Whether registration is required at all
Around ten states impose no charitable registration requirement, and a couple more have only limited rules. The rest require registration before soliciting, with penalties for fundraising without it.
State Compliance
Charitable Solicitation Registration
Most states require a nonprofit to register before asking their residents for donations. Around forty states and the District of Columbia have some form of requirement; roughly ten have none. Which rules reach your organization depends on where you ask, not only where you sit.
- Attorney-guided
- Flat fee
- Filing fee at cost
- Nationwide service
See pricing and what’s included
Avvo Clients’ Choice Award, 2026
“We were so grateful for Breanna’s work for our small non-profit. Kind, clear, and reliable!”
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A prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
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Register before you fundraise
Tell us where you solicit. We usually reply the same business day.
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Our team will be in touch shortly. If you would rather pick a time now, book a consultation directly.
Book a ConsultationYou’re not hiring a filing service.You’re working with an attorney.
Legacy Path Law focuses on nonprofit, business, and intellectual property law. Your matter is handled by an attorney — not simply an online filing platform.
The attorneys who will handle your matter
Founding partners Breanna McCarthy and Channing Thomas work in nonprofit and tax-exempt law every day. Breanna is a member of The Florida Bar; Channing is a member of the Virginia State Bar and clerked at the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Your matter is handled by an admitted attorney, not an intake team and not a filing service.
Solicitation Registration
$500per state • plus that state’s filing fee
- Review of where your fundraising actually reaches
- Assessment of whether an exemption applies
- Preparation of the registration and required exhibits
- Financial statements and governance documents assembled
- Filing with the state charity regulator
- Response to state follow-up questions
- Guidance on annual renewal obligations
Flat fee per state • state filing fee billed at cost
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Who this is for
Most states require registration before you ask their residents for money. It is separate from your 501(c)(3) status, it is state by state, and it renews.
This is the right fit
You are asking the public to give.
- Launching a fundraising campaign, appeal, or donation page
- Soliciting donors in states other than the one you were formed in
- A grantmaker or platform asked for your charitable registration number
- You use a professional fundraiser or fundraising consultant
- You have been fundraising already and are not sure you were registered
You likely need a different page
This is a different filing.
- You are still forming the organization — see 501(c)(3) formation
- You need a state sales or income tax exemption — see state tax exemption
- You operate in a state you were not formed in — see foreign registration
- A church — some states exempt religious organizations — see church formation
- You lost exempt status — see reinstatement
Registration is not the same as tax exemption, and neither one covers the other. Organizations routinely have one and not the other.
What counts as soliciting
Broader than most founders expect. A mailed appeal counts. So does a fundraising event, a grant application to a private foundation in some states, and in many states a “Donate” button on your website that residents of that state can use.
That last point catches people out. A small organization with a national donation page can trigger registration duties in states it has never physically entered. Whether it does depends on how actively you target residents there — and states take differing views.
Registration is not one-and-done
Most states require annual renewal, typically tied to your fiscal year end and often requiring financial statements. Larger organizations may need reviewed or audited financials, with the thresholds set by each state.
How the Rules Differ
Four things vary state to state, and each can change the answer.
Who is exempt
Many states exempt religious organizations, educational institutions, hospitals, or organizations below a revenue threshold. The categories and thresholds differ, and some exemptions must themselves be claimed by filing.
What the filing requires
Some states want only a short form. Others require bylaws, your IRS determination letter, board rosters, contracts with professional fundraisers, and audited financials above a threshold.
Fees and renewal cycles
Filing fees range from nothing to several hundred dollars, sometimes scaling with contributions received. Renewal deadlines rarely align across states.
Every state is different
There is no national process here. Each state writes its own rules, its own forms, its own fees, and its own exemptions — and they change. What one state grants automatically, the next requires you to apply for, and a third may not offer at all.
That is why this is quoted per state. Tell us where you operate and we will tell you what actually applies there.
Solicitation Registration Questions
Do we have to register in every state?
Only where you actually solicit. For many small organizations that is one or two states, not forty. We would rather tell you that registration is unnecessary than sell you filings you do not need.
Does a Donate button on our website trigger registration?
It can. Many states treat an online appeal accessible to their residents as solicitation, particularly where you actively target that state or repeatedly receive contributions from it. The analysis is fact-specific.
What happens if we fundraise without registering?
Consequences vary by state and can include penalties, orders to stop soliciting, and in some cases personal exposure for directors. Grantmakers and platforms increasingly check registration status too.
Are we exempt because we are small or religious?
Possibly, but exemptions differ by state and several must be claimed by filing rather than assumed. Being exempt in one state says nothing about the next.
Do we have to renew?
In most states, annually. Renewal is usually tied to your fiscal year end and often requires updated financial information.
Choosing How to Form Your Nonprofit
Forming a nonprofit is two separate jobs: creating the entity under state law, and obtaining federal tax exemption from the IRS. Cheaper routes usually cover the first and leave you the second, which is the part where mistakes are expensive to undo.
| Feature | Do It Yourself | Online Filing Service | Full-Service Law Firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest upfront cost | Moderate, with add-on fees | Flat fee, agreed in writing |
| State incorporation | You prepare and file | Filed from a template | Attorney-prepared and filed |
| IRS-required language | Commonly missed | Generic boilerplate | Drafted for your purpose |
| Form 1023 or 1023-EZ | You decide and file | Often an upsell | Eligibility assessed, then filed |
| Bylaws & conflict policy | Downloaded templates | Templates, if included | Drafted for your organization |
| Board composition | No guidance | No guidance | Reviewed against IRS expectations |
| IRS follow-up questions | Handled on your own | Additional fees to assist | Responses included |
| Best for | Experienced founders | Simple, low-budget filings | Getting it right the first time |
Amending organizing documents after filing costs more than drafting them correctly, and a denied application means paying the IRS user fee again.
How Solicitation Registration Works
Every state words its rules differently and renews on its own cycle. The work is identifying which states actually apply to you before filing anywhere.
Work Out Which States
We look at where you will actually solicit — mail, email, events, your own donation page — and identify the states that require registration.
Assemble the Exhibits
Most states want your determination letter, governing documents, most recent Form 990, and officer details. We gather them once and reuse them.
File the Registrations
Prepared and filed in each state, including any professional fundraiser disclosures and bonding requirements that apply.
Hand You the Renewal Calendar
Registrations expire on different dates in different states. You get the dates in writing so year two does not catch anyone out.
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What Clients Say
Client Review
Google Review
"I highly recommend Legacy Path Law Firm. From the moment they took over our legal matters, their professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail were exceptional.
We came to Legacy Path after experiencing significant difficulties with another firm, including important work that had not been properly completed. Legacy Path stepped in, carefully reviewed what had been done, identified the outstanding issues, and took the necessary action to bring the matters to completion.
What impressed me most was their willingness to take ownership of the process. Rather than making excuses or focusing on the problems created by the previous firm, they focused on solutions, communication, and getting the work done correctly.
Their team has been professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and dependable throughout the entire process. After the experience we previously encountered, it was refreshing to work with a law firm that understands the importance of accountability and client service.
I am extremely pleased with the service we received and sincerely appreciate Legacy Path Law Firm for stepping in and successfully completing work that had previously been left unresolved.
I would confidently recommend Legacy Path Law Firm to anyone looking for a legal team that follows through on its commitments and genuinely takes care of its clients."
We came to Legacy Path after experiencing significant difficulties with another firm, including important work that had not been properly completed. Legacy Path stepped in, carefully reviewed what had been done, identified the outstanding issues, and took the necessary action to bring the matters to completion.
What impressed me most was their willingness to take ownership of the process. Rather than making excuses or focusing on the problems created by the previous firm, they focused on solutions, communication, and getting the work done correctly.
Their team has been professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and dependable throughout the entire process. After the experience we previously encountered, it was refreshing to work with a law firm that understands the importance of accountability and client service.
I am extremely pleased with the service we received and sincerely appreciate Legacy Path Law Firm for stepping in and successfully completing work that had previously been left unresolved.
I would confidently recommend Legacy Path Law Firm to anyone looking for a legal team that follows through on its commitments and genuinely takes care of its clients."
★★★★★ Review on Google
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Client Review
An Outstanding Legal Partner
"Breanna was instrumental in helping our nonprofit build a strong legal foundation from the very beginning. She guided us through changing our organization's name, establishing our foreign entity registrations, and navigating the legal requirements that come with a growing national nonprofit.
She took the time to explain complex legal matters in plain language, making sure our board understood every step before moving forward. Her work gave us confidence that our organization was structured correctly and positioned for future growth.
I would highly recommend Breanna to any nonprofit or business looking for an attorney who is professional, thorough, and a trusted advisor. We truly appreciate everything she did to help Latino Professionals in Aerospace get off the ground legally and set us up for long term success."
She took the time to explain complex legal matters in plain language, making sure our board understood every step before moving forward. Her work gave us confidence that our organization was structured correctly and positioned for future growth.
I would highly recommend Breanna to any nonprofit or business looking for an attorney who is professional, thorough, and a trusted advisor. We truly appreciate everything she did to help Latino Professionals in Aerospace get off the ground legally and set us up for long term success."
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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A Trusted Legal Partner for Nearly a Decade
"I've had the pleasure of working with Breanna for nearly a decade, and I can't recommend her highly enough. She was instrumental in helping me properly structure my business and guiding me through securing my trademark, and she's been an invaluable resource ever since.
What I appreciate most is that she's not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also someone I genuinely trust. Anytime a legal question comes up, she's my first call. She takes the time to explain everything clearly, provides practical advice, and always has my best interests in mind.
Having someone in your corner who is responsive, professional, and truly invested in your success is invaluable. Breanna has been exactly that for me, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding attorney."
What I appreciate most is that she's not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also someone I genuinely trust. Anytime a legal question comes up, she's my first call. She takes the time to explain everything clearly, provides practical advice, and always has my best interests in mind.
Having someone in your corner who is responsive, professional, and truly invested in your success is invaluable. Breanna has been exactly that for me, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding attorney."
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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Client Review
Exceptional Legal Counsel
"I worked with Breanna for two years supporting my nonprofit and can confidently attest that she is one of the best lawyers in the industry. She is exceptionally thorough, highly responsive, and brings an outstanding level of attention to detail to every matter.
Breanna is also thoughtful, strategic, and consistently focused on delivering the highest quality work. I would recommend her without hesitation to any organization seeking exceptional legal counsel."
Breanna is also thoughtful, strategic, and consistently focused on delivering the highest quality work. I would recommend her without hesitation to any organization seeking exceptional legal counsel."
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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Client Review
Trusted Resource
"We thoroughly enjoyed working with Breanna. She was very detail oriented, collaborative, and had deep subject matter expertise in helping our state associations get their nonprofit paperwork in order and set up for success.
Breanna made difficult administrative tasks seem easy, and all of this with a smile. She was a trusted resource for our work, and I'm happy to highly recommend her to others."
Breanna made difficult administrative tasks seem easy, and all of this with a smile. She was a trusted resource for our work, and I'm happy to highly recommend her to others."
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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Client Review
Highly Recommend
"We were so grateful for Breanna's work for our small non-profit. Kind, clear, and reliable! Highly recommend!"
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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Client Review
Wonderful
"Professional, timely and goes to a great deal of effort to ensure you understand the whole process."
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Knowledgeable
"Attorney McCarthy is very knowledgeable and supportive during every steps of the process."
★★★★★ Review on Avvo
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The testimonials on this page reflect the experience of those individual clients. Every matter is different, and a prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
Find out where you actually need to register.
Tell us where you fundraise and we will tell you which states apply — including the ones that do not.