Alabama State Fundraising Registration

Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting fundraising activities

 

Alabama Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Labyrinth provides the state fundraising regulations below as a guide to help you apply for and maintain your ability to fundraise. Need help? We can manage your state registrations for you. Contact us today to learn more.


Alabama defines requirements for:

•  Charitable Organization Registration

•   Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

•  Professional Fundraiser Registration

•   Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

•  Charitable Gift Annuity Registration


Need a different state? Visit our 50-state Compliance Guide

Alabama Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:  Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division

Law:   Alabama Code § 13A-9-71

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:  No

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? No

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

  • Charities that do not intent to solicit and receive and do not actually receive more than $25,000 in contributions during a fiscal year and do not use professional fundraisers
  • Educational institutions and their authorized and related foundations
  • Religious organizations
  • Political organizations
  • Fraternal, patriotic, benevolent, social, educational, alumni, health care foundation, historical, and civil rights organizations, including fraternities and sororities and any auxiliaries associated with any such organizations
  • Civic leagues and civic organizations which solicit contributions solely from their own membership
  • Appeals for individuals that raise $10,000 or less
  • Any charitable organization receiving an allocation from an incorporated community chest or united fund, provided the chest or fund is complying with this section relating to registration and filing of annual reports with the Attorney General, the charitable organization does not actually receive, in addition to an allocation, contributions in excess of $25,000 during the fiscal year, and all of the fundraising functions of the charitable organization are carried on by persons who are not paid for such services
  • A local post, camp, chapter, or similarly designated element, or a county unit of such elements of a bona fide veterans organization, which issues charters to local elements throughout this state, or a bona fide organization of volunteer firefighters, ambulance companies, or rescue squads, or a bona fide auxiliary or affiliate of such organizations, provided all of its fundraising activities are carried on by members of the organization, family members of the members of the organization, volunteers, or an affiliate of the organization and the members receive no compensation, directly or indirectly

    • Filing Method   Online

    Notes:   Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Law:  Alabama Code § 13A-9-71

    Notes: Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.

    Initial Registration

    Form:   Charitable Organization Registration Form

    Filing Method:   Mail or Online

    Agency Fee:  $25

    Turnaround:  2 - 3 weeks

    Notes:

  • President and CFO or another authorized officer must sign.
  • Some Alabama counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

    • - Before you Apply -

    All Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

    • - How to Apply -

    Domestic Applicants:

    1. File entity formation documents with the Alabama Secretary of State.

    2. Submit the online form or Charitable Organization Registration Form and all required attachments to apply for registration with the Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division.


    Foreign Applicants:

    1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Alabama. If not required, skip to number 3.

    2. File foreign qualification documents with the Alabama Secretary of State.

    3. Submit the online form or Charitable Organization Registration Form and all required attachments to apply for registration with the Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division.


    - Required Attachments -

  • Articles of incorporation or organization
  • A copy of any agreement of association, instrument of trust, constitution, or other organizational instrument
  • A copy of the bylaws adopted by the applicant
  • Organizational Charter
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors including phone numbers and addresses
  • List of other states where the applicant is registered to solicit donations
  • Names and addresses of any professional fundraisers and commercial coventurers who are acting or have agreed to act on behalf of the applicant
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    Registration Renewal

    Form:   Charitable Organization Renewal Form

    Filing Method:   Mail or Online

    Agency Fee:  $25

    Due:  

  • Renewal is due annually within 90 days after the close or your organization's fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, then the report is due March 31.
  • 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 can be extended for 180 days beyond the original due date by submitting a request for extension through the online portal.

    Notes:

  • The CFO and the president / other authorized officer must sign.
  • The organization must also notify the Attorney General throughout the year within 90 days of any change in the information.

    • Required Attachments:

  • Either IRS form 990 or audited financials
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws

    • Change of Fiscal Year

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Turnaround:   1-2 business days

    Notes: Email Emily Nichols at enichols@ago.state.al.us to update fiscal year.

    Cancellation

    Form:   Charitable Organization Notice of Non Renewal

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Notes: To close out your registration, submit a notice of non renewal or a letter describing your intent to withdraw and provide a statement indicating that you will no longer solicit in Alabama.

     
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    Alabama Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

    A Commercial Co-Venturer is any person who for profit or other commercial consideration conducts, promotes, underwrites, arranges, or sponsors a sale, performance, or event of any kind which is advertised, and which will benefit, to any extent, a charitable or religious organization. However, any such person who will benefit in good will only is not a commercial co-venturer if the collection and distribution of the proceeds of the sale, performance, or event are supervised and controlled by the benefiting charitable or religious organization.

    Agency:   Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division

    Law:   Alabama Code § 13A-9-70(h)

    Bond Requirement:   $10,000

    Notes:   Organizations cannot begin to fundraise until 15 days after a contract has been filed with the attorney general.

    Initial Registration

    Form:  Professional Fundraiser or Commercial Co-Venturer Registration Statement

    Filling Method:  Mail or Online

    Agency Fee:  $100

    Turnaround:  2-3 business days when filing online.

    Bond Amount:  $10,000

    Registration Renewal

    Form:   Professional Fundraiser or Commercial Co-Venturer Registration Statement (Renewal)

    Filing Method: Online is the easiest and fastest way. There is a legacy paper form that requires the applicant to notarize and mail. When filing by paper, state processing takes much longer (on the order of several weeks).

    Agency Fee:   $100

    Turnaround: 1-3 business days

    Due: Annually by September 30.


    Contract Filing

    Filing Method:   Online

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Turnaround: Immediately online

    Due: File a copy of all contracts entered into with charitable organizations within 10 days after the beginning of the contract.

    Original Ink: Not required

    Notarize: Not required

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

    Contract Amendment

    Filing Method: Online

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Notes: Changes to a filed contract should be made using the online system.


    Financial Reporting

    Form:   None. Enter information online.

    Filing Method:   Online

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Turnaround: Immediately online

    Due: CCVs must file a closing statement within 90 days of the termination of a contract with a charitable organization.

    Alabama Charitable Gaming License

    NOT REQUIRED

    Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Alabama.
    There is no state level licensing for games of chance in Alabama, however, many Alabama counties license charitable organizations for games of bingo.

     
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    Beth Lyons, Director of Development, Homes for Our Troops

    Alabama Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

    Agency:   Alabama Securities Commission

    Law:   AL Code § 8-6-10 and Securities Commission Administrative Code 830-X-6-.10

    Initial Registration

    Form:   Form U-4: Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer

    Agency Fee:  $60 Per Agent

    Notes:   Individual agents who solicit on behalf of an organization should register using form U-4. The issuing organization must also submit form U-2 and various supporting documents.

    Registration Renewal

    Agency Fee:   $60

    Due:   Annually

     
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    Alabama Professional Fundraiser Registration

    Agency:   Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division

    Law:   Alabama Code § 13A-9-70(h)

    Bond Requirements: $10,000

    Initial Registration

    Annual Financial Report

    Form: Professional Fundraiser or Commercial Co-Venturer Registration Statement

    Agency Fee:   $100

    Original Ink: Required

    Notarize: Required

    Before you Apply:

  • Describe the terms under which the applicant will be compensated for its charitable solicitation activities, whether for monetary compensation or other consideration (advertising, gifts, etc).
  • Describe the type of solicitation programs that will be utilized by the applicant, e.g., personal contact, direct mail, radio, newspaper, television, internet, etc.

    • Required Attachments:

  • Provide a copy of any articles of incorporation or bylaws adopted by the applicant.
  • Provide a list of the names, residential addresses, dates of birth, driver license numbers, and the state where licensed of all owners, directors, and managers of the applicant.
  • Provide a list of the address and telephone number for each location in Alabama from which the applicant will solicit funds.
  • List the name, address, and telephone number of all banks, savings and loan associations, and all other such financial institutions in which the applicant will deposit the funds received, and identify the names in which the funds will be deposited.
  • List the names, addresses, dates of birth, driver license numbers and the state where licensed for any persons who will solicit funds.


    • Registration Renewal

    Filing Method:  Online

    Agency Fee:   $100

    Due: September 30 of each year.

    Original Ink: Not Required

    Notarize: Not Required


    Contract Filing

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due: File a copy of all contracts entered into with charitable organizations within 10 days after the beginning of the contract.

    Law: Alabama Code § 13A-9-71(i)

    Notarize: Not Required


    Financial Reporting

    Form:   Professional Fundraiser or Commercial Co-Venturer Closing Statement

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due: File a closing statement form within 90 days after the close of charitable organization contracts.



    Alabama Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

    A Professional Solicitor is any person who is employed or retained for compensation by a professional fund raiser to solicit contributions for charitable purposes in this state.

    Alabama Professional Solicitor Registration

    Agency:  Alabama Attorney General - Consumer Interest Division

    Initial Registration

    Form:   Professional Solicitor Registration Statement

    Agency Fee:   $25

    Original Ink:   Not required

    Notarize: Not Required


    Registration Renewal

    Form:   Professional Solicitor Registration Statement (Renewal)

    Agency Fee:   $25

    Due:   September 30 of each year.

    Original Ink:   Not required

    Notarize: Not Required

     
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