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.

5

State-level Registrations

Organizations involved in commercial co-ventures must register in five states. The registrations generally renew annually, independent of campaigns.

12

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.  

7

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: 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.
California California Attorney General – Registry of Charitable Trusts
Fee: $500
Filing Method: Mail
Fee: $500
Filing Method: Paper
Due: Annually by January 15
Massachusetts Massachusetts Attorney General – Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Fee: $200
Filing Method: Mail
Due: Annually by December 31
Mississippi Mississippi Secretary of State – Charities Division
Fee: $0
Form: Notice of Charitable Sales Promotion
Filing Method: Online
New York
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in New York
  • New York 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.
  • Every contract entered into with a charity must contain, in a conspicuous typeface:
    • A concise, accurate statement of the charitable organization’s right to cancel;
    • A concise, accurate statement of the period during which the contract may be canceled;
    • The address to which the notice of cancellation is to be sent;
    • The address of the attorney general to which a duplicate of the notice of cancellation is to be sent; and
    • A clear statement of the financial arrangement including, if applicable, a statement of the percentage of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization which shall be paid to the professional fundraiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization.
South Carolina South Carolina Secretary of State – Division of Public Charities
Fee: $50
Filing Method: Online
Fee: $50
Filing Method: Online
Due: Annually