Can My Nonprofit Fundraise in All 50 States?
Yes. There's no single national fundraising license, so a nationwide campaign means complying with each state that regulates charitable solicitation.
How the 50 states break down
- About 40 states plus DC require registration before soliciting their residents.
- Around 10 states have no general registration requirement, though some still regulate professional fundraisers or particular kinds of appeals.
- Some states exempt small organizations, but often only if you file for the exemption.
How to plan national fundraising
- List every channel you use: mail, email, events, phone, online giving, peer-to-peer campaigns.
- Identify where your donors live today and where your campaigns will reach.
- Register in the states you actively solicit, starting with the states where you raise the most.
- Build a renewal calendar — each state has its own deadline and financial reporting rules.
What does it cost?
State fees range from free to several hundred dollars per state each year, and some states require audited or CPA-reviewed financial statements once revenue passes certain thresholds. Professional help reduces the time spent, but the state fees themselves are unavoidable.
Related service: Charitable Solicitation Registration →