Tennessee State Fundraising Registration

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

Tennessee 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.

Tennessee 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

Tennessee Charitable Organization Registration

Agency: Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming

Law: Tennessee Code Annotated §48-101-501 and following

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: No

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? No

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

Bona fide religious institutions

An organization organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes and which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of pupils or students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are regularly carried on, and which is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. Included in such definition are organizations composed of parents of students and other persons connected with the institution, which are organized and operated for the purpose of conducting activities in support of the operations or extracurricular activities of such institutions. “Educational institution” also includes private foundations soliciting contributions exclusively for such organizations.

Cooperative scholarship corporations regulated by title 49, chapter 4, part 1

Volunteer fire departments, rescue squads or local civil defense organizations

Community fairs, county fairs, district fairs and division fairs, as defined in § 43-21-104, that have been qualified by the commissioner of agriculture to receive state aid grants, pursuant to title 43, chapter 21, part 1

Political parties, candidates for federal or state office, and political action committees required to file financial information with federal or state election commissions

Hospitals and nursing homes that are subject to regulation by the Tennessee Department of Health

Any corporation established by an act of congress of the United States that is required by federal law to submit annual reports of its activities to congress containing itemized accounts of all receipts and expenditures after being fully audited by the department of defense

Law: Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-101-502

Registration to Obtain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations: Charities with less than $50,000 in gross contributions during the preceding fiscal year

Form: Form SS-6042: Annual Request for $50,000 and Under Exemption

Agency Fee: $0

Notes: Charities must register within 30 days if they exceed $50,000 in contributions.

Renewal to Maintain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations: Charities with less than $50,000 in gross contributions during the preceding fiscal year

Form: Form SS-6042: Annual Request for $50,000 and Under Exemption (Renewal)

Agency Fee: $0

Due: Annually within 6 months of the organization's fiscal year end.

Initial Registration

Form: Form SS-6001: Application for Registration of a Charitable Organization

Filing Method: Mail or Online

Agency Fee: $10

Turnaround: 1 month

Notes:

The CFO and another officer must sign. Signatures need not be notarized.

Remember to attach the Summary of Financial Activities form. If your nonprofit registers during its first year, it must file a quarterly financial report.

Some Tennessee 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.

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 Tennessee, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 2 months old when filing foreign qualification documents.

- How to Apply -

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services.

2. Submit an Application for Registration of a Charitable Organization, a quarterly or annual summary of financial activites form, and all required attachments to the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming.

Foreign Applicants:

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

2. File foreign qualification documents with the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services.

3. Submit an Application for Registration of a Charitable Organization, a quarterly or annual summary of financial activities form, and all required attachments to the Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming.

- Required Attachments -

IRS form 990

Audited financials (if applicable)

Articles of incorporation

Bylaws

IRS determination letter

List of officers and directors including phone numbers and addresses

List of other states where the applicant is registered to solicit donations

Professional fundraising contracts

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Registration Renewal

Form: Form SS-6002: Application to Renew Registration of a Charitable Organization

Filing Method: Mail or Online

Agency Fee: $10

Due:

Annually within 6 months after the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, then file by June 30.

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 150 days beyond the original due date by submitting a request for extension through the online portal. A copy of IRS form 8868 must be included when requesting an extension.

Notes:
The CFO and another officer must sign. Signatures need not be notarized.

Remember to attach the Summary of Financial Activities form

Required Attachments:
IRS form 990

List of officers and directors

Change of Fiscal Year

Agency Fee: $0

Turnaround: 1-2 business days

Notes: Send the state a copy of the short IRS 990 once it is available.

Cancellation

Form: Notice of Intent to Cease Solicitation Activity

Agency Fee: $0

Notes: To close out your registration, submit a Notice of Intent to Cease Solicitations, the most recently filed IRS form 990, and a brief letter of explanation.

I’ve had great experiences with Labyrinth across two organizations, I definitely recommend their services!

Killjan Anderson – USA BASKETBALL

Tennessee Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

NOT REQUIRED

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

Tennessee Fundraising Counsel Registration

NOT REQUIRED

Fundraising Counsel licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
Tennessee no longer requires fundraising counsels to register.
More information: Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming

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

Tennessee Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Agency: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

Law: TN Code § 56-52-101 through TN Code § 56-52-111

Audit Requirements: The submitted financial statements must either be audited by an independent CPA or attested to by two officers of the company.

Initial Registration

Form: Charitable Gift Annuity Application Packet

Agency Fee: $675

Notarize: Required

Notes: Charities must maintain a separate reserve fund that contains either 110% of the reserves required by TN Code § 56-52-104(b) or the total amount of donations for outstanding charitable gift annuities.

Registration Renewal

Form: There is no renewal form, instead send a letter of intent to renew to the department along with the renewal fee.

Agency Fee: $100

Due:

Annually by March 1.

Notes:

In addition to renewing the certificate of authority, charities should also submit an annual report within 90 days after the close of their fiscal year.

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!!

Jacquelyn Bussotti, Human Resources Manager, Parkinson’s Foundation

Tennessee Professional Fundraiser Registration

Agency: Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming

Bond Requirements: $25,000

Initial Registration

Form: Form SS-6003: Application for Registration of a Professional Solicitor

Agency Fee: $10

Original Ink: Not Required

Notarize: Not Required

Before you Apply:

List the other states where applicant solicits contributions

Required Attachments:

Attach a list of corporate officers and directors of the corporation, or unincorporated association; each partner in the partnership; or owner in sole proprietorship.

Registration Renewal

Form: Form SS-6003: Application for Registration of a Professional Solicitor (Renewal)

Agency Fee: $10

Due: Annually by December 31.

Contract Filing

Agency Fee: $0

Due: File a solicitation campaign notice before beginning a new campaign.

Financial Reporting

Form: Form SS-6022: Summary of Financial Activities for a Campaign

Agency Fee: $0

Due: Within 90 days after a campaign has ended and within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year for campaigns lasting more than a year.

Notarize: Required

Tennessee Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

NOT REQUIRED

Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
Solicitors who are not employed by a professional fundraising firm but operate independently may be required to register. Employees of professional fundraising firms are generally not required to register as an individual solicitor in Tennessee.

Thank you, you truly are amazing! And frankly we would be lost in all of this if it wasn’t for you.

Lisa Strand, Operations Coordinator, Life is Good Playmakers

Learn about fundraising in other jurisdictions:

Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California	Colorado
Connecticut	Delaware	D.C.	Florida	Georgia	Hawaii
Idaho	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa	Kansas	Kentucky
Louisiana	Maine	Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota
Mississippi	Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire
New Jersey	New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio
Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina	South Dakota
Tennessee	Texas	Utah	Vermont	Virginia	Washington
West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming

Trust the #1 Choice
for State Charitable Registration

More nonprofits choose Labyrinth
than any other service provider

Tennessee Fundraising Registration Requirements

Tennessee State Fundraising Registration

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

Tennessee 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.

Tennessee 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