Rhode Island State Fundraising Registration
Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting fundraising activities
Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island Charitable Organization Registration
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Law: RIGL § 5-53.1-2
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? No
Automatic Exemption
Exemption Eligible Organizations:
Law: RI Gen L § 5-53.1-3
Notes: Charities must register within 30 days if they exceed $25,000 in contributions.
Initial Registration
Form: Charitable Organizations Application
Filing Method: Online or submitted on CD-Rom or on a USB flash drive (paper filings are not accepted)
Agency Fee: $90 + $3 online filing fee.
Turnaround: 2 - 3 weeks
Notes:
- Before you Apply -
Domestic Applicants:
Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
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.
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 Rhode Island, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
- How to Apply -
Domestic Applicants:
1. File entity formation documents with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
2. Create an online account and complete the charitable organization registration through the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
Foreign Applicants:
1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Rhode Island. If not required, skip to number 3.
2. File foreign qualification documents with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
3. Create an online account and complete the charitable organization registration through the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
- Required Attachments -
Registration Renewal
Form: Charitable Organizations Application
Filing Method: Online or mail the form on CD-ROM (paper filings are not accepted)
Agency Fee: $90 + $3 online filing fee.
Due: Annually by the registration anniversary date.
Due Date Extension: Due dates can be extended for 6 months beyond the original due date by submitting either IRS form 8868 or a letter requesting an extension.
Notes:
Required Attachments:
Cancellation
Agency Fee: $0
Notes: To close out your registration, simply submit a letter asking to withdraw registration.
I’ve had great experiences with Labyrinth across two organizations, I definitely recommend their services!
Rhode Island Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
NOT REQUIRED
Commercial Co-venturer licensure is not required on the State level in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island 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.
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.
Rhode Island Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
NOT REQUIRED
Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island statutes do not address charitable gift annuities, but division of insurance rules exempt charitable organizations from disclosure rules that apply to other entities.
I highly recommend this company for any organization that needs help with state filings. They have excellent customer service, have exceptional pricing, and have a true passion for helping organizations with this service. They are FANTASTIC!!
Rhode Island Fundraising Counsel Registration
"Fundraising counsel" means any person who for compensation consults with a charitable organization or who plans, manages, advises, or assists with respect to the solicitation of contributions for or on behalf of a charitable organization, but who does not have access to contributions or other receipts from a solicitation and who does not solicit. Bona fide volunteers or employees of a charitable organization, or an attorney-at-law retained by a charitable organization, shall not be deemed a fundraising counsel.
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Law: R.I.G.L. § 5-53.1-9
Initial Registration
Form: Fundraising Counsel Application
Filing Method: Flash drive, CD-ROM, or online.
Agency Fee: $240
Registration Renewal
Form: Fundraising Counsel Application (Renewal)
Filing Method: Flash drive, CD-ROM, or online.
Agency Fee: $240
Due: Annually by June 30.
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: $0
Due: Copies of all contracts with charitable organizations must be submitted within 10 days after signing.
Rhode Island Professional Fundraiser Registration
"Professional fundraiser" means any person who directly or indirectly for compensation or other consideration plans, manages, conducts, carries on, or assists in connection with a solicitation for charitable purposes or individually solicits or who or that employs or otherwise engages on any basis another person to solicit for or on behalf of any charitable organization, or who or that engages in the business of, or holds himself, herself, or itself out to persons as independently engaged in the business of soliciting for the charitable purpose. Bona fide volunteers or employees of a charitable organization or fundraising counsel shall not be deemed a professional fundraiser.
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Law: R.I.G.L. § 5-53.1-9
Bond Requirements: $10,000
Initial Registration
Form: Application for Professional Fundraiser
Agency Fee: $240
Original Ink: Not required
Notarize: Not required
Notes: A copy of all contracts with charitable organizations must be submitted with the application.
Before you Apply:
Required Attachments:
Registration Renewal
Form: Application for Professional Fundraiser (Renewal)
Agency Fee: $240
Due: Annually by June 30.
Original Ink: Not required
Notarize: Not required
Contract Filing
Agency Fee: $0
Due: Copies of all contracts with charitable organizations must be submitted within 10 days after signing.
Rhode Island Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Rhode Island Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Initial Registration
Form: Application for Professional Solicitor
Agency Fee: $0
Original Ink: Not required
Notarize: Not required
Registration Renewal
Form: Application for Professional Solicitor (Renewal)
Agency Fee: $0
Due: Annually by June 30.
Original Ink: Not required
Notarize: Not required
Thank you, you truly are amazing! And frankly we would be lost in all of this if it wasn’t for you.
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