Charitable Registered Agent

Meet Charitable Registered Agent Appointment Requirements in Every State

  • Reliably receive same-day documents from our local offices
  • Annual fees starting at $99 per state with no additional charges
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As many as 18 states require a charitable registered agent when registering to fundraise. Labyrinth, Inc. provides charitable registered agent services in all of them. Don't risk missing an important document delivery. Rely on our nationwide network of registered agent offices to receive, organize, and store your documents.

What is a Charitable Registered Agent?

A charitable registered agent is your nonprofit’s legally designated point of contact with charitable solicitation authorities. The registered agent receives important legal notices, such as service of process, on behalf of your organization.

What Is the Difference Between a Charitable Registered Agent and a Standard Registered Agent?

The difference between a charitable registered agent and a standard one is that the charitable registered agent is designated as the point of contact for certain states’ charitable solicitation authorities, whereas a standard registered agent is most commonly appointed with the secretary of state office for corporate registration purposes. The main difference is which state office the registered agent is appointed with.

If you’re familiar with how a standard registered agent works, you understand that it’s a business’s legal appointee to receive notice of lawsuits and other legal or government notices. State law requires every LLC, corporation, and other business entity to have one on file with the corporations division, usually organized under the Secretary of State office. The business lists its registered agent either when the business is formed or when the business expands to that state. Some states call the registered agent a resident agent, statutory agent, commercial registered agent, or registered office. The appointee may be a person or a business.

Likewise, a charitable registered agent is the designated point of contact for legal deliveries. However, instead of being appointed with the corporations division when the legal entity is formed or expands into a new state, it’s appointed with the charitable solicitation authority when the nonprofit registers for solicitation.

How Is a Charitable Registered Agent Appointed?

A charitable registered agent is appointed by listing the registered agent address on the state’s charitable registration application. Most states maintain databases of registered charities which may list the charitable registered agent address. Updating the appointment is done by changing the address on renewal applications. States do not typically provide an application for the specific purpose of changing a charitable registered agent address. In some instances, it may be possible to change the address by contacting the charitable solicitation authority and requesting the change.

Can I Serve as My Own Charitable Registered Agent?

Technically, yes. But, proceed with caution.

Nonprofits that register for fundraising must appoint a registered agent in up to 13 states. While some states will allow you to list a state office as the registered agent address, others do not. In those cases, there are two options to meet the state requirements.

Option #1: Appoint an Individual

Many states allow you to appoint any consenting resident as your agent. Typically nonprofits appoint a representative within the organization.

Your registered agent must provide their physical street address where they can be served on behalf of the business. A post office box is not allowed.

Your registered agent should be available during business hours to accept and sign for legal documents. Remember that a sheriff or other government official would visit this address with the expectation that someone will be available to sign for receipt of a notice of a lawsuit or other document.

Option #2: Appoint a Commercial Charitable Registered Agent

You may hire a company to serve as your registered agent (such as us).

  • Comply with the Registered Agent requirement
    Nonprofits that do not have a registered agent that meets the requirements can fulfill the registered agent requirement by obtaining a registered agent service such as ours.
  • Protect your privacy
    Avoid receiving process servers, sheriffs, and other officials in front of your clients and employees. Maintain anonymity by having a registered agent’s address listed on the state’s public website.
  • Maintain a flexible schedule and locale
    Enjoy the freedom of having flexible hours and days off while your registered agent reliably stays open during business hours. If you move your office, using a registered agent service avoids the state fee to change your registered agent.
  • Reduce the risks of default judgment and administrative dissolution
Should I Appoint a State Office as My Charitable Registered Agent?

Some states, like Hawaii, let registered nonprofits choose between appointing their own charitable registered agent or listing the address of a state office to receive official document deliveries. Organizations should think carefully about appointing a state office as their charitable registered agent. While it may satisfy the requirements, will it result in documents being reliably delivered in a convenient and timely manner? State offices aren’t organized to be efficient, user-friendly legal document storage and delivery services. Commercial charitable registered agent services, on the other hand, are organized to do just that. While the no-cost appointment may be compelling for tightly-budgeted nonprofits, if delays or misplaced documents are the result, donor trust is at stake.

How Charitable Registered Agent Service Works

Complete the steps below to order charitable registered agent service. Once you have listed our address with the state charitable solicitation authority, we will receive your government documents and reliably send them to you via your online account.

  1. Reference the table below to determine which states you may need a charitable registered agent in.
  2. Submit the contact form to request charitable registered agent service in those states.
  3. We'll create an invoice for charitable registered agent service in your account. (If you don't have one, we'll send you and activation email.)
  4. Once ordered, you'll list our address on the charitable registration application in the states where you’ve purchased service.

Want us to take care of the entire charitable registration process and other filings? Contact us to learn more.

How Charitable Registered Agent Service Works

Complete the steps below to order charitable registered agent service. Once you have listed our address with the state charitable solicitation authority, we will receive your government documents and reliably send them to you via your online account.

  1. Reference the table below to determine which states you may need a charitable registered agent in.
  2. Submit the contact form to request charitable registered agent service in those states.
  3. We'll create an invoice for charitable registered agent service in your account. (If you don't have one, we'll send you and activation email.)
  4. Once ordered, you'll list our address on the charitable registration application in the states where you’ve purchased service.

Want us to take care of the entire charitable registration process and other filings? Contact us to learn more.

Charitable Registered Agent Requirements by State

The following table provides the registered agent requirements for each state. Please note that every organization has a unique situation. We encourage you to review these requirements with your legal counsel.

Disclaimer: We mention the Unified Registration Statement (URS) in the two states that may require it, but many states no longer accept it. The URS form itself is longer and more complicated than the state-specific forms. In general, filing state-specific applications also results in faster state processing times.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

No charitable registration requirement.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

The Attorney General is designated as the agent for service of process when registering. Applicant organizations do not have the option to appoint another agent.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: No
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Many organizations are required to foreign qualify in California when soliciting funds. Organizations that are not required to foreign qualify with the California Secretary of State are not required to appoint a registered agent for charitable solicitation registration purposes. Organizations that are required to foreign qualify must appoint a registered agent as part of the legal entity registration, but not for charitable solicitation registration purposes.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

No charitable registration requirement.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

All organizations that solicit in the District of Columbia (including those which are exempt from registration) must foreign qualify. As part of the foreign qualification process, a registered agent must be appointed. A registered agent is separately required for charitable solicitation registration purposes.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

The Secretary of State is designated as the agent for service of process when registering. Applicant organizations do not have the option to appoint another agent.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Registering organizations are required to designate an address for service of process. Out-of-state organizations that do not have a Hawaii address or a registered agent on record with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs automatically designate the Attorney General's Office. Organizations further have the option to designate a registered agent for service of process during registration.

No charitable registration requirement.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Many organizations are required to foreign qualify in Illinois when soliciting funds. Organizations that are not required to foreign qualify with the Illinois Secretary of State are required to appoint a registered agent for charitable solicitation registration purposes. Organizations that are required to foreign qualify must appoint a registered agent as part of the legal entity registration and also for charitable solicitation registration purposes.

No charitable registration requirement.

No charitable registration requirement.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Only organizations that do not file a 990 must submit the URS application and appoint a registered agent. For all other organizations, a registered agent is not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Only organizations that use a professional solicitor in Louisiana are required to register and appoint a registered agent on the URS form. For all other organizations, a registered agent is not required.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

The Secretary of State is designated as the agent for service of process when registering. Applicant organizations do not have the option to appoint another agent.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

All organizations are required to appoint a registered agent which resides in the state of Michigan.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

The Attorney General is designated as the agent for service of process when registering. Applicant organizations do not have the option to appoint another agent.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Organizations may elect to use their own registered agent. If they do not appoint a registered agent, the Mississippi Secretary of State is designated as their agent for service of process.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

501(c)(3) organizations can request an exemption from Missouri, for which a registered agent is not required. Non-exempt organizations have the option to designate a registered agent, which is not required to reside in Missouri.

No charitable registration requirement.

No charitable registration requirement.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: No
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Organizations that are not required to foreign qualify with the Nevada Secretary of State are not required to appoint a registered agent for charitable solicitation registration purposes. Organizations that are required to foreign qualify must appoint a registered agent as part of the legal entity registration, but not for charitable solicitation registration purposes.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: No
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Out-of-state organizations may but are not required to appoint a registered agent which resides in the state of New Hampshire.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Organizations are required to appoint a registered agent, which may reside in New Mexico or out-of-state.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: No
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

All organizations that solicit in North Dakota (and which are not exempt from registration) must foreign qualify. As part of the foreign qualification process, a registered agent must be appointed. A registered agent is not separately required for charitable solicitation registration purposes.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Organizations may elect to use their own registered agent or designate the South Carolina Secretary of State as their agent for service of process.

No charitable registration requirement.

Registered agent not required.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Under Texas law, most organizations are not required to register with the State. As a result, most organizations do not need to appoint a registered agent. Organizations that are required to register also must appoint the Secretary of State as their registered agent.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: No
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: Yes
Notes:

Organizations are required to appoint a registered agent, which may reside in Utah or out-of-state.

No charitable registration requirement.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

Organizations may elect to use a Virginia registered agent or designate the Commonwealth of Virginia as their agent for service of process.

Requirements

Registered Agent Appointment Required: Yes
Agency Appointment Allowed: Yes
Out-of-State Appointment Allowed: No
Notes:

The Secretary of State is designated as the agent for service of process when registering. Applicant organizations do not have the option to appoint another agent.

Registered agent not required.

Registered agent not required.

No charitable registration requirement.

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Testimonials

Check out our complete library of testimonials to learn more about how we support nonprofit organizations just like yours.

a logo of Fresh Eyes Digital
I really appreciate the efficiency and the fact that I don’t have to think about it…I just forward everything to [my Registration Specialist], and she takes care of it.
 ~ Erin Riley Strong – FRESH EYES DIGITAL
Stetson University
One of the best vendor decisions we’ve ever made. I don’t know why we ever wrestled with all our state compliance filings in house. Labyrinth took all of the pain out of the process, and at a price point that made the decision obvious.
 ~ Mark Ernest – STETSON UNIVERSITY
Amirah inc
Labyrinth made obtaining licenses for our out of state satellite office a breeze! Their customer service is top notch! They always respond to my requests within a day if not sooner. I sleep well at night knowing that Labyrinth is in our corner! They take the guess work out of state licensing! Don’t bother looking for another company! Let Labyrinth navigate the web of confusion for you!
~ Cheri Crider – AMIRAH INC.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
We’ve used Labyrinth for over seven years now and I have found their work and customer service to be great. Never had a single problem with all our state charity registrations over the years. We’ve been moving work being done by other companies to Labyrinth (like corporate registrations) to Labyrinth because we trust their work. Highly recommended!
~ David L ~ NAMI
Jewish Voice For Peace
Great experience working with Labyrinth for business and charitable registrations.
~ Elizabeth Ingenthron – A JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE, INC.
Children Incorporated
Labyrinth is incredible! They have been managing our state registrations for about five years, and it has made our work so much easier. They save us time and effort, and they always come through for us. Highly recommended!
~ Ron Carter – CHILDREN, INC.
Nation Rowing Foundation
Amazingly proactive and throughly professional, and competent. Nice people, too!
~ Tracy Brown – NATIONAL ROWING FOUNDATION, INC.
Asia Frontier Outreach
The expertise, timeliness, and responsiveness of the Labyrinth team is excellent. They have been a lifesaver to our organization.
~ Lois Riddick – ASIA FRONTIER OUTREACH – USA, INC.
Vision Synergy
State registrations for charity compliance? No, thank you! I DO NOT want to understand it. THANK YOU Labyrinth, you are worth every penny & all whom I’ve worked with have been great.
~ Diana Mansour – VISIONSYNERGY
Grey2K USA Worldwide
We trust the professionals at Labyrinth with all our registration and reporting needs!
~ Christine Dorchak – GREY2K USA WORLDWIDE, INC.
JBI International
I have been very happy with Labyrinth. They are always on top of everything and have helped me tremendously with all my state registration filings.
~ Mickey Aboff – JBI INTERNATIONAL
Africa New Life
We are a growing nonprofit organization with donors in all 50 States. Labyrinth has allowed us to comply with the myriad rules and regulations in every State. We do not have the time, nor the expertise, to handle this on our own. Labyrinth has made it so easy for us to get into compliance!
~ Daniel Leischner – AFRICA NEW LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
University of Vermont Foundation
The staff at Labyrinth are very good at their jobs. They stay on top of the filings and provide a complete turn key service. I recommend using Labyrinth.
~ Charles Feeney – UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION, INC.
B'Nai B'rith
My organization operates in nearly every state. Yet, like many non-profits, we are thinly staffed for admin and other back-office operations. We do not have the capacity to stay on top of every state’s charitable registration laws and/or filing requirements. Labyrinth does that for us and does it at a very reasonable rate. I would highly recommend Labyrinth for any non-profit that has multiple state charitable registration filings.
~ Jan Bigelow – B’NAI B’RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION, INC.
National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals
Labyrinth made the entire process of filing for state authorizations to solicit an easy and very smoothly delivered process. After we supplied the necessary information to them, very little time was required on our end other than filing the forms in our shared drive! Definitely recommend this company!
~ Deb Cullinan – NAPO, INC.
Zamir Choral Foundation
Very helpful in navigating charitable registrations for non-profits. They are also very knowledgeable about other aspects of non-profits and are always ready to help. A wonderful organization.
~ Marilyn Gurtman-Oppenheimer – ZAMIR CHORAL FOUNDATION
Na Keiki O Emalia Emalia's Children Helping Children Heal
Labyrinth has been a godsend for us! Highly recommend them–they do a great job of keeping us compliant with required states across the US and have GREAT staff/customer service.
~ Brooke Brown – NA KEIKI O EMALIA
USA Basketball
I’ve had great experiences with Labyrinth across two organizations, I definitely recommend their services!
~ Killjan Anderson – USA BASKETBALL
Bluepath
We recently changed providers for our state registrations and Labyrinth has been professional, attentive, and the staff is very knowledgeable. They have even saved us money compared to our previous provider. Thank you Labyrinth!
~ Jody Sandler – BLUE SERVICE DOGS