Key takeaways
- DC law says no person may solicit in the District without a valid certificate of registration (D.C. Code § 44-1703).
- The license is issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) through its online BOSS portal: $99 for two years or $198 for four years.
- Religious organizations, solicitations solely for the American Red Cross and solicitations only among an organization's own members are exempt.
- Anyone soliciting, including by phone, must read or present a solicitor information card before accepting a contribution (D.C. Code § 44-1705).
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 | Washington, DC |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) |
| Charity requirement | Charitable solicitation license (certificate of registration) before soliciting |
| Fee | $99 for a 2-year license; $198 for a 4-year license; $0 for the charitable exempt category |
| Where to apply | Online through BOSS (boss.dc.gov) |
| Calling rule to know | Solicitor information card must be read or presented before a contribution is accepted, including by phone |
| Contact | DLCP, (202) 671-4500 |
Who needs a license
Under D.C. Code § 44-1703(a), "no person shall solicit in the District of Columbia unless he holds a valid certificate of registration authorizing such solicitation." DLCP handles this through its charitable services licensing, which covers activities whose purpose is benevolent, philanthropic, educational, scientific, environmental, civic or similar.
Exemptions
- Religious organizations: solicitations made solely for a church or religious corporation, or an entity it controls, while it holds federal tax exemption.
- Red Cross and members: solicitations solely for the American National Red Cross, or exclusively among the soliciting organization's own members.
- Other exemptions by regulation: the Mayor may exempt other solicitations by regulation, but not above $25,000 in money or property a year, a cap adjusted each October for inflation.
DLCP lists a "Charitable Exempt" category with a $0 fee and a Certificate of Exemption among the documents it may request.
How to apply
Apply online through DLCP's BOSS portal. DLCP lists these documents for the charitable services business license:
- Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit
- Corporate registration, if applicable
- IRS determination letter
- Certificate of Exemption (FR-164)
- Tax registration and a Clean Hands certificate
DLCP may ask for more documentation or proof of inspections.
Paid solicitors and phone calls
D.C. Code § 44-1705 requires any individual who solicits in the District to have a solicitor information card, or an authenticated copy, and to read it to the person or let them read it before accepting a contribution. The rule covers telephone solicitation: a phone solicitor must present the card information to each person who agrees or indicates willingness to give, before the contribution is accepted.
Compliance services such as Harbor Compliance report that the District has no separate registration for professional fundraising firms. Check with DLCP before a campaign, because the statute applies to "any person" who solicits.
Working with an outside calling team in DC
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.