Washington D.C. Nonprofit Compliance

• Charities that raise less than $25,000 in contributions per calendar year and do not use paid solicitors
• Religious institutions
• Membership organizations
• Public or private organizations that solicit only from employees as long as the solicitation is approved by and conducted under the supervision of the employer or the employer's duly authorized representative, and is only carried on within the place or places of employment of the work force

Online

$0

• Charities that raise less than $1,500 in contributions per calendar year and do not use paid solicitors
• Religious institutions
• Educational institutions
• Membership organizations

Online

$0

Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.

Online

$412.50

3-4 weeks

• Some District of Columbia counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

Domestic Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

• Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
• Appoint a registered agent to receive legal documents in D.C.
• Obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state (to be filed during the foreign qualification process). The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

Foreign Applicants:

1. File foreign qualification documents with the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
2. Complete a New Business Registration with the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.
3. Create a MyTax account and submit a franchise tax exemption request online.
4. Create an Access DC account and submit an application for a charitable solicitation basic business license along with all required attachments.

• IRS determination letter
• Professional fundraising contracts
• Certificate of occupancy
• DC tax number or certificate
• Certified resolution

Online

$412.50

• Biennially by the end of the month prior to your registration month. If you registered for the first time in September, your report will be due by the end of August two years later.
• Licenses can be renewed as early as 75 days prior to their expiration date.

D.C. does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

None

Online

$0

To close out your registration, submit a BBL cancellation request form online.