Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration Compliance Checklist

Florida’s Solicitation of Contributions Act

Chapter 496 of the Florida Statutes — the Solicitation of Contributions Act — governs charitable fundraising in Florida. FDACS administers the law through its Division of Consumer Services. The public-facing tool is Check-A-Charity, where donors can verify any registered organization at csapp.fdacs.gov.

Florida’s approach is consumer-protection-driven: registration, financial disclosure, professional solicitor regulation, and aggressive enforcement of disclosure rules. Unlike states that focus on governance (e.g., New York’s NPRA), Florida focuses on transparency at the point of solicitation.

This checklist covers initial registration on Form CH-14, the small organization exemption, annual renewal, professional solicitor rules, and the recordkeeping needed to avoid the most common enforcement triggers.

Step 1: Determine Whether Registration Is Required

• Confirm “solicitation” applies. Florida defines solicitation broadly: any oral or written request for a contribution, including direct mail, online appeals targeting Florida residents, telephone, in-person, and event-based fundraising.
• Identify if the small charitable organization exemption applies:
• Gross contributions $25,000 or less for the fiscal year, AND
• No compensation paid to any officer, employee, fundraiser, or solicitor (including independent contractors).
• Both conditions must be met.
• Identify other statutory exemptions in Section 496.403, F.S., including: religious organizations, certain educational institutions, organizations that solicit only from members, and federally chartered organizations such as the Red Cross.
• No exemption is automatic. Even exempt organizations should file the annual exemption statement to maintain a clean record.