Key takeaways
- The Texas Attorney General says most charities and nonprofits are not required to register with the state.
- Public safety, veterans and law enforcement-related groups, and the paid solicitors who work for them, must register, pay fees and post bonds.
- Telephone solicitation registration with the Secretary of State ($200 and a $10,000 bond) does not apply to 501(c)(3) organizations, but that exemption applies to the seller.
- Calls for law enforcement-related charities under the Attorney General's registry are limited to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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 | Texas |
|---|---|
| Agency | Attorney General (Charitable Trusts) and Secretary of State (Registrations Unit) |
| Charity registration | Not required for most charities |
| Charity fee | None for most charities; public safety groups $250, veterans groups $150, law enforcement-related groups $50 |
| Professional solicitor | No general registration; public safety and veterans solicitors $500 each; law enforcement-related telephone solicitors $50,000 bond |
| Before each campaign | Law enforcement-related groups file with the Attorney General before the 10th working day before calls begin |
| Telephone solicitation | Secretary of State registration, $200 a year, $10,000 bond; 501(c)(3) organizations exempt |
| Contact | Secretary of State Solicitation Hotline, 1-800-648-9642 |
Charity registration
The Texas Attorney General states that most charities and nonprofit organizations are not required to register with the state. Registration, with either the Attorney General or the Secretary of State, applies to organizations covered by three laws: the Law Enforcement Telephone Solicitation Act, the Public Safety Solicitation Act and the Veterans Solicitation Act. Registration does not imply approval or endorsement.
| Organization type | Where to file | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Public safety organizations (using terms such as "police" or "firefighter") | Secretary of State | $250 a year |
| Veterans organizations | Secretary of State | $150 a year |
| Law enforcement-related organizations soliciting by phone | Attorney General | $50 |
Veterans organizations also post a bond: $1,000 if chartered by Congress, otherwise $5,000 for one county, $10,000 for two to five counties or $25,000 for six or more.
Paid solicitors
Texas has no general registration for professional fundraisers. Paid solicitors register under the laws for the organizations they serve:
- Public safety organizations: solicitors register with the Secretary of State, pay $500 and post a $10,000 surety bond, renewed every year. Disclosures, given before any money changes hands, include the organization's and solicitor's names, how net funds are used and the Solicitation Information Hotline.
- Veterans organizations: solicitors register with the Secretary of State, pay $500 and post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 based on the number of counties. Phone solicitations must include an oral statement that the Secretary of State has information on file about those who seek contributions in the name of veterans, with the hotline number.
- Law enforcement-related organizations: a commercial telephone solicitor posts a $50,000 surety bond with the Secretary of State. If less than 90% of contributions go to the organization, the caller must state, before accepting a gift, the percentage the organization receives and the percentage the solicitor keeps. Calls are limited to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Telephone solicitation registration
Separately, Texas requires sellers that make telephone solicitations from or into Texas to register with the Secretary of State, with a $200 annual fee and a $10,000 bond. The law does not apply to a nonprofit organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3). The statute says an exemption generally applies only to the seller, so a paid calling firm should confirm with counsel whether it needs its own registration. The Secretary of State says it does not decide who must register.
Working with an outside calling team in Texas
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.