OLR - CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

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Charitable Organization

Description

Charitable organization means any person or entity registered by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation that is or holds itself out to be organized or operated for any charitable purpose and that solicits, accepts or obtains contributions from the public for any charitable purpose. A chapter, branch, area office or similar affiliate or any person soliciting contributions for any charitable purpose within the State for a charitable organization that has its principal place of business outside the State is considered a charitable organization for the purposes of this Act. Unless specifically exempted, a registration is required to solicit contributions in the State of Maine [reference 9 MRSA Chapter 385 §5006 "Exemption from registration requirements" and §5003(1) "Definitions"].

Application Information

FEES	Licensure fee of $100.00 Application fee of $50.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; List of Directors; IRS Determination letter, if applicable; and Credit Card Application, if authorizing payment of licensure fee and application fees totaling $150.00.

Application Procedure

To apply for this license, click on the 'DOWNLOAD APPLICATION' link below. This action will link you to the actual application form and instructions in Adobe Acrobat Format. If your browser has the Acrobat Plug In, you will see the form and can print it from your browser. If it is not installed, you will be asked for a location to save the file on your computer. To obtain the Adobe Acrobat Reader, download it for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Renewal Information

FEES	Annual renewal fee is $100.00. Additional $50.00 - if gross contributions from the public exceeds $30,000
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30.
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A Complete list of Directors; A copy of the most recent audited financial report or Form 990 An additional $50.00 financial filing fee is required with the renewal if gross contributions from the public exceeds $30,000; Credit Card Application, if authorizing payment of renewal fee(s); and A person or entity who submits an application for renewal after November 30 is subject to all requirements governing new applicants and is required to reapply with original registration application, documentation and fees.

Renewal Procedure

This license cannot be renewed electronically. Use the link below to print out renewal form and send via mail.

RENEW LICENSE

Exempt Charitable Organizations

Description

Exempt Charitable Organization means a charitable organization claiming to be exempt from registration requirements according to 9 MRSA Chapter 385 §5006.

Application Information

FEES	Registration Fee $10.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; Principal executive personnel; IRS Determination letter, if applicable; Copy of any financial statement, report or return filed with the IRS The purpose of the organization: and Credit Card Application, if authorizing payment of licensure fee and application fees totaling $10.00.

Application Procedure

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Renewal Information

Annually a form will be sent to those organizations exempted (except hospitals, religious, membership or educational organizations) to see if the organization's circumstances have changed. If they have not the organization will be required to reregister as an exempt organization. If the circumstances have changed the organization must register as a charitable organization.

An exempt organization is only exempted from registering as a charitable organization in the State of Maine. It must fulfill all other requirements, such as completing campaign forms after a contract with a prefessional solicitor/professional fund-raising counsel/commercial co-venturer has expired.

FEES	Renewal Fee $10.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Affidavit $10.00 exemption registration fee copy of most recent finacial statement, report or return filed with the IRS photocopy of IRS determination letter list of officers/directors

Renewal Procedure

This license cannot be renewed electronically. Use the link below to print out renewal form and send via mail.

RENEW LICENSE

Commercial Co-Venturer

Description

Commercial co-venturer means any person registered by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation and who, for profit or other commercial consideration, conducts promotes, underwrites, arranges or sponsors a sale, performance, collection or sale of donated goods or event of any kind that is advertised in conjunction with the name of any charitable organization. Any such person who will benefit in goodwill may not be considered a commercial co-venturer if the collection and distribution of the proceeds of the sale, performance or event are supervised and controlled by the benefiting charitable organization.

Application Information

FEES	Licensure fee of $200.00 Application fee of $50.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond.

Application Procedure

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Renewal Information

FEES	Annual renewal fee is $200.00.
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30.
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond; and A person who submits an application for renewal after November 30 is subject to all requirements governing new applicants and is required to reapply with original registration application, documentation and fees.

Renewal Procedure

This license cannot be renewed electronically. Use the link below to print out renewal form and send via mail.

RENEW LICENSE

Professional Fundraising Counsel

Description

Professional fund-raising counsel means any person registered by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation who, for a flat fixed fee under a written agreement or for a fee computed under a written agreement on the basis of funds actually raised or to be raised, or for any financial consideration of any kind or amount, plans, conducts, manages, carries on, advises or acts as a consultant, whether directly or indirectly, in connection with soliciting contributions for or on behalf of any charitable organization. A bona fide salaried officer or employee of a charitable organization, including an employee of a parent organization, shall not be deemed to be a professional fundraising counsel unless that person's salary or other compensation is computed on the basis of funds to be raised or actually raised or the services performed by the person are performed on behalf of some organization other than the one which employs that person or a chapter, branch or affiliate thereof. No attorney, investment counselor or banker who advises any person to make a contribution to a charitable organization shall be deemed, as the result of such advice, to be a professional fundraising counsel.

Application Information

FEES	Licensure fee of $200.00 Application fee of $50.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond.

Application Procedure

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Renewal Information

FEES	Annual renewal fee is $200.00.
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30.
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond; and Completion of criminal conviction question by indicating yes or no, and submission of documentation that lists date(s) and crime(s) and submit a copy of the court judgment(s). If your answer is "Yes" you may not file your renewal application electronically. You must mail the completed renewal application and the necessary fees along with a copy of the court judgment. You must also submit a letter listing the date of the conviction, the crime committed, and explaining the circumstances surrounding the conviction; A person who submits an application for renewal after November 30 is subject to all requirements governing new applicants and is required to reapply with original registration application, documentation and fees.

Renewal Procedure

This license cannot be renewed electronically. Use the link below to print out renewal form and send via mail.

RENEW LICENSE

Professional Solicitor

Description

Professional solicitor means any person or entity registered by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation that, alone or through its employees or agents, solicits contributions from the public on behalf of a charitable organization in exchange for a fee or other remuneration. "Professional solicitor" does not include a bona fide employee, bona fide salaried officer, attorney, and accountant or investment counselor of a charitable organization.

Application Information

FEES	Registration fee of $200.00 Application fee of $50.00
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond.

Application Procedure

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Renewal Information

FEES	Annual renewal fee is $200.00.
TERM	Annual - Expires November 30.
REQUIREMENTS	Completed Application; A $25,000 surety bond; and Completion of criminal conviction question by indicating yes or no, and submission of documentation that lists date(s) and crime(s) and submit a copy of the court judgment(s). If your answer is "Yes" you cannot file your renewal application electronically. You must mail the completed renewal application and the necessary fees along with a copy of the court judgment. You must also submit a letter listing the date of the conviction, the crime committed, and explaining the circumstances surrounding the conviction; A person who submits an application for renewal after November 30 is subject to all requirements governing new applicants and is required to reapply with original registration application, documentation and fees.

Renewal Procedure

This license cannot be renewed electronically. Use the link below to print out renewal form and send via mail.

RENEW LICENSE

About This Profession

Staff Directory | Contacting Us | Laws and Rules | Adverse Disciplinary Actions | Related Links

Our Purpose

It is the intent of the Legislature to require the registration and financial reporting of charitable organizations, the registration and bonding of professional fundraising counsel and commercial co-venturers and the registration of professional solicitors.

The primary responsibility of the Office is to review applicants for registration who holds themselves out to be organized or operating for any charitable purpose and which solicits, accepts or obtains contributions from the public for any charitable purpose, as well as compile and maintains current information on registered charitable organizations, professional fundraising counsel and commercial co-venturers and professional solicitors in the State of Maine.

Our Staff

For a complete list, please view our Staff Directory.

Contacting Us

Mail comments and inquiries to:

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
Office of Licensing & Registration
#35 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0035

Call us at (207) 624-8624.
TTY (Hearing Impaired) (207) 624-8563
Fax us at (207) 624-8637.

Laws

The State of Maine Legislature has developed a database of laws for all State agencies. For the text of current Laws, 9 M.R.S.A, Chapter 385, please visit http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/9/chapdoc/03850.doc .

The publications of the Maine State Legislature are made available on the Internet as a public service and reliance on any such information is at the user's own risk. The State of Maine, its agencies, officers and employees do not warrant the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of any information on the Maine State Legislature's web site and may not be held liable for any losses caused by any person's reliance on the information available on this web site.

Rules

For the text of current rules, please visit http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/rcn/apa/02/chaps02.htm on the Secretary of State's Web site.

Adverse Disciplinary Actions

Nothing to Report