Recently a fundraising company was fined more than one million dollars for violating state charity laws!
If your Teen Challenge center is incorporated as a religious non-profit you are exempt from registration for solicitation of charitable funds in most states. However, twelve states require registration of religious non-profits to solicit charitable donations in their state.
The states are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
The registration is annual and requires yearly renewal. If you are soliciting donations in these states and have not registered, contact the office of the Secretary of State for instructions and the due dates for registration. In some states the registration is through the office of the State Attorney General.
Because of abuses, states are monitoring non-profit activities, so make sure you have registered. It’s the Law!
