Key takeaways
- Charities must register with the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs (OCRP), part of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, before soliciting, unless they qualify for an exemption.
- Annual charity fees run from $30 to $325 based on contributions, plus a $100 initial fee.
- Professional solicitors register before soliciting, pay $500 a year and post a $20,000 bond.
- Solicitors file the contract and a solicitation notice at least 10 days before each campaign, and a final accounting report within 90 days after it ends.
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 | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Agency | Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs (OCRP), Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services |
| Charity registration | Form 102 before soliciting, or Form 100 for an exemption |
| Charity fee | $30 to $325 a year, plus a $100 initial fee |
| Charity renewal | By the 15th day of the fifth month after fiscal year end (May 15 for a Dec. 31 year end) |
| Professional solicitor | Registration, $500 a year, $20,000 bond |
| Before each campaign | Contract copy, and a solicitation notice at least 10 days before it begins |
| After each campaign | Final accounting report within 90 days |
| Contact | (804) 786-1343 |
Charity registration
Virginia law requires charitable organizations that intend to solicit in the Commonwealth, or have funds solicited on their behalf, to file an initial registration statement with OCRP before any solicitation. Organizations first review the exemption application (Form 100); if no exemption fits, they file the registration statement (Form 102).
| Prior-year gross contributions | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $25,000 | $30 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $50 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $100 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $200 |
| $500,001 to $1 million | $250 |
| Over $1 million | $325 |
New organizations pay a $100 initial fee; those with financial history pay the $100 initial fee plus the annual fee. Registration is renewed each year by the 15th day of the fifth calendar month of the fiscal year. Charities include copies of their signed contracts with professional solicitors and fundraising counsel with their registration.
Professional solicitors
Under Va. Code § 57-61, a professional solicitor must:
- Register before soliciting, with a $500 annual fee. A $250 late fee applies if solicitation starts before registration.
- File a $20,000 bond and keep it in effect for the whole registration.
- Renew every year, with a sworn application and the fee.
- File the contract with the charitable or civic organization before each campaign.
- File a solicitation notice at least 10 days before each campaign begins. The charity's officers sign the notice, consenting to the solicitation.
- File a final accounting report within 90 days after the campaign ends; an extension of up to 90 more days may be requested in writing.
Working with an outside calling team in Virginia
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.