Hawaii has enacted a new law regulating charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities. Beginning July 1, 2026, certain organizations that enable online charitable solicitations involving donors in Hawaii must register with the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, Tax & Charities Division before operating in the state.

The new framework introduces oversight for digital fundraising activity and is designed to improve transparency and donor protection when charitable donations are processed through online platforms. The law regulates certain online charitable fundraising platforms and intermediaries that process donations on behalf of nonprofit organizations.

The law primarily applies to organizations that operate online fundraising platforms and charitable intermediaries that process donations for other charities. Organizations in these categories should review how the new requirements may apply to their activities before the law takes effect.

Hawaii enacted these requirements under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 467B, which governs charitable solicitations in the state.

What Is a Charitable Fundraising Platform Under Hawaii Law?

A charitable fundraising platform is generally defined as an internet-based service, website, or software platform that enables charitable solicitations.

This definition is broad and can include services that:

• Allow donors to contribute directly to nonprofits online
• Host crowdfunding or peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns
• Enable checkout donations or “round-up” donations during purchases
• Facilitate campaigns where purchases trigger donations to charities

In simple terms, if a platform helps process or facilitate charitable donations through an online system, it could be considered a charitable fundraising platform under the law.

What Is a Platform Charity?

The law also establishes a category known as a platform charity.

A platform charity is a charitable organization that receives donations through a fundraising platform and distributes those funds to other nonprofits. These organizations typically act as intermediaries that process donations collected through online campaigns and grant the funds to recipient charities.

Platform charities must meet Hawaii’s existing charitable solicitation registration and reporting requirements.

New Hawaii Charitable Registration Requirement Beginning July 1, 2026

Starting July 1, 2026, charitable fundraising platforms must register with the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General before enabling charitable solicitations involving donors in the state.

Key elements of the registration framework include:

• Initial registration fee: $250
• Annual renewal: due by July 1 each year
• Reporting requirements: platforms may be required to report information about fundraising activity and participating charities

Platform charities must also ensure they meet Hawaii’s charitable registration and reporting requirements before facilitating fundraising activity.

Organizations that operate fundraising platforms should begin reviewing their processes now to determine whether registration will be required before the July 1, 2026, effective date.

Operational Safeguards Required Under the Law

The statute includes safeguards designed to improve transparency and accountability in charitable fundraising.

Donor Disclosures

Platforms must provide clear disclosures to donors before a contribution is completed. These disclosures may include:

• The charitable organization that will receive the funds
• Whether a donation will be distributed directly or through another organization
• The timeframe for distributing donations
• Any fees that may be deducted from the donation
• Whether the donation is tax-deductible

Written Consent From Charities

A fundraising platform in Hawaii must obtain written consent from a charity before using the charity’s name in solicitations. This requirement ensures organizations are aware when their name or brand is used in fundraising campaigns.

Proper Handling of Donations

The law also establishes requirements for handling charitable funds, including:

• Separating donated funds from operating funds
• Promptly distributing donations to recipient charities
• Maintaining procedures for addressing donor inquiries and complaints

Platforms may also need to confirm that charities benefiting from fundraising campaigns are permitted to solicit donations and are in good standing.

Which Organizations Are Impacted

The new requirements may affect several types of organizations involved in online fundraising.

Online Fundraising Platforms

Companies that provide tools or technology that enable charitable giving may need to register in Hawaii. This may include:

• Crowdfunding platforms
• Peer-to-peer fundraising software providers
• E-commerce platforms that facilitate charitable donations
• Technology companies that host online fundraising campaigns

If these platforms enable donations from Hawaii donors, they could be considered charitable fundraising platforms depending on how donations are processed and distributed.

Platform Charities

Some fundraising platforms route donations through a nonprofit intermediary that distributes funds to other charities. These organizations may be classified as platform charities and must ensure they meet Hawaii’s charitable registration requirements.

Charities Using Online Fundraising Tools

Nonprofits that receive donations through online platforms are not automatically considered fundraising platforms themselves. However, they must still ensure they are properly registered to solicit donations in Hawaii when required.

How Labyrinth Can Help

State fundraising regulations continue to evolve as charitable giving increasingly moves online. Navigating these requirements can be challenging, particularly for organizations operating across multiple states.

Organizations that facilitate charitable solicitations across multiple states often must meet charitable registration requirements in each jurisdiction.

Labyrinth helps nonprofits and fundraising platforms understand changing state registration requirements and regulatory filings so they can maintain good standing while focusing on their mission. Our team tracks legislative developments and assists organizations with charitable solicitation registrations and related filings across jurisdictions.

If your organization operates a fundraising platform or processes charitable donations online, Labyrinth can help you determine how these new Hawaii requirements may apply to your operations.