Maine Nonprofit Compliance

• Organizations that solicit primarily within their membership and do not contract with a professional solicitor. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "membership" does not include those persons who are granted a membership upon making a contribution as a result of a solicitation
• Persons soliciting contributions for the relief of any individual specified by name at the time of the solicitation, when all of the contributions collected, without any deductions whatsoever, are turned over to the named beneficiary for that individual's use
• Charitable organizations that do not intend to solicit and receive and do not actually solicit or receive contributions from the public in excess of $35,000 during a calendar year or do not receive contributions from more than 35 persons during a calendar year, if the charitable organizations do not contract with professional solicitors and if no part of the assets or income inures to the benefit of or is paid to any officer or member
• Educational institutions, the curriculums of which in whole or in part are registered or approved by the Department of Education, either directly or by acceptance of accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education, and organizations operated by the student bodies of such institutions
• Hospitals that are nonprofit and charitable
• Free clinics

Maine Revised Statutes Ann., Title 9, Ch. 385, § 5006

Charitable Organization Application

Mail or online.

$20

2-3 weeks

• Check the website for the status of your license. PENDING means it is under review. ACTIVE means your organization is authorized to solicit.
• Some Maine 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.
• 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.
• Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
• If you will foreign qualify in Maine, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.

Domestic Applicants:

1. File entity formation documents with the Maine Secretary of State - Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions.
2. Submit a Charitable Organization Application and all required attachments to the Maine Office of Professional and Occupation Regulation.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Maine. If not required, skip to number 3.
2. File foreign qualification documents with the Maine Secretary of State - Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions.
3. Submit a Charitable Organization Application and all required attachments to the Maine Office of Professional and Occupation Regulation.

• Current year budget or IRS form 990
• IRS determination letter
• List of officers and directors
• List of individuals responsible for custody of contributions received and distributed
• List of states where licensed
• Professional fundraising contracts
• Criminal Conviction and Disciplinary Action Documentation (if applicable)

Charitable Organization Application and Annual Fundraising Activity Report for Charitable Organization

Mail or online.

$20

Annually by November 30. Renewals can be filed as early as October 1.

Maine does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.

There is a $50 late fee for renewals filed within 90 days after the expiration date.

• Make sure to include all required attachments
• Late applications filed December 1 - March 1 must include a $50 late fee. After March 1st, applicants must file a new initial application.

• List of officers and directors

$0

1-2 business days

Email Tammy Reed at tammy.reed@maine.gov to update fiscal year.

Annual Fundraising Activity Report for Charitable Organization

$0

To close out your registration, submit a letter indicating your withdrawal request and a final annual fundraising activity report, which can be emailed, faxed, or mailed.