonwealth for or on behalf of any charitable organization but who actually solicits no contributions and has neither custody nor control of contributions as part of such services. A bona fide salaried officer or regular, nontemporary employee of a charitable organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the commonwealth shall not be deemed to be a professional fund-raising counsel.

An individual or business retained by a charity to advise the charity on conducting of fundraising campaigns is considered a fundraising counsel. Fundraising counsels do not conduct solicitation themselves, nor do they ever have custody or control of contributed funds. 

 

Massachusetts Fundraising Counsel Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement

Agency Fee:

$400

Notarization Required?:Not required
Before you Apply:
  • A list of all employees or agents who will be primarily responsible for conduction or supervision campaigns. Include subcontractors.
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of each fundraising contract (to be filed with registration or within 10 days of signing).

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$400

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

File a copy of each additional fundraising contract within 10 days of signing.

Professional solicitor means any person who is retained for a financial or other consideration by a charitable organization to solicit in this commonwealth contributions for charitable purposes directly or in the form of payment for goods or services, whether such solicitation is done individually or through other persons under the direction of the professional solicitor. A person who otherwise is a professional fund-raising counsel shall be deemed a professional solicitor if at any time he has custody or control of contributions. A bona fide salaried officer or regular, nontemporary employee of a charitable organization maintaining a permanent establishment within the commonwealth shall not be deemed to be a professional solicitor. No attorney, investment counselor or banker who advises an individual corporation or association to make a charitable contribution shall be deemed, as the result of such advice, to be a professional fund-raising counsel or a professional solicitor.

Massachusetts Professional Solicitor Registration

Agency:Massachusetts Attorney General - Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Law:

11 MGL Ch. 68 § 24

Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Initial Registration

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • Professional solicitors should ensure that the charities for whom they are soliciting are registered and in possession of a valid Certificate for Solicitation prior to commencing solicitations.
Before you Apply:
  • Additional names by which the registrant is known or conducts business

  • Registrant’s employee(s) or agent(s) who will be primarily responsible for conducting and supervising campaigns at each office listed above.
    • Include ALL sub-contractors
    • Sub-contractors must be registered and bonded with Massachusetts before solicitation occurs
  • Report all states in which you are registered as a professional fundraiser, fundraising counsel or commercial co-venturer
  • Report details about all current and previous license or permit denial, cancellation, revocation or suspension, as well as any legal action taken against you in connection with the solicitation of funds for charitable purposes
  • Report details about all misdemeanor convictions for any employee or agent, including misappropriation, misapplication, or misuse of money of another or felonies. 
  • Report ALL solicitation-related employment from the last five years on another sheet.  
    • Include the name, address, and phone number of the employer, the nature of the employment, and the length of employment
  •  
Required Attachments:
  • A copy of each fundraising contract along with Form 10A (RTF), Registration Addendum (to be filed with registration or within 10 days or signing and prior to the commencement of any solicitation)
    • Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 68, Section 22 states that “Every contract or agreement between a professional fund-raising counsel or a commercial co-venturer or a professional solicitor and a charitable organization required to have a certificate of registration pursuant to [chapter sixty-eight] section nineteen shall be in writing, signed by two officers of the charitable organization, and filed with the director of the division within ten days after such contract or agreement is entered into.  No solicitation shall be conducted prior to the filing of such contract or agreement.”
  • A list including the  name and address of the charitable organization and the dates of the current or planned campaign
Bond Amount:

$25,000

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form 10 (RTF): Registration Statement (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$1,000

Due:

Annually by December 31.

Contract Filing

Form:

Form 10A: Addendum to Registration Statement to be Filed by Professional Solicitors

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 10 days of signing and prior to the commencement of any new solicitation contract.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form 11A: Professional Solicitor’s Annual Financial Report

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by February 28 of the year following the reporting year.

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

Annual financial reports need to be filed for every charitable campaign the solicitor works on.

Massachusetts Raffle and Casino Night Licenses

Not required



Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

Raffle and casino night permits are issued at the municipal level.

Individual Licenses

Massachusetts Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Massachusetts Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

Not required



Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Massachusetts.

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 Massachusetts.

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