Michigan Fundraising Registration Requirements

Michigan State Fundraising Registration

Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting fundraising activities

 

Michigan 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.


Michigan 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

Michigan Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:  Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section

Law:   Michigan Compiled Laws §400.271 through 400.292

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:  No

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? Yes

Initial Registration

Form:   Form CTS-01: Initial Solicitation Registration Form

Filing Method:   Mail, email to ct_email@michigan.gov, or online.

Agency Fee:  $0

Turnaround:  4 - 6 weeks

Notes:

  • One principal officer or director must sign. Signatures need not be notarized.
  • Verify that the attorney general's office received the registration form by searching for the organization at www.michigan.gov/AGCharitySearch
  • Following review if your initial registration or exemption, the Attorney General may instruct your organization to complete additional forms.
  • Some Michigan counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

    • - Before you Apply -

    Domestic Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Michigan.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

    • Foreign Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in Michigan.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
  • If you will foreign qualify in Michigan, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 30 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.

    • - How to Apply -

    Domestic Applicants:

    1. File entity formation documents with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.

    2. Submit an Initial Solicitation Registration Form and all required attachments to the Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section.


    Foreign Applicants:

    1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Michigan. If not required, skip to number 3.

    2. File foreign qualification documents with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) - Bureau of Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing - Corporations Division.

    3. Submit an Initial Solicitation Registration Form and all required attachments to the Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section.


    - Required Attachments -

  • IRS form 990
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bylaws
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors
  • Professional fundraising contracts
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    Registration Renewal

    Form:   Form CTS-02: Renewal Solicitation Registration Form

    Filing Method:   Mail, email to ct_email@michigan.gov, or online.

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Due:  

  • Annually within 7 months after the close of your nonprofit's fiscal year. So if your fiscal calendar ends December 31, then the renewal is due by July 31.
  • There is no official start to the renewal period, so renewals may be submitted as soon as financials become available for the most recently completed fiscal year.

    • Due Date Extension:

    Due dates can be extended for 5 months beyond the original due date by emailing ct_email@michigan.gov with an explanation of your request for extension. A copy of IRS form 8868 must be included when requesting an extension.

    Required Attachments:

  • IRS form 990
  • Audited accrual basis financials (if applicable)
  • List of officers and directors
  • Professional fundraising contracts
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws

    • Change of Fiscal Year

    Form:  Form CTS-02: Renewal Solicitation Registration Form

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Notes: Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process.

    Cancellation

    Agency Fee:  $0

    Notes: TTo close out your registration, submit a letter indicating the organization will no longer accept contributions from Michigan sources (including via internet). The process may be different for organizations that hold assets in Michigan.

     
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    Michigan Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

    NOT REQUIRED

    Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
    Michigan 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.

    Michigan Fundraising Counsel Registration

    NOT REQUIRED

    Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
    Michigan no longer requires fundraising counsels to register.
    More information: Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section

     
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    Labyrinth has taken the stress out of ensuring our organization is current with all state requirements. Their knowledgeable staff are always available to answer questions and provide guidance giving me peace of mind. I can’t say enough about the value they bring to our organization.

    Beth Lyons, Director of Development, Homes for Our Troops


    Michigan Professional Fundraiser Registration

    Agency:   Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section

    Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?   Yes

    Bond Requirements: $10,000

    Initial Registration

    Form: Form CTS-07: Application for License of Professional Fundraiser

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Original Ink: Not Required

    Notarize: Not Required

    Notes: Only solicitation/ events contracts must be filed. If you meet the following qualifications for a consultant, a professional fundraiser license is not required.

    Before you Apply:

  • Provide the names and addresses of the applicant's officers, directors, and all shareholders, members, and others with a 5% or more ownership interest in the entity
  • You must designate a resident agent located in Michigan to receive official mail sent to your organization
  • Provide the street addresses of all call centers and other offices located in Michigan
  • List all assumed names, dba's, and other names used by the entity
  • List all related entities of the applicant and entities owned or operated by immediate family members of officers, directors, managers, or owners of the applicant that provide services to clients of the applicant
  • Complete the Current Contract Schedule

    • - Provide a fully completed Campaign Financial Statement for each contract

  • Each individual solicitor who is soliciting funds in the state of Michgan must complete a Registration of Professional Solicitor form.

    Required Attachments:

  • Copies of contracts, extensions, and addenda for all charitable or religious organizations currently under contract which intend to solicit contributions or raise funds in Michigan
  • Surety bond of $10,000
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR form for each solicitor retained to solicit contributions in the State of Michigan. These forms must be submitted to this office for approval prior to solicitation activity
  • CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for all solicitations in Michigan that were concluded over the past year and on which you have not yet reported


    • Registration Renewal

    Form:  Form CTS-07: Application for License of Professional Fundraiser (Renewal)

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due: Annually by June 30.

    Original Ink: Not Required

    Notarize: Not Required


    Contract Filing

    Form:   Form CTS-11: Professional Fundraiser Contract Summary Sheet

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due: File a contract summary sheet within 10 days after the date of execution of the contract.


    Financial Reporting

    Form:  Form CTS-10: Campaign Financial Statement

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due: Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year.

     
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    Michigan Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

    A Professional Solicitor is any person who is employed or retained for compensation by a professional fund raiser to solicit contributions for charitable purposes in this state.

    Michigan Professional Solicitor Registration

    Agency:  Michigan Attorney General - Charitable Trust Section

    Initial Registration

    Form:   Form CTS-09: Registration of Professional Solicitor

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Original Ink:   Not required

    Notarize: Not Required


    Registration Renewal

    Form:   Professional Solicitor Registration Statement (Renewal)

    Agency Fee:   $0

    Due:   Annually by June 30.

    Original Ink:   Not required

    Notarize: Not Required

    Michigan Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

    NOT REQUIRED

    Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Michigan.
    Michigan statutes do not address charitable gift annuities, however, an attorney general opinion that exempted the Michigan State University Foundation from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities is also applied to other charitable organizations so long as the issuance of annuities remains secondary to the object and purpose of the organization.

     
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