At a Glance

In Kentucky, most nonprofits must register with the Attorney General before soliciting donations from state residents. The registration requires submitting your IRS Form 990 (or Unified Registration Statement for new organizations), Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and IRS Determination Letter—with no filing fees required. Annual renewals are due by May 15 for calendar-year organizations.

Why Kentucky Charitable Solicitation Registration Matters

Starting your fundraising journey without proper registration can lead to hefty fines, reputation damage, and even legal issues for your nonprofit. Thankfully, Kentucky’s registration process is more straightforward than most states—with no filing fee required! Whether you’re launching a new nonprofit or expanding your fundraising efforts into the Bluegrass State, understanding the charitable solicitation and charity registration requirements is essential for your organization’s success.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining your nonprofit license in Kentucky. We’ll cover who needs to register, what documents you’ll need, how to submit your application, and how to maintain compliance through charitable registration services. Ready to get your Kentucky fundraising efforts legally squared away? Let’s dive in!

Understand Kentucky’s Charitable Solicitation Laws

Before launching any fundraising efforts in Kentucky, you need to understand the state’s specific regulations governing charitable activities. Kentucky maintains distinct requirements for organizations soliciting donations within its borders, and failing to comply can result in serious consequences.

What qualifies as charitable solicitation

Charitable solicitation in Kentucky encompasses any request for contributions made by or on behalf of a charitable organization. This includes:

• Direct requests for money or property
• Sale of merchandise where proceeds benefit a charitable cause
• Advertisements or promotions that mention charitable donations
• Fundraising events like auctions, dinners, or performances
• Online donation requests targeting Kentucky residents

The key factor is the solicitation’s intent—if your organization asks for money or property to support charitable purposes, you’re engaged in charitable solicitation. Furthermore, these regulations apply regardless of whether your organization operates physically within Kentucky or solicits from outside state lines.

Who must register in Kentucky

Most nonprofit organizations planning to solicit contributions in Kentucky must register with the Office of the Attorney General before beginning fundraising activities. This requirement applies to:

• 501(c)(3) charitable organizations
• Religious organizations conducting secular fundraising
• Organizations based outside Kentucky that solicit donations from Kentucky residents
• Professional fundraisers and solicitors working on behalf of charities

With specialized compliance support through charitable registration services, organizations find that Kentucky’s process is relatively straightforward compared to many other states. Experienced compliance specialists can guide you through each step, ensuring accurate filings while you focus on your mission.

Exemptions from registration

Although Kentucky requires most organizations to register, certain entities are exempt from this obligation:

1. Member-only solicitations: Organizations soliciting contributions only from their members and families, where membership isn’t granted solely based on contributions and isn’t included in solicitation materials.
2. Religious fundraising: Religious organizations raising funds for religious purposes such as maintaining houses of worship, conducting services, and propagating their faith and tenets.
3. Educational institutions: Publicly owned or nonprofit privately endowed educational institutions regulated by the Kentucky Board of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Education, or equivalent authorities, when soliciting from alumni, faculty, students and their families, and corporations for established educational programs.
4. Student group solicitations: Local fundraising by student groups or parent-teacher associations for campus or group activities with administrative approval from their educational institution.

Even if your organization qualifies for an exemption, maintaining proper state fundraising compliance remains essential. Additionally, exempt organizations should maintain documentation supporting their exempt status in case of regulatory inquiries.

It’s worth noting that exemption from registration does not exempt an organization from other legal requirements, such as maintaining proper corporate records or filing appropriate tax returns.

For many organizations, particularly those operating across multiple states, determining registration requirements can be complex. In such cases, working with specialized nonprofit registration services provides peace of mind through expert guidance and ensures compliance while minimizing administrative burden on your team.

Remember that although Kentucky’s registration process doesn’t require a filing fee—unlike many other states—the legal obligation to register before solicitation remains mandatory. Consequently, understanding these laws isn’t just about regulatory compliance; it’s about protecting your organization’s reputation and ability to fulfill its mission through proper charitable solicitation registration.

Once you’ve determined that your organization needs to register in Kentucky, you’ll need to prepare specific documents for submission—which we’ll cover in the next section.

Prepare Your Documents Before You Register

Successful registration for charitable solicitation in Kentucky begins with preparing the right documentation. Having your paperwork organized beforehand makes the process smoother and helps prevent delays in receiving your nonprofit license.

IRS Form 990 or URS

The cornerstone of Kentucky’s charitable solicitation registration is the IRS Form 990. Every organization required by the IRS to file Form 990 must submit a copy to the Kentucky Attorney General prior to soliciting contributions in the state. This form serves as your primary registration document.

If your organization has previously filed Form 990 with the IRS, you’ll need to submit your most recent return to the Kentucky Attorney General. The timing is straightforward—file with Kentucky at the same time you file with the IRS.

For newly formed organizations that haven’t yet filed Form 990, you have an alternative option. Instead, you’ll need to submit a completed Unified Registration Statement (URS), which serves as your notice of intent to solicit. The URS is accessible through the Multi-State Filing Portal at multistatefiling.org.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

In addition to your Form 990 or URS, Kentucky requires copies of your organization’s founding documents. These include:

• Articles of Incorporation serve as your nonprofit’s birth certificate, officially marking its creation. This document contains essential information about where and when your organization formed and establishes its legal existence. In Kentucky, Articles of Incorporation for nonprofits are filed with the Secretary of State for a fee of $8.00.
• Organizational Bylaws must accompany your registration materials. While Kentucky doesn’t require bylaws to be filed with the state during incorporation, they are mandatory when registering for charitable solicitation. These rules govern how your board operates and are critical to proper nonprofit management.

To ensure full charitable solicitation registration compliance, make sure your Articles of Incorporation include language that meets IRS requirements for tax-exempt organizations, especially regarding purpose and dissolution of assets.

IRS Determination Letter

The third critical document in your preparation package is your IRS Determination Letter. This official correspondence from the IRS confirms your tax-exempt status.

Initially obtained after filing Form 1023 or 1023-EZ, this letter proves your organization’s eligibility for tax exemption under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. The application process typically takes 2-10 months depending on which form you file, with costs ranging from $275 for Form 1023-EZ to $600 for the full Form 1023.

If you need a copy of your determination letter, you can download it using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool for letters issued after January 2014. For older determination letters, submit Form 4506-B to the IRS.

As part of your state fundraising compliance efforts, keep this letter readily accessible since it must be included with your Kentucky registration materials. Organizations working with comprehensive charitable registration services benefit from having compliance specialists maintain secure digital copies of all essential documents, ensuring quick submission when needed.

Once you’ve gathered these essential documents—Form 990 or URS, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and your IRS Determination Letter—you’re ready to proceed with the actual registration process in Kentucky.

How to Register for Charitable Solicitation in Kentucky

Now that you’ve gathered your required documents, it’s time to submit your Kentucky charitable solicitation registration. The process is straightforward yet requires attention to detail to ensure your nonprofit can legally begin fundraising in the state.

Where to file and how

All charitable solicitation registration documents must be submitted to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office – Consumer Protection Division. Specifically, you’ll need to mail your documents to:

For any questions about your submission, you can contact the Charity Division within Consumer Protection. Remember that your organization must complete this registration before soliciting any contributions from Kentucky residents.

Filing method: mail or digital media

Currently, Kentucky does not accept electronic submissions through an online portal. Instead, you have two options for submitting your documents:

1. Mail physical copies of your documents
2. Submit digital versions on a CD or thumb drive in PDF format

Both methods require sending your package to the physical address listed above. Once you’ve mailed your registration materials, we recommend following up after a few weeks to confirm receipt using the contact number provided.

No filing fee required

One significant benefit of charitable solicitation registration in Kentucky is that there are no filing fees associated with either the initial registration or annual renewals. This makes Kentucky’s registration process more accessible than many other states that charge substantial fees for nonprofit licensing and charity registration.

Timeline and processing expectations

After submitting your documents, expect a processing time of approximately 4-6 weeks. This timeframe can vary depending on the office’s current workload and the completeness of your submission. To avoid delays, double-check that all required documents are included and properly formatted.

Newly formed charities that have not yet filed Form 990 with the IRS can file a notice of intent to solicit, which expires on December 31 each year. Afterwards, your organization will follow the standard renewal process based on your fiscal year.

Professional support for multi-state compliance

Many nonprofits find that managing charitable solicitation requirements across multiple states can become overwhelming. At Labyrinth, Inc., we provide state fundraising compliance services that streamline this process by:

• Ensuring all required documents are properly prepared and filed accurately the first time
• Submitting registration materials on your behalf with experienced compliance specialists
• Tracking renewal deadlines across different states through secure client portals
• Managing your ongoing compliance requirements so you can focus on your mission

Our services are especially valuable for organizations fundraising in multiple states, as requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction. Even though Kentucky’s process is relatively simple, managing multi-state compliance often requires specialized expertise and dedicated attention to detail. We offer bulk-change programs with discounted fees and extended service periods to help organizations efficiently transition their compliance management.

Once registered, you’ll need to maintain your status through annual renewals, which we’ll cover in the next section. The renewal process follows a similar pattern, requiring submission of your most recent financial information to maintain your nonprofit license in Kentucky.

Renewing Your Charitable Registration Annually

Maintaining compliance with Kentucky’s charitable solicitation laws requires annual renewal of your registration. Once you’ve completed the initial registration process, your organization must follow specific procedures to keep your nonprofit license active and legally protected.

When and how to renew

Your annual renewal for charitable solicitation registration in Kentucky is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after your organization’s accounting period ends. For organizations following a calendar tax year (ending December 31), this means your renewal deadline falls on May 15.

The renewal process mirrors the initial registration in both simplicity and documentation requirements:

1. Submit your most recent IRS Form 990
2. File at the same time you submit your 990 to the IRS
3. Send materials via mail or on digital media (CD or thumb drive) in PDF format

Newly formed organizations that haven’t yet filed Form 990 must renew by submitting a notice of intent to solicit, which expires automatically on December 31 each year.

Fortunately, Kentucky doesn’t charge any filing fees for annual renewals, making ongoing charity registration more manageable than in many other states.

Automatic extensions and IRS Form 8868

If your organization needs additional time to complete your IRS Form 990, the state of Kentucky offers flexible accommodation through automatic extensions.

The renewal due date is automatically extended for 180 days beyond the original due date. Nevertheless, organizations should file a copy of their IRS Form 8868 when submitting their 990 if they received an IRS extension.

Form 8868 allows tax-exempt organizations to request a 6-month automatic extension to file annual information returns. Submitting this form:

• Requires no explanation for the delay
• Does not extend the deadline for any tax payments due
• Must be filed by your original filing deadline
• Cannot be used to extend Form 990-N filing

What happens if you miss the deadline?

The consequences of failing to maintain proper charitable solicitation compliance in Kentucky can be serious. Organizations that miss filing deadlines risk potential penalties for soliciting while unregistered.

To avoid these outcomes, consider implementing these state fundraising compliance best practices:

• Create calendar reminders for your renewal deadlines
• Prepare renewal materials well in advance
• Consider working with experienced compliance specialists who track deadlines and manage renewals proactively, ensuring your organization remains in good standing year-round

For organizations operating in multiple states, we provide charitable registration services with centralized renewal management through secure client portals, helping you maintain compliance across all jurisdictions while reducing administrative burden on your team. Our consolidation approach means one vendor, one invoice, and one portal for all your compliance needs, reducing the risk of missed notices and enabling faster responses to regulatory requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions