Florida State Fundraising Registration
Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting fundraising activities
Florida 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.
Florida 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
Company Licenses
Florida Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Florida Bingo and Raffle Licenses
Not required
Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Florida.
There is no state level licensing for games of chance in Florida, however, many Florida counties license charitable organizations for games of bingo.
Florida Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | There is no application form. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | Charities must submit a notice to the office that identifies the charity, certifies that the organization meets the requirement to issue annuities, and bear the signature of two or more officers or directors. Organizations must have a separated reserve fund and qualify as a 501(c)(3). |
Registration Renewal
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually within 60 days of the charity's fiscal year end. |
Notes: | The charity must file annual sworn statements which follow the rules set by the office of insurance regulation. |
Florida Charitable Organizations/Sponsors Registration
One-Time Exemption Registration
Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
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Law: | |
Notes: | Organizations must email the state to receive an exemption, but no registration is required. |
Registration to Obtain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | A charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $25,000 in total revenue during a fiscal year if the fundraising activities of such organization or sponsor are carried on by volunteers, members, or officers who are not compensated and no part of the assets or income of such organization or sponsor inures to the benefit of or is paid to any officer or member of such organization or sponsor or to any professional fundraising consultant, professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer. |
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Law: | |
Notes: | If a charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $25,000 in total revenue during a fiscal year actually acquires total revenue equal to or in excess of $25,000, the charitable organization or sponsor must register with the department as required by s. 496.405 within 30 days after the date the revenue reaches $25,000. |
Required Attachments: |
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Renewal to Maintain Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations: | A charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $25,000 in total revenue during a fiscal year if the fundraising activities of such organization or sponsor are carried on by volunteers, members, or officers who are not compensated and no part of the assets or income of such organization or sponsor inures to the benefit of or is paid to any officer or member of such organization or sponsor or to any professional fundraising consultant, professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer. |
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually by the date of initial registration. |
Law: | |
Notes: | If a charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $25,000 in total revenue during a fiscal year actually acquires total revenue equal to or in excess of $25,000, the charitable organization or sponsor must register with the department as required by s. 496.405 within 30 days after the date the revenue reaches $25,000. |
Required Attachments: |
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Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | Depends on amount of contributions received in the immediately preceding fiscal year:
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Turnaround: | 2-3 weeks |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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How to Apply: | Domestic Applicants:
Foreign Applicants:
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Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | Solicitation of Contributions Registration Application (Renewal) |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | Depends on amount of contributions received in the immediately preceding fiscal year:
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Due: | Annually by the registration anniversary date. Renewals may be filed up to 60 days prior to the expiration date. |
Due Date Extension: | You may request a 180-day extension for filing the financial statement by checking the appropriate box on the renewal application. |
Penalties: | There is a late fee of $25 for each month or portion of a month that passes after the due date. |
Notes: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Charities must submit all contracts they have with professional solicitors, professional fundraising consultants, and commercial co-venturers during initial charitable registration and during renewal for their charitable registration. |
Change of Fiscal Year
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Turnaround: | 1-2 business days |
Due: | Within 10 days after the change occurs. |
Notes: | If your fiscal year changes, simply email the Division of Consumer Services to inform them of the change. |
Cancellation
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Notes: | To close out your registration, submit a letter stating that your organization no longer solicits in Florida along with documentation supporting this claim. The department will typically accept a disclaimer on the organization's donation page that they will not accept funds from residents of Florida. |
Florida Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Florida.
Florida does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for commercial co-venturers, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.
More information: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Consumer ServicesProfessional fundraising consultant means a person who is retained by a charitable organization or sponsor for a fixed fee or rate under a written agreement to plan, manage, conduct, carry on, advise, consult, or prepare material for a solicitation of contributions in this state but who does not solicit contributions or employ, procure, or engage any compensated person to solicit contributions and who does not at any time have custody or control of contributions. A bona fide volunteer or bona fide employee or salaried officer of a charitable organization or sponsor maintaining a permanent establishment in this state is not a professional fundraising consultant. An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who advises an individual, corporation, or association to make a charitable contribution is not a professional fundraising consultant as the result of such advice.
Florida Professional Fundraising Consultant Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $300 by mail or $307.50 online. |
Turnaround: | 14-21 days |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Registration for Professional Fundraising Consultants (Renewal) |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $300 by mail or $307.50 online. |
Due: | Annually |
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Every contract or agreement between a professional fundraising consultant and a charitable organization or sponsor must be in writing, signed by two authorized officials of the charitable organization or sponsor, and filed by the professional fundraising consultant at least 5 days prior to the performance of any material service by the professional fundraising consultant. |
Law: | |
Notes: | Contracts must contain all of the following provisions:
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Amendment
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Professional Fundraising Consultants must report to the department any material change in the information filed, in writing, within 7 working days after the change occurs. |
Professional solicitor means a person who, for compensation, performs for a charitable organization or sponsor a service in connection with which contributions are or will be solicited in, or from a location in, this state by the compensated person or by a person it employs, procures, or otherwise engages, directly or indirectly, to solicit contributions, or a person who plans, conducts, manages, carries on, advises, consults, directly or indirectly, in connection with the solicitation of contributions for or on behalf of a charitable organization or sponsor but who does not qualify as a professional fundraising consultant. A bona fide volunteer or bona fide employee or salaried officer of a charitable organization or sponsor maintaining a permanent establishment in this state is not a professional solicitor. An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who advises an individual, corporation, or association to make a charitable contribution is not a professional solicitor as the result of such advice.
Florida Professional Solicitor Registration
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $300 by mail or $307.50 online. |
Notes: |
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Before you Apply: |
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Required Attachments: |
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Bond Amount: |
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Registration Renewal
Form: | |
Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $300 by mail or $307.50 online. |
Due: | Annually |
Contract Filing
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | File a notice of commencement at least 15 days prior to the start of the contract. |
Law: | |
Notes: | Contracts must contain all of the following provisions:
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Financial Reporting
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 45 days after a campaign has ended and within 45 days of the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year. |
Notes: | Financial report forms are sent in the mail. |
Amendment
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Licensed professional solicitors must notify the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services within 7 days of any material changes in information which was filed with the department. |
Individual Licenses
Florida Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Florida Individual Professional Solicitor License
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Notes: | There is no registration fee, but there may be a fee for a background check. |
Registration Renewal
Form: | Registration for Professional Solicitor Individuals (Renewal) |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Annually |
Original Ink: | Not required |
Notarize: | Not required |
Amendment
Form: | |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Licensed professional solicitor individuals must notify the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services within 10 days of any material changes in information which was submitted as a condition for license. |
Learn about fundraising in other jurisdictions:
D.C. |
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