Charities

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The Registry of Charities and Fundraisers has released its new Online Filing Service effective August 25, 2026. The new Online Filing Service allows registrants to submit filings and payments electronically. Charity registrants have been sent information via U.S. Mail for the new Online Filing Service. Charities are advised to retain the letter for their records as it contains an organization-specific registration code. Registrants are encouraged to review the Registry’s program pages and related Frequently Asked Questions for valuable information on how to use the new system features.

The Attorney General regulates charities and fundraisers who solicit on their behalf, such as charitable organizations, trusts, trustees, commercial fundraisers, fundraising counsel, charitable fundraising platforms, and other persons or entities that solicit or hold charitable assets. The purpose of this oversight is to protect charitable assets for their intended use and ensure that the charitable donations contributed by Californians are not misapplied and squandered through fraud or other means. The main elements of the Attorney General's regulatory program are:

  • The Charitable Trusts Section investigates and brings legal actions against charities and fundraisers that misuse charitable assets or engage in fraudulent fundraising practices and other wrongdoings. If you have a complaint about a charity or fundraiser, please visit our File a Complaint page.
  • The Registry of Charities and Fundraisers administers the statutory registration program. All charities and fundraisers are required to register and file annual financial disclosure reports with the Registry, subject to limited exceptions. The Registry does this through its various programs, such as: Initial Registration, Annual Registration Renewal, Delinquency, and Dissolution for charitable organizations, including trusts and trustees; Nonprofit Raffles for eligible nonprofit organizations; Professional Fundraisers for commercial fundraisers, fundraising counsel, and commercial coventurers; and Fundraising Platforms for charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities. The Registry also maintains the Online Filing Service for registrants to submit filings and make payments online, and the Registry Search Tool for the public to research registrants.

For more information, explore our pages and review the Attorney General’s Guide for Charities, which provides best practices in how to operate a charity in California, and helps charities and fundraisers understand their legal obligations.

The Online Filing Service allows charitable organizations and fundraisers to submit filings to the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. Use the Online Filing Service to apply for registration, complete and submit annual renewal filings, file reports and other notifications, upload required supporting documents, and pay fees online. Registrants can also respond to requests for additional information and manage their registration through the Online Filing Service.

To create an account, visit the Online Filing Service and select “Sign up now.” Enter an email address to receive a verification code, then verify your email. After that, enter your name and create a password.

For registrants with an existing registration with the Registry, link your Online Filing Service account to your organization’s registration record. If you have your organization’s registration code, navigate to the My Registrations section, and select “Don't see your registration? Click here to find it.” You will be prompted to enter the organization’s registration code and an identifying number associated with the organization, such as the FEIN, to link the registration to your account.

If you cannot locate your organization’s registration code, submit a support request in the Online Filing Service. Navigate to the My Registrations section and select “Click here if you need help accessing your registration.” The Registry will review your request and, if appropriate, assist you with accessing the organization’s registration record or obtaining a new registration code.

The Registry Search Tool allows the public to view and download a registrant’s public filings with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. For charitable organizations, these public filings include a copy of federal annual informational return (IRS Forms 990, 990-PF, and 990-EZ) initial and renewal registration forms and data (e.g., Forms CT-1, RRF-1, CT-TR-1), other documents that organizations are required to file with the Registry, and incoming and outgoing Registry correspondence. For help using our search tool and interpreting the results, review the Registry Statuses page.

This tool, along with the resources posted on the Resources page and guidance provided on our Donation Tips page, allows donors to become informed about a charity before making a decision to give.

The Attorney General's Office must be given notice of any matter involving a gift to charity, assets held in charitable trust, disposition or gifts of assets to an unnamed charitable beneficiary or property that may escheat to the State of California. For a summary of statutes that require notice to the Attorney General, please refer to the Notice Requirements. You may provide notice through the Nonprofit Transactions web page.