Missouri Nonprofit Compliance

• Religious organizations
• Educational institutions and their authorized and related foundations
• Fraternal, benevolent, social, educational, alumni, and historical organizations, and any auxiliaries associated with any of such organizations, when solicitation of contributions is confined to the membership of such organizations or auxiliaries
• Hospitals and auxiliaries of hospitals, provided all fund-raising activities and solicitations of contributions are carried on by employees of the hospital or members of the auxiliary and not by any professional fund-raiser who is employed as an independent contractor
• Any solicitation for funds governed by Chapter 130 (campaign finance law)
• Any organization that has obtained an exemption from the payment of federal income taxes as provided in section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(7) or 501(c)(8) of Title 26, United States Code, as amended, if, in fact, no part of the net earnings of the organization inure to the benefit of any private party or individual associated with such organization

Missouri Revised Statutes Title XXVI §407.456

• IRS determination letter
• Articles of Incorporation

Initial Registration Statement

Mail

$15, payable to "Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund"

1 week

• Even if your nonprofit is exempt, you may wish to have it added to the Attorney General's database. 
• One authorized signature is required and must be notarized.
• Some Missouri 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.

Foreign Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• If you will foreign qualify in Missouri, 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.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division.
2. Submit an Initial Registration Statement to the Missouri Attorney General - Charities Section.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Missouri. If not required, skip to number 3.
2. File foreign qualification documents with the Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division.
3. Submit an Initial Registration Statement to the Missouri Attorney General - Charities Section.

• List of officers and directors
• Articles of Incorporation or Partnership Agreement
• Name, address, phone number, and interest amount for those owning at least 10% of the organization
• Name, address, and phone of each governmental agency registered with during the past three years
• Name, address, and phone of any professional fundraiser who will solicit (if applicable)

Charitable Organization Annual Report Form

Mail

$15

• Annually within 75 days of the end of their fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, renewal is due by March 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.

Missouri does not grant extensions, however, charities that will not have completed financials available by the due date can file the annual report using estimated figures. Write "estimated" on the form and submit the renewal fee and once financials become available file an updated copy of the annual report with the actual figures (no fee required to file updated financials).

• Some organizations are exempt from filing the annual report, including those raising <$10,000 in contributions during the preceding 12-month period.
• Charities that do not submit a renewal by the required due date must go through the reinstatement process. 

• Name, address, and phone of all professional fundraisers used in the past year
• Name, address, and phone of all professional fundraisers you plan to use in the upcoming fiscal year

Charitable Organization Registration Reinstatement

Mail

$50

Charities suspected of violating the Missouri Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Law are subject to an investigation by the Attorney General. Upon application from the Attorney General, the court can issue the following judgments: 

• civil penalty of up to $1,000/violation
• temporary restraining orders
• preliminary injunctions
• temporary receivers
• having funds or accounts sequestered 
• restitution to restore loss suffered by injured parties

Charities that violate an injunction or restitution order face fines of up to $5,000/violation. 

Charities that do not submit a renewal by the required due date must go through the reinstatement process. 

Phone or email to registrations@ago.mo.gov

$0

Organizations can change their fiscal year by calling or sending an email and informing the Attorney General of the change. The Attorney General will make the change on the registration. No additional paperwork is required. 

Email to registrations@ago.mo.gov

$0

A charity can withdraw their registration by sending an email to registrations@ago.mo.gov and informing them that the organization no longer solicits donations in the state of Missouri. All annual reports must reflect the last day that solicitations took place in Missouri before a registration can be cancelled.