Key takeaways
- Charities register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers within 30 days of first receiving charitable assets, with a $50 initial fee.
- Annual renewal fees run from $25 to $1,200 based on total revenue, and an audit is required at $2 million or more in total revenue.
- Commercial fundraisers register before soliciting, pay $500 a year, post a $25,000 bond and file a notice at least 10 working days before each campaign.
- Callers working for a commercial fundraiser must say the call is being made by a commercial fundraiser and give the firm's registered name.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees, forms and rules change, so confirm current requirements with the state office listed below or with qualified counsel before a campaign.
Quick facts
| Item | California |
|---|---|
| Agency | Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers |
| Charity registration | Form CT-1 within 30 days of first receiving charitable assets |
| Charity fee | $50 initial; $25 to $1,200 a year, based on total revenue |
| Charity renewal | Form RRF-1, due four months and 15 days after fiscal year end |
| Professional solicitor | Commercial fundraiser registration, $500 a year, $25,000 bond or cash deposit |
| Before each campaign | Notice of Intent to Solicit (CT-10CF), 10 working days ahead |
| After each campaign | Annual financial report (CT-2CF) by January 30 |
| Fund-raising counsel | Registration, $500 a year, no bond |
| Contact | (916) 210-6400 |
Charity registration
Every charitable corporation, unincorporated association and charitable trustee subject to the law must register with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. Registration is due within 30 days of first receiving charitable assets, using Form CT-1 with a $50 fee. Organizations organized primarily as a hospital, educational institution or religious organization are exempt from registration and annual reporting.
Each year, charities file Form RRF-1 with IRS Form 990 (or the state's Form CT-TR-1 for small organizations) by four months and 15 days after the fiscal year ends, or May 15 for calendar-year filers. The fee depends on total revenue:
| Total revenue | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $50,000 | $25 |
| $50,000 to $100,000 | $50 |
| $100,001 to $250,000 | $75 |
| $250,001 to $1 million | $100 |
| $1,000,001 to $5 million | $200 |
| $5,000,001 to $20 million | $400 |
| $20,000,001 to $100 million | $800 |
| $100,000,001 to $500 million | $1,000 |
| Greater than $500 million | $1,200 |
Organizations reporting $2 million or more in total revenue must file audited financial statements.
Commercial fundraisers
California calls paid solicitation firms commercial fundraisers for charitable purposes. A commercial fundraiser must:
- Register before soliciting in California, on Form CT-1CF, and renew before January 15 each year.
- Pay a $500 annual fee, which is not refundable.
- Post a $25,000 bond or cash deposit with its registration application.
- File a Notice of Intent to Solicit (Form CT-10CF) at least 10 working days before each campaign, event or service, or by the start of solicitation for an emergency or disaster appeal.
- Use a compliant contract. It must let the charity cancel within 10 days without cost, give the charity control and approval over the content and frequency of solicitations, and require contributions to be deposited in a charity-controlled account or delivered to the charity within five working days. The contract is filed only if the Attorney General asks for it.
- Report every year: an annual financial report (Form CT-2CF) for each campaign by January 30, signed by the fundraiser and two directors or officers of the charity.
Before an oral solicitation, including by phone, the caller must say that the solicitation is being conducted by a commercial fundraiser for charitable purposes and give the fundraiser's name as registered with the Attorney General.
Fundraising counsel
Fundraising counsel plan or advise on solicitations but do not solicit or receive contributions. They register on Form CT-3CF before working for a charity, pay $500 a year, renew by January 15 and file a notice (Form CT-11CF) 10 working days before services begin. No bond is required.
Working with an outside calling team in California
If you hire a paid firm to call supporters, make registration part of the plan from the start: confirm your own registration, check the firm's status with the state, and leave time for any notices or contract filings before calls begin. Kensington Fundraising Group walks every client through how state requirements will be handled before a campaign starts. See our overview of fundraising call rules for the federal rules that apply alongside state law.