50-State Cause Marketing Registration Guide
Organizations running cause marketing campaigns must generally meet registration and reporting requirements wherever their campaigns are active. This guide details the requirements to help you launch your commercial co-venture with confidence.
State-level Registrations
Organizations involved in commercial co-ventures must register in five states. The registrations generally renew annually, independent of campaigns.
Contract Submittals / Commencement Notices
In addition to registering the commercial co-venture, four states require cause marketers to file copies of their contracts or notify the state of their intent to begin soliciting before a campaign can start. Eight other states without registration filings require the same.
Financial Reports
Seven states require cause marketers to file financial reports detailing the results of their campaigns.
Licensing Filing Requirements Chart for Cause Marketing Commercial Co-Venturers
The following table details state licensing requirements for cause marketing commercial co-venturers throughout the United States.
In Alaska, Airzona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level. These states do not currently have a traditional registration requirement for commercial co-venturers, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.
| Agency | Initial Application | License Renewal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Attorney General – Consumer Interest Division |
Fee: $100
Filing Method: Mail or online |
Fee: $100
Filing Method: Online is the easiest and fastest way. There is a legacy paper form that requires the applicant to notarize and mail. When filing by paper, state processing takes much longer (on the order of several weeks).
Due: Annually by September 30. |
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| California | California Attorney General – Registry of Charitable Trusts |
Fee: $500
Filing Method: Paper
Due: Annually by January 15 |
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| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Attorney General – Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division |
Fee: $200
Filing Method: Mail |
Fee: $200
Filing Method: Mail
Due: Annually by December 31 |
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| Mississippi | Mississippi Secretary of State – Charities Division | ||||
| New York |
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in New York
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| South Carolina | South Carolina Secretary of State – Division of Public Charities |
Fee: $50
Filing Method: Online
Due: Annually |
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