Utah State Fundraising Registration

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

 

Utah 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.


Utah 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


Company Licenses

Utah Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Utah Charitable Gaming License

Not required



Charitable Gaming licensure is not required on the State level in Utah.

Utah statutes do not currently provide for any charitable gaming activites.

Utah Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Not required



Charitable Gift Annuity licensure is not required on the State level in Utah.

No filing is required. Utah generally exempts charitable organizations from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities.

Law:

UT Code § 31A-22-1303

Utah Charitable Organization Permit

Agency:Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection
Law:

Utah Code Annotated §13-22-1 thorugh 13-22-15; Utah Administrative Code, Rule R152-22-1 through R152-22-5

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Yes

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • A religious, ecclesiastical, or denominational organization described in § 13-22-5(a)
  • A solicitation by a broadcast media owned or operated by an educational institution or governmental entity, or any entity organized solely for the support of that broadcast media
  • An individual soliciting a contribution for the relief or benefit of another individual, who is specified by name at the time of the solicitation if all contributions are turned over to the named beneficiary after deducting actual expenses necessary for the cost of solicitation, if any and all individuals that carry out any fund-raising function for the benefit of the named individual are unpaid, directly or indirectly, for services rendered
  • A political party authorized to transact the political party's affairs within this state and any candidate and campaign worker of the political party if the content and manner of any solicitation make clear that the solicitation is for the benefit of the political party or candidate
  • A political action committee or group soliciting funds relating to issues or candidates on the ballot if the committee or group is required to file financial information with a federal or state election commission
  • A public school; a public institution of higher learning; a school accredited by an accreditation body recognized within the state or the United States; an institution of higher learning accredited by an accreditation body recognized within the state or the United States; an organization within, and authorized by, one of the previously described educational entities; a parent organization, teacher organization, or student organization authorized by one of the previously described educational entities
  • A public or higher education foundation established under Title 53E, Public Education System -- State Administration, Title 53G, Public Education System -- Local Administration, or Title 53B, State System of Higher Education
  • A television station, radio station, or newspaper of general circulation that donates air time or print space for no consideration as part of a cooperative solicitation effort on behalf of a charitable organization, whether or not that organization is required to register under this chapter
  • A volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or local civil defense organization whose financial oversight is under the control of a local governmental entity
  • Any governmental unit of any state or the United States
  • Any corporation established by an act of the United States Congress and that is required by federal law to submit an annual report to the United States Secretary of Defense
  • A solicitation by an applicant for a grant offered by a state agency if the terms of the grant provide that the state agency monitors a grant recipient to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with the grant's purpose and the sum of the amount available to the applicant under grants offered by a state agency that the applicant applies for in a calendar year is less than or equal to $1,500
  • A chapter of a charitable organization or a person who solicits contributions for a charitable organization, if the charitable organization is registered with the division pursuant to § 13-22-5 or is exempt from registration under this section if certain conditions certain conditions are met
  • A solicitation in an obituary
  • A solicitation made exclusively to a family member of the individual making the solicitation
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Law:

UT Code § 13-22-8

Notes:

Exemptions do not expire as long as the organization continues to qualify under the exemption criteria.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Turnaround:

1 week

Notes:
  • You may not solicit until you receive your certificate of registration back from the state. It takes ~1 month for the state to process your application.
  • Some Utah 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 Utah.
  • 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 Utah.
  • 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 Utah, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Corporations and Commerical Code.
  2. Create an online account and complete the online charitable registration through the Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Utah. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Corporations and Commerical Code.
  3. Create an online account and complete the online charitable registration through the Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection.
Required Attachments:

  • IRS form 990
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bylaws
  • IRS determination letter
  • List of officers and directors
  • Professional fundraising contracts

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

Annually by the upcoming quarterly due date based on registration date: January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1. So if your permit was issued on April 15, it will expire on July 1.

Due Date Extension:

Utah does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

Penalties:

There is a late fee of $25 for each month that passes after the due date.

Required Attachments:

  • IRS form 990
  • List of officers and directors
  • Professional fundraising contracts
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws

Contract Filing

Form:

There is no form. Just submit the contract to the state.

Filing Method:

Email the contract to dcp-charities@utah.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1 business week.

Due:

Every charitable organization which agrees to permit a charitable sales promotion to be conducted by a commercial co-venturer on its behalf shall file with the division a notice of the promotion prior to its commencement within this state.

Notes:

There is no form. Notices of sales promotion must include: 1) The names of the charitable organization and commercial co-venturer; 2) That the charitable organization and the commercial co-venturer will conduct a charitable sales promotion; and 3) The date the charitable sales promotion is expected to commence.

How to Apply:

The charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or otherwise exempt for the contract to be accepted.

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Notes:

Submit the short year financials during the standard renewal process.

Cancellation

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, send (email accepted) a letter indicating that your organization wishes to cancel its registration. No final report or renewal is required.

Utah Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Not required



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

Utah 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.

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Every charitable organization which agrees to permit a charitable sales promotion to be conducted by a commercial co-venturer on its behalf shall file with the division a notice of the promotion prior to its commencement within this state.

Notes:

There is no form. Notices of sales promotion must include: 1) The names of the charitable organization and commercial co-venturer; 2) That the charitable organization and the commercial co-venturer will conduct a charitable sales promotion; and 3) The date the charitable sales promotion is expected to commence.

Contract Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

An amendment filing should be made before the expiration date of a campaign in order to extend the campaign.

Notes:

To report an extension of a campaign or another change to a campaign agreement, submit a cover letter describing the change and include a copy of the amended agreement.

"Professional fund raising counsel or consultant" means a person who:(i)
for compensation or any other consideration, plans, manages, counsels, consults, or prepares material for, or with respect to, the solicitation of contributions for a charitable organization or any other person;
(ii)
does not solicit contributions;
(iii)
does not at any time have custody of a contribution from solicitation; and
(iv)
does not employ, procure, or engage any compensated person to solicit or receive contributions.
(b)
"Professional fund raising counsel or consultant" does not include:(i)
an individual acting in the individual's capacity as a bona fide officer, director, volunteer, or full-time employee of a charitable organization;
(ii)
an attorney, investment counselor, or banker who, in the conduct of that person's profession, advises a client regarding legal, investment, or financial advice; or
(iii)
a person who tangentially prepares materials, including a person who:(A)
makes copies;
(B)
cuts or folds flyers; or
(C)
creates a graphic design or other artwork without providing strategic or campaign-related input.

Utah Fundraising Counsel Registration

Agency:Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Yes

Registration Renewal

Form:

Professional Fund Raising Counsel Permit Application Form (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually by the registration anniversary date.

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Prior to commencement of each solicitation campaign each professional fund raiser, fund raising counsel or consultant or charitable organization shall notify the Division in writing at least 10 days in advance of its intent to commence a campaign.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

If any information contained in the application for a permit becomes incorrect or incomplete, the applicant or registrant shall, within 30 days after the information becomes incorrect or incomplete, correct the application or file the complete information required by the division.

A professional fund raiser is defined by the Charitable Solicitations Act to mean a person who:

  • for compensation or any other consideration, for or on behalf of a charitable organization or any other person:
    • solicits contributions; or
    • promotes or sponsors the solicitation of contributions;
  • For compensation or any other consideration, plans, manages, counsels, consults, or prepares material for, or with respect to, the solicitation of contributions for a charitable organization or any other person; and
    • at any time has custody of a contribution for the charitable organization;
  • engages in, or represents being independently engaged in, the business of soliciting contributions for a charitable organization;
  • manages, supervises, or trains any solicitor whether as an employee or otherwise; or
  • uses a vending device or vending device decal for financial or other consideration that implies a solicitation of contributions or donations for any charitable organization or charitable purposes.

"Professional fund raiser" does not include:

  • an individual acting in the individual's capacity as a bona fide officer, director, volunteer, or full-time employee of a charitable organization;
  • an attorney, investment counselor, or banker who, in the conduct of that person's profession, advises a client regarding legal, investment, or financial advice; or
  • a person who tangentially prepares materials, including a person who:
  • makes copies;
  • cuts or folds flyers; or
  • creates a graphic design or other artwork without providing strategic or campaign-related input.

Utah Professional Fundraiser Registration

Agency:Utah Department of Commerce - Division of Consumer Protection
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Fund Raiser Permit Application

Agency Fee:

$250

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:

All contract agreements with each charitable organization using the applicant’s services, and a copy of all agreements to which the applicant is, or proposes to be, a party regarding the use of proceeds must be included with the application.

Before you Apply:
  • The name and address of any organization or person controlled by, controlling, or affiliated with the applicant
  • List the applicant’s business, occupation, or employment for the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of this application.
  • List the name, address, and telephone number of each of the applicant’s or registrant’s board of directors and officers
  • List the  registered agent for service of process within the State of Utah
  • State the purpose of the solicitation and use of the contributions to be solicited.
  • List the method by which the solicitation will be conducted and the projected length of time it is to be conducted.
  • Provide the anticipated expenses of the solicitation, including all commissions, costs of
    collection, salaries, and any other items.
  • A statement of what percentage of the contributions collected as a result of the solicitation are projected to remain available to the charitable organization declared in the application, including a satisfactory statement of the factual basis for the projected percentage and projected anticipated revenues provided to the charitable organization, and if a flat fee is charged, documentation to support the reasonableness of the flat fee.
  • A statement of total contributions collected or received by the professional fund raiser within the calendar year immediately preceding the date of the application, including a description of the expenditures made from or the use made of the contributions.
Required Attachments:
  • Attach a copy of the applicant’s articles of incorporation or other organizational documentation showing current legal status.
  • Attach a copy of the applicant’s current by-laws or other policies and procedures governing day-to-day operations
  • A copy of any written agreements with any charitable organization and a copy of all agreements to which the applicant is, or proposes to be, a party regarding the use of proceeds be included with the application
    • Applicants that provide services only through online or web-based software may submit a copy of the terms and conditions that all users must agree to along with evidence demonstrating that a user accepted the terms and conditions.
  • If applicable, please provide a copy of the injunction or administrative order
  •  If applicable, please attach a statement explaining the solicitations conducted without a permit.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Fund Raiser Permit Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually by the registration anniversary date.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarize:Not required
Notes:

All contract agreements with each charitable organization using the applicant’s services, and a copy of all agreements to which the applicant is, or proposes to be, a party regarding the use of proceeds must be included with the application.

Contract Filing

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Prior to commencement of each solicitation campaign each professional fund raiser, fund raising counsel or consultant or charitable organization shall notify the Division in writing at least 10 days in advance of its intent to commence a campaign.

Amendment

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

If any information contained in the application for a permit becomes incorrect or incomplete, the applicant or registrant shall, within 30 days after the information becomes incorrect or incomplete, correct the application or file the complete information required by the division.

Individual Licenses

Utah Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Utah Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

Not required



Professional Solicitor licensure is not required on the State level in Utah.

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 Utah.



Learn about fundraising in other jurisdictions: