Key takeaways
- Charities must register with the Maryland Secretary of State and receive a certification letter before soliciting.
- Annual charity fees run from $0 to $300 based on contributions; a charity under $25,000 that uses a professional solicitor pays $50.
- Professional solicitors register before soliciting, pay $350, post a $25,000 surety bond or letter of credit and file a fund-raising notice before each campaign.
- Charities must file their contracts with professional solicitors and fund-raising counsel with the state.
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 | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Agency | Secretary of State, Charitable Organizations Division |
| Charity registration | Required before soliciting; certification letter issued |
| Charity fee | $0 to $300 a year, based on contributions |
| Professional solicitor | Registration, $350 fee, $25,000 surety bond or letter of credit |
| Before each campaign | Fund-raising notice plus a copy of the agreement |
| After each campaign | Final accounting report within three months |
| Fund-raising counsel | Registration, $250 fee |
| Contact | (410) 974-5534 |
Charity registration
Charitable organizations that solicit in Maryland must register with the Secretary of State and receive a certification letter before they begin soliciting. The annual fee depends on charitable contributions in the most recent fiscal year:
| Charitable contributions | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Less than $25,000 | $0 ($50 if the charity uses a professional solicitor) |
| $25,000 to $50,000 | $50 |
| $50,001 to $75,000 | $75 |
| $75,001 to $100,000 | $100 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $200 |
| $500,001 and above | $300 |
Organizations with $400,000 to under $1 million in contributions submit a financial review by an independent CPA, and those with $1 million or more submit an audit. Charities must also submit all contracts with professional solicitors or fund-raising counsel, including subcontracts, for solicitation in Maryland.
Professional solicitors
Maryland defines a professional solicitor as a person who, for pay, solicits or receives contributions for a charity, or advises on or manages a charitable solicitation in Maryland. A professional solicitor must:
- Register before soliciting in Maryland or receiving contributions from Maryland, with an application and a $350 fee.
- Post a $25,000 surety bond payable to the State of Maryland, or a $25,000 irrevocable letter of credit, kept in force for the whole registration.
- List its people: every current officer, associate solicitor and fund-raising employee, adding new names within 10 days after each person starts.
- File a fund-raising notice before each campaign, stating the method and solicitation dates, with a copy of the agreement.
- Use a compliant agreement that names the parties, the minimum percentage of gross receipts the charity will use for its charitable purpose and the text used in each solicitation. Subcontracts and caging agreements must be filed too.
- Report: an interim accounting report for ongoing campaigns with the registration application, and a final accounting report within three months after each campaign ends, signed by the solicitor and the charity.
- Renew every year, with the application, fee, bond, notices and agreements.
Fund-raising counsel
Fund-raising counsel advise or manage a solicitation but may not solicit or receive contributions directly. They register before providing services, pay $250, file their agreements within 10 days of signing or the start of solicitation, whichever is earlier, and may not be paid a percentage of contributions.
Working with an outside calling team in Maryland
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.