Connecticut updated its Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act effective October 1, 2025. The changes affect charitable organizations, fundraising counsel, and paid solicitors and include updates for online fundraising, bond requirements, contract retention, and reporting deadlines.

For nonprofits and fundraising professionals operating in Connecticut, these changes may require updates to internal processes and recordkeeping practices.

Key Updates to the Law

• Connecticut now explicitly includes electronic and online requests in its definition of charitable solicitation
• The fundraising counsel surety bond increased from $20,000 to $50,000
• Fundraising counsel contracts no longer need to be filed, but charitable organizations must retain them for seven years after expiration
• Paid solicitor post-campaign financial reports are now due within 45 days after a campaign ends
• The law also expands certain prohibited conduct and investigative authority

What Changed Under Connecticut’s Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act?

Online Fundraising Is Now Explicitly Covered

Connecticut expanded its definition of “solicitation” to clearly include electronic and online requests for charitable contributions.

This change reflects how many organizations fundraise today through email campaigns, donation pages, text-based giving, and other digital outreach. While many nonprofits already treated online fundraising as a regulated activity, the law now makes that coverage explicit.

The Definition of Contributions Was Broadened

The updated law also broadens the definition of a charitable contribution by removing language that previously tied a gift directly to a solicitation.

In practice, this may expand what counts as a regulated contribution under Connecticut law, even when a donation was not made in response to a formal fundraising request.

Political Action Committees Are Explicitly Excluded

The revised law now explicitly excludes political action committees (PACs) from the definition of charitable organizations.

This clarification helps distinguish charitable fundraising from political fundraising and reinforces the scope of Connecticut’s charitable solicitation rules.

The Fundraising Counsel Bond Requirement Increased

Connecticut increased the required surety bond for fundraising counsel from $20,000 to $50,000.

Organizations and firms operating as fundraising counsel in Connecticut should confirm that their bonding arrangements meet the updated threshold.

Contract Filing Requirements Shifted to Record Retention

One of the more operationally important changes is that fundraising counsel contracts no longer need to be filed with the state.

Instead, charitable organizations must retain copies of these contracts for seven years after expiration and provide them to the Department upon request.

This shifts responsibility away from filing and reinforces the importance of recordkeeping, making contract management even more important.

Paid Solicitor Reporting Deadlines Were Shortened

Connecticut also shortened the deadline for paid solicitors’ post-campaign financial reports.

These reports must now be submitted within 45 days after the completion of a solicitation campaign, down from the previous 90-day deadline.

Organizations working with paid solicitors should review campaign closeout timelines to help avoid missed deadlines.

Certain Prohibited Conduct Provisions Were Expanded

The law also expands certain prohibited conduct provisions to include some nonfinancial misconduct that may be unrelated to, or jeopardize, an organization’s charitable purpose.

While the practical impact of this change may depend on future interpretation and enforcement, it signals broader oversight under Connecticut’s charitable solicitation framework.

Who Is Affected?

These updates may affect:

• Nonprofits registered to solicit in Connecticut
• Charitable organizations fundraising from Connecticut donors
• Fundraising counsel and fundraising consultants
• Paid solicitors conducting campaigns in Connecticut
• Organizations using online or digital fundraising methods

Even organizations already registered in Connecticut may need to revisit internal procedures to remain aligned with the updated law.

What Organizations Should Do Now

If your organization solicits contributions in Connecticut, now is a good time to review your fundraising and compliance processes.

Organizations should consider the following next steps:

• Review how your organization conducts online and digital fundraising
• Confirm whether any fundraising counsel bonding requirements need to be updated
• Update internal contract retention procedures
• Revisit paid solicitor reporting timelines
• Ensure fundraising records and agreements are organized and accessible

How Labyrinth Can Help

Connecticut’s updates reflect a broader trend toward modernizing charitable solicitation laws to better address today’s fundraising environment.

For nonprofits and fundraising professionals, these changes are more than technical revisions. Several affect day-to-day operations, including digital fundraising, contract management, and post-campaign reporting. Staying current with these requirements can help organizations maintain good standing and reduce the risk of delays, penalties, or unnecessary regulatory issues. Labyrinth is an industry leader in helping organizations maintain nonprofit and fundraising regulatory requirements. Contact us today to learn how we can help.