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Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section
Please Note
We are a service company that can help you file with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section. We are not
associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to
help
you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly
with this agency without using our service.
Contact Information
Physical address: 201 W Washington Avenue Suite 500 Madison, WI 53703
We track the following licenses with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section in order to provide compliance
services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other reference data in License Manager
in-line with your licenses.
Wisconsin Charitable Organization Registration
Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section
A person that is exempt from filing a federal annual information return under section 6033 (a) (3) (A) (i) and (iii) and (C) (i) of the Internal Revenue Code
A candidate for national, state, or local office or a political party or other committee or group required to file financial information with the federal elections commission or a filing officer under s. 11.0102 (1)
Charitable organizations which do not intend to raise or actually receive contributions in excess of $25,000 during a fiscal year and all of their functions are performed by volunteers and no assets or income are paid to any officer or member of the charitable organization
A fraternal, civic, benevolent, patriotic, or social organization that solicits contributions solely from its membership
A veterans organization incorporated under ch. 188 or chartered under federal law or the service foundation of such an organization recognized in the bylaws of the organization
A nonprofit, postsecondary educational institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency or association approved under 20 USC 1099b, or an educational institution and its authorized charitable foundations that solicit contributions only from its students and their families, alumni, faculty, trustees, corporations, foundations, and patients
A person soliciting contributions for the relief of a named individual if all contributions, without any deductions, are given to the named individual
Any corporation established by an act of the United States Congress that is required by federal law to submit to Congress annual reports, fully audited by the United States Department of Defense
Note the list of 17 attachments that first-time registrants must attach to the application. This includes disclosing contracts with professional fundraisers.
The Preseident and CFO must sign. Signatures must be notarized.
Some Wisconsin counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.
Before you Apply:
Domestic Applicants:
Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
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.
If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
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 Wisconsin, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 60 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:
Domestic Applicants:
File entity formation documents with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Corporation Section.
Submit a Charitable Organization Registration Application and all required attachments to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions - Division of Banking.
Foreign Applicants:
Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Wisconsin. If not required, skip to number 3.
Submit a Charitable Organization Registration Application and all required attachments to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions - Division of Banking.
Required Attachments:
IRS form 990
Audited financials (if applicable)
Charter/Articles of Incorporation/Agreement of Association/Instrument of Trust/other organizational instrument
Bylaws (unless organized as a trust)
IRS determination letter (or IRS form 1023 if exemption is pending)
List of officers and directors
List of persons with final custody of contributions
List of persons responsible for final distribution of contributions
Professional fundraiser or fundraising counsel contracts
A certificate of good standing from the organization's home state
Certificate of incorporation including any name change amendments
Annually by July 31. An organization that files an initial registration on or after June 1 does not need to renew their registration until the following calendar year. If an initial registration is filed before June 1, renewal must be filed by July 31 of the same calendar year.
Renewals can be filed online as early as June 1.
Due Date Extension:
Wisconsin does not grant extensions for charitable organization registration.
Penalties:
There is a $25 late fee.
Notes:
There are two renewal filings for charitable organizations: charitable registration renewal and charitable organization annual report.
This annual renewal is different than the corporate annual financial report filed with DFI.
The renewal period closes September 30th. After this date, you must file a new initial registration.
You may not file for an extension of the due date.
Submit the short year financials during the standard renewal process.
Cancellation
Agency Fee:
$0
Notes:
To close out your registration, send a letter including the charity name, FEIN, date of closure, and reason for closure in writing.
“Fund-raising counsel" means a person who, for compensation, plans, manages, advises, consults, or prepares material for, or with respect to, solicitation in this state for a charitable organization, but who does not solicit in this state or employ, engage, or provide any person who is paid to solicit in this state. “Fund-raising counsel" does not include any of the following: (a) An attorney, investment counselor, or employee of a financial institution who, in the normal course of his or her work as an attorney, investment counselor, or employee of a financial institution, advises a person to make a contribution. (b) A bona fide employee, volunteer, or salaried officer of a charitable organization.
Wisconsin Fundraising Counsel Registration
Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section
Bond Requirements:
$20,000
Automatic Exemption
Agency Fee:
$0
Notes:
Fundraising counsels that do not have custody of contributions may not be required to register. See sections A and B of the Application for Registration as a Fund-Raising Counsel to determine whether or not you will need to register.
Before a fund-raising counsel performs any material services for a charitable organization that is required to be registered, the charitable organization and the fund-raising counsel shall contract in writing, and the fund-raising counsel shall file the contract with the department.
Wisconsin Professional Employer Group Registration
Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section
If the applicant does not meet the working capital requirement, a bond of at least $100,000 must be submitted. However, if the applicant’s financial statement discloses negative working capital, the bond must be increased in an amount that is sufficient to cover the amount of the deficit. For example, if the applicant has working capital of -$110,000, a $110,000 bond would need to be submitted to the department.
List of States where Applicant Operated in the Previous 5 Years – The list must include the following:
Names of all states in which applicant has operated
The name the applicant used to conduct business in each state
Dates of operation in each state
Trade name(s)/DBA(s), if any, used by the applicant in each state
Address of applicant in each state
Name of any predecessor business entities of the applicant in each state
Name of any successor business entities of the applicant in each state (if known)
Statement of Ownership – The statement must identify each owner who has a controlling interest in the applicant and must provide the following bulleted information for each owner. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the ownership interest of an applicant or registrant.
Owner’s name
Business name of each of the owner’s employers during the preceding 10 years.
Business address of each employer
Owner’s occupation at each of his/her employers
Offices held, if any, at each employer
Dates of employment at each employer
Responsibilities at each employer
Statement of Management – The statement must identify each manager who has a controlling interest in the applicant and must provide the following bulleted information for each manager. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who serves as president or chief executive officer of an applicant or registrant or who otherwise has the authority to act as the senior executive officer of an applicant or registrant.
Manager’s name
Business name of each of the manager’s employers during the preceding 10 years.
Business address of each employer
Manager’s occupation at each of his/her employers
Offices held, if any, at each employer
Dates of employment at each employer
Responsibilities at each employer
Financial Statements – Submit financial statements for the applicant that are dated not more than 13 months prior to the date of this application. The financial statements must be prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles and audited by an independent certified public accountant.
Working Capital Documentation – If the applicant’s balance sheet does not disclose working capital, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles, of at least $100,000, the applicant must submit a surety bond
In order to qualify for small operations registration, the PEO/PEG must be registered as a PEO/PEG in another state, cannot maintain an office in Wisconsin, cannot solicit clients that are in Wisconsin, and cannot have more than 50 employees performing services for Wisconsin clients on any given day. A registrant that holds a small operations credential does not need to maintain a surety bond or submit audited financial statements to the Department of Financial Institutions on an annual basis.
List of States where Applicant Operated in the Previous 5 Years – The list must include the following:
Names of all states in which applicant has operated
The name the applicant used to conduct business in each state
Dates of operation in each state
Trade name(s)/DBA(s), if any, used by the applicant in each state
Address of applicant in each state
Name of any predecessor business entities of the applicant in each state
Name of any successor business entities of the applicant in each state (if known)
Statement of Ownership – The statement must identify the name and business experience of each owner who has a controlling interest in the applicant. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the ownership interest of an applicant or registrant.
Statement of Management – The statement must identify the name and business experience of each manager who has a controlling interest in the applicant. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who serves as president or chief executive officer of an applicant or registrant or who otherwise has the authority to act as the senior executive officer of an applicant or registrant.
If the applicant does not meet the working capital requirement, a bond of at least $100,000 must be submitted. However, if the applicant’s financial statement discloses negative working capital, the bond must be increased in an amount that is sufficient to cover the amount of the deficit. For example, if the applicant has working capital of -$110,000, a $110,000 bond would need to be submitted to the department.
List of States where Applicant Operated in the Previous 5 Years – The list must include the following:
Names of all states in which applicant has operated
The name the applicant used to conduct business in each state
Dates of operation in each state
Trade name(s)/DBA(s), if any, used by the applicant in each state
Address of applicant in each state
Name of any predecessor business entities of the applicant in each state
Name of any successor business entities of the applicant in each state (if known)
Statement of Ownership – The statement must identify each owner who has a controlling interest in the applicant and must provide the following bulleted information for each owner. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the ownership interest of an applicant or registrant.
Owner’s name
Business name of each of the owner’s employers during the preceding 10 years.
Business address of each employer
Owner’s occupation at each of his/her employers
Offices held, if any, at each employer
Dates of employment at each employer
Responsibilities at each employer
Statement of Management – The statement must identify each manager who has a controlling interest in the applicant and must provide the following bulleted information for each manager. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who serves as president or chief executive officer of an applicant or registrant or who otherwise has the authority to act as the senior executive officer of an applicant or registrant.
Manager’s name
Business name of each of the manager’s employers during the preceding 10 years.
Business address of each employer
Manager’s occupation at each of his/her employers
Offices held, if any, at each employer
Dates of employment at each employer
Responsibilities at each employer
Financial Statements – Submit financial statements for the applicant that are dated not more than 13 months prior to the date of this application. The financial statements must be prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles and audited by an independent certified public accountant.
Working Capital Documentation – If the applicant’s balance sheet does not disclose working capital, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles, of at least $100,000, the applicant must submit a surety bond
In order to qualify for small operations registration, the PEO/PEG must be registered as a PEO/PEG in another state, cannot maintain an office in Wisconsin, cannot solicit clients that are in Wisconsin, and cannot have more than 50 employees performing services for Wisconsin clients on any given day. A registrant that holds a small operations credential does not need to maintain a surety bond or submit audited financial statements to the Department of Financial Institutions on an annual basis.
List of States where Applicant Operated in the Previous 5 Years – The list must include the following:
Names of all states in which applicant has operated
The name the applicant used to conduct business in each state
Dates of operation in each state
Trade name(s)/DBA(s), if any, used by the applicant in each state
Address of applicant in each state
Name of any predecessor business entities of the applicant in each state
Name of any successor business entities of the applicant in each state (if known)
Statement of Ownership – The statement must identify the name and business experience of each owner who has a controlling interest in the applicant. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the ownership interest of an applicant or registrant.
Statement of Management – The statement must identify the name and business experience of each manager who has a controlling interest in the applicant. “Controlling Interest” is defined as meaning a person who serves as president or chief executive officer of an applicant or registrant or who otherwise has the authority to act as the senior executive officer of an applicant or registrant.
Pursuant to s. 202.11(7), Stats., a professional fund-raiser is a person who, for compensation, solicits in Wisconsin or employs, engages, or provides, directly or indirectly, another person who is paid to solicit. Professional fund-raiser does not include:
an attorney, investment counselor, or employee of a financial institution who, in the normal course of his or her work as an attorney, investment counselor, or employee of a financial institution, advises a person to make a charitable donation a bona fide employee, volunteer, wholly-owned subsidiary, or salaried officer of a charitable organization an employee of a temporary help agency who is placed with a charitable organization a bona fide employee of a professional fundraiser that is registered in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Professional Fundraiser Registration
Agency:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Charitable Organizations and Fund Raisers Section
Bond Requirements:
$5,000 for fundraisers that do not have custody of contributions and $20,000 for fundraisers that do have custody of contributions.
A professional fund-raiser is required by ss. 202.14(3) and (4), Stats., to file a completed solicitation notice and copies of all contracts with the department before performing services under a contract with a charitable organization which is required to be registered under s. 202.12(1), Stats. If the applicant does not currently have a contract with a charitable organization that is required to be registered in Wisconsin, please so indicate in the cover letter you submit with the application.
File a solicitation notice prior to the start of the performance of a contract with a charity.
Notes:
The contract must include all of the following:
The name of the professional fund-raiser.
The name of the charitable organization.
The beginning and expiration dates of the contract.
The terms of the contract, including a clear description of the services to be performed by the professional fund-raiser.
A clear statement of the financial arrangement between the professional fund-raiser and the charitable organization, including, if applicable, a statement of all of the following:
The percentage or dollar amount of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization that shall be paid to, or retained by, the charitable organization.
The percentage or dollar amount of the total funds collected on behalf of the charitable organization that shall be paid to the professional fund-raiser or any other person for purposes other than the exclusive benefit of the charitable organization's charitable purposes.
The fixed fee, if any, to be received by the professional fund-raiser.
All contractual expenses to be incurred by the professional fund-raiser but charged to the charitable organization. This list of expenses shall contain specific dollar amounts or projected estimates of these costs.
The costs per unit for the services to be provided and the projected number of units to be provided.
The signature of an owner or principal officer of the professional fund-raiser and the signatures of 2 authorized officers, directors, or trustees of the charitable organization.
Financial Reporting
Agency Fee:
$0
Due:
Within 90 days after the close of a fundraising contract and by the anniversary of the signing of a contract lasting more than 1 year.
Notes:
A final accounting of each fundraising event should be kept for 3 years and presented upon request.
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