If you wish to operate a Charitable or a Nonprofit Organization, it is important to understand the rules and requirements that will apply to fundraising. Most nonprofits survive on a combination of grants and donations, with the exception of organizations that are supported by Private Foundations. This means that nonprofits need to be able to reach out to donors and ask for financial contributions.
The rules differ from state-to-state regarding what a charitable organization must do in order to fundraise. If you wish to operate your charity in Arizona or to try to raise money from people within the area, you should speak with an experienced attorney about the requirements to Solicit Donations in Arizona. Lotzar Law Firm, P.C. has helped many clients to successfully start charitable organizations and to ensure they remain in compliance with all state rules for operating. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn more.
Arizona used to have a law requiring charities to be registered in order to Solicit Donations. Charities had to file a registration form annually in order to be allowed to Solicit Donations in Arizona. However, the registration requirement was repealed and after 2013 charities are no longer obligated to be registered in the state of Arizona in order to raise funds. Furthermore, Arizona is also one of just four states in the country where the Attorney General does not have Common Law Authority to ensure that charities are complying with legal requirements.
Requirements to Solicit Donations in Arizona
Because of the repeal of the registration requirements, it has become far too easy for dishonest organizations to try to pass themselves off as charities and raise money in Arizona. Wary consumers who are concerned about where money is going may ask for other information from your charitable organization before making a contribution in order to ensure your non profit is legitimate. It is important to be prepared with documentation demonstrating that you are a legitimate charity in order to have success at raising funds.
One of the essential things that you will need to do is to secure Tax-Exempt Status from the Internal Revenue Service. Most organizations do this under the provisions set in 501(c)(3) of the tax code and are thus called 501(c)(3) Organizations. Donors will need to know your status as a Tax-Exempt Organization before making contributions so they are able to take a deduction for the money that they give to your organization. If you cannot provide proof of Tax-Exempt Status, it will be very difficult to successfully Solicit Donations in Arizona.
You may also wish to use a Unified Registration Statement, which is accepted in Arizona as well as in other locations throughout the country. This provides your organization with an opportunity to register to Solicit Donations in participating states.
An experienced Scottsdale Arizona non profit lawyer knows the ins-and-outs of starting a charity and complying with the laws regarding who may Solicit Donations in Arizona. An attorney can advise you on the specifics of what you need to do if you want to start raising funds, so be sure to talk to a lawyer about your legal obligations.
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