Georgia Charitable Solicitation Registration Guide

Georgia is one of the simpler state charitable registration regimes administratively — a flat $35 fee, no audit requirement, and a straightforward renewal process. The complexity lies in the exemptions, particularly the religious-organization exemption that catches affiliated foundations more often than any other category.

What Georgia’s Charitable Solicitations Act requires

Georgia’s Charitable Solicitations Act (O.C.G.A. § 43-17-1 et seq.) requires any charitable organization that solicits contributions from Georgia residents to register with the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division before soliciting. The requirement applies to:

• Nonprofit organizations incorporated in Georgia
• Out-of-state organizations that solicit Georgia residents by any means
• Organizations that conduct fundraising events in Georgia
• Organizations that use online campaigns accessible to Georgia donors

Georgia follows the principle that solicitation is the trigger, not presence. An organization headquartered outside Georgia that sends a direct mail appeal to Georgia donors is soliciting in Georgia.

Who is exempt

Georgia’s exemptions under O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9 include:

The affiliated-foundation trap: The religious-organization exemption is the most commonly misapplied. Georgia exempts the religious organization itself from registration. A separately incorporated foundation — even one wholly controlled by the religious organization and sharing its name — is a different legal entity. If the foundation solicits contributions independently, it must register with the Secretary of State. This catches foundations affiliated with megachurches, denominational bodies, and mission organizations with separate legal structures.

Renewal deadline: 90 days after fiscal year end

The 90-day window is the same as Virginia’s and shorter than most states. Georgia does not provide automatic extensions; organizations that need more time should contact the Secretary of State’s office directly.

Fee structure

Georgia’s fee structure is simple compared to most states:

• Charitable organizations: $35 flat fee (no revenue tiering)
• Professional fundraisers: Separate registration with its own fee schedule
• Commercial co-venturers: Separate registration required

There is no fee waiver for small organizations that are below the exemption threshold but choose to register voluntarily.

No audit requirement: what this means

Georgia stands out as one of the few states that does not require audited or CPA-reviewed financial statements at any revenue level. The renewal form asks for financial information (revenue, expenses, assets), but does not require CPA attestation.

This does not mean organizations should forego audits for other reasons:

• Federal Single Audit requirements apply if federal expenditures exceed $1,000,000 (raised from $750,000 for fiscal years ending September 30, 2025 or later)
• Grant funders increasingly require audited statements as a grant condition
• Board fiduciary duty may require audit or review regardless of state registration rules

The absence of an audit requirement in Georgia’s charitable registration process is not a proxy for a clean audit bill of health with other stakeholders.

Professional fundraiser requirements

Professional fundraisers must register independently with the Georgia Secretary of State before conducting any solicitation campaign. The charitable organization must:

1. Verify the fundraiser’s Georgia registration before contracting
2. File a copy of the contract with the Secretary of State before the campaign begins
3. Disclose all professional fundraiser relationships in the annual renewal
4. Ensure the fundraiser meets Georgia’s surety bond requirements

Commercial co-venturers — for-profit businesses that tie product sales to a charitable donation — must also register separately and file their contracts before any promotional campaign.

Two separate Secretary of State obligations

Georgia nonprofits incorporated in the state face two separate filings with the Secretary of State:

Corporate annual registration — Due April 1 each year; $30 fee. Maintains corporate existence. Filed through the business filing portal under the organization’s corporate record.

Charitable solicitation registration renewal — Due 90 days after fiscal year end; $35 fee. Maintains solicitation authority. Filed through the charitable organizations section.

Both operate through the Secretary of State but are administered separately. Allowing either to lapse has independent consequences: the corporate annual registration lapse can result in administrative dissolution; the charitable solicitation lapse can result in loss of solicitation authority and enforcement action.

Solicitation during registration review

Georgia law prohibits solicitation before a registration is approved or during a period when registration has lapsed. This is stricter than some states that allow solicitation after submitting a complete application and before receiving approval. Organizations that need to begin a campaign before renewal is formally approved should confirm current status with the Secretary of State’s office.

Multi-state context for Southeastern nonprofits

Georgia-based organizations soliciting across the Southeast commonly manage simultaneous registrations with Florida FDACS (185 days after FYE), North Carolina Secretary of State (15 days after board approval of financials), and Virginia OCRP (90 days after FYE). Georgia’s 90-day deadline is among the earlier Southeastern deadlines and should anchor the regional compliance calendar.

How GrantPipe helps

GrantPipe tracks Georgia’s 90-day charitable solicitation renewal alongside corporate annual registration, federal grant reporting, and multi-state compliance deadlines in one operating record. The system flags the March 31 deadline for calendar-year filers, surfaces the professional fundraiser disclosure checklist, and keeps the charitable solicitation status current alongside the rest of the organization’s compliance calendar. Start with a free trial to build a Georgia compliance calendar that catches the affiliated-foundation distinction before the Secretary of State does.

DEFINITION

O.C.G.A. § 43-17

Georgia's Charitable Solicitations Act. Governs the registration and oversight of charitable organizations, professional fundraisers, and commercial co-venturers soliciting in Georgia.

DEFINITION

Commercial co-venturer

A for-profit business that represents to the public that a portion of proceeds from purchases will benefit a charitable organization. Must register separately with the Georgia Secretary of State.

DEFINITION

Professional fundraiser

A person or entity paid to plan, manage, or conduct charitable solicitations in Georgia. Must register with the Secretary of State before conducting any campaign. Contracts must be filed before campaigns begin.

DEFINITION

Annual registration

Georgia nonprofit corporations' obligation to file an annual registration with the Secretary of State by April 1. Separate from charitable solicitation registration; maintains corporate existence.

DEFINITION

Religious organization exemption

An exemption under O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9 that covers the religious organization itself but not separately incorporated affiliated entities such as foundations, social service arms, or endowment funds.