What Laws Govern Charitable Solicitation in Massachusetts?
The state and federal regulations a nonprofit must follow when seeking funds
By Super Lawyers staff | Reviewed by Canaan Suitt, J.D. | Last updated on March 3, 2023Use these links to jump to different sections:
With billions of dollars flowing to charitable organizations every year, a well-developed body of law has emerged governing nonprofit solicitation for charitable purposes. Charities and nonprofits seeking to raise funds for their cause must take the appropriate steps for fundraising activities to make sure that their organization is in full compliance with all relevant commonwealth of Massachusetts laws and federal laws.
For charities raising money in Massachusetts, this generally means charity registration with state regulators and publicly disclosing certain financial statements.
Registration Requirements in Massachusetts
Before a nonprofit exempt organization can engage in solicitation activities with the general public, it must register with state regulators.
When submitting their registration forms to receive approval, charities and nonprofit corporations will be issued a Certificate of Solicitation from the Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO). Nonprofits must renew their Certificate on a yearly basis and pay the registration fee.
Without fundraising registration, charitable solicitation is generally not permitted in Massachusetts. There are only a limited number of exceptions to the registration requirement set forth by Massachusetts state law. Specifically, nonprofit organizations may be exempt from registering with the state if:
- The charity is primarily a religious organization, and therefore it falls under other state regulations; or
- The charity raises less than $5,000 or has fewer than 10 total donors and no person involved in the organization receives any financial benefit for their services.
If a nonprofit does not fall into either of these exceptions, then it must obtain a certificate of solicitation. Notably, if a charity pays any officer compensation or if it pays people to help it raise funds, it does not matter how much money it raises or how many total donors it has: state registration is required.
Public Disclosure Requirements for Nonprofits
Beyond the Massachusetts state registration requirements, nonprofit organizations and charities that solicit funds in the state should also ensure that they are in full compliance with all financial disclosure laws.
It should be noted many charities are subject to federal disclosure rules as enforced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Using IRS Form 990—also known as the Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax—nonprofits may be required to provide the public with financial information about their organization.
Different versions of Form 990 are available to charities. Generally, which version should be used depends largely on the size of a charity. Smaller charity organizations may be eligible to submit a simplified version of Form 990. Regardless, it is crucial that all charities and nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts meet their financial disclosure requirements. Failure to do so could cause serious problems down the road. Organizations seeking to raise money for a good cause need to protect themselves.
If you have any specific questions about the state and federal regulations that govern charitable solicitation, an experienced Massachusetts nonprofit organizations lawyer can help. For more information on this area, see our business organizations overview.
What do I do next?
Enter your location below to get connected with a qualified attorney today.Additional Business/Corporate articles
Related topics
At Super Lawyers, we know legal issues can be stressful and confusing. We are committed to providing you with reliable legal information in a way that is easy to understand. Our legal resources pages are created by experienced attorney writers and writers that specialize in legal content in consultation with the top attorneys that make our Super Lawyers lists. We strive to present information in a neutral and unbiased way, so that you can make informed decisions based on your legal circumstances.
Attorney directory searches
Helpful links
Find top lawyers with confidence
The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.
Find a lawyer near you