Key takeaways
- Charities register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before soliciting and renew every year.
- Annual charity fees run from $10 to $400 based on contributions; a review or audit is required at $500,000, and an audit at $1 million.
- Professional solicitors pay $300 a year, post a $50,000 bond and file a notice, with the contract and script, at least 15 days before each campaign.
- A financial report is due within 45 days after each campaign, and callers must identify the solicitor and the charity before asking for a gift.
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 | Florida |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Consumer Services |
| Charity registration | Required before soliciting; renewed every year |
| Charity fee | $10 to $400 a year, based on contributions |
| Charity renewal | Due one year after the initial registration was approved; $25 a month late fee |
| Professional solicitor | Registration, $300 a year, $50,000 bond |
| Before each campaign | Notice with contract and script, 15 days ahead |
| After each campaign | Financial report within 45 days |
| Fund-raising counsel | Professional fundraising consultant: $300 a year, no bond |
| Contact | 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or (850) 410-3800 |
Charity registration
Charitable organizations and sponsors must file an initial registration statement with the department before soliciting in Florida, then renew each year by the anniversary of the date the initial registration was approved. The late fee is $25 for each month or part of a month. The fee depends on contributions in the last fiscal year:
| Contributions | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $5,000 | $10 |
| Less than $50,000, with no paid staff, solicitors, consultants or co-venturers | $10 |
| $5,000 to less than $100,000 | $75 |
| $100,000 to less than $200,000 | $125 |
| $200,000 to less than $500,000 | $200 |
| $500,000 to less than $1 million | $300 |
| $1 million to less than $10 million | $350 |
| $10 million or more | $400 |
Charities with $500,000 to under $1 million in annual contributions submit financial statements reviewed or audited by an independent CPA, and those with $1 million or more submit an audit. Some organizations are exempt from registration, including those with less than $50,000 in contributions that use only volunteers; they must register within 30 days after contributions reach $50,000.
Professional solicitors
Florida defines a professional solicitor as a person who, for pay, performs solicitation services for a charity or sponsor. A professional solicitor must:
- Register before soliciting, with a $300 fee. Registration lasts one year.
- Post a $50,000 bond.
- File a notice at least 15 days before each campaign or event, with a copy of the contract and any script, outline or presentation.
- Use a compliant contract, signed by two charity officials, that states the guaranteed minimum percentage of gross receipts the charity will receive and the solicitor's compensation.
- Deposit contributions into a charity-controlled account no later than two days after receipt.
- Report gross revenue and itemized expenses within 45 days after each campaign, and within 45 days after each anniversary of a campaign lasting more than one year.
- Keep records, including each pitch sheet or script, for at least three years.
Before orally asking for a gift, the caller must give the solicitor's name as filed with the department, the caller's legal name if a name is used, and the charity's name, principal place of business and the purpose of the solicitation. Florida also requires certain people who make telephone solicitations for a professional solicitor to hold an individual solicitor license from the department, which includes fingerprinting.
Professional fundraising consultants
Professional fundraising consultants work for a fixed fee, do not solicit and never hold contributions. They register with a $300 annual fee and file their contracts at least five days before providing material services. Florida law sets no bond for consultants.
Working with an outside calling team in Florida
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.