Commercial Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes

Registration is required before soliciting any funds in California for charitable purposes, or before January 15th of each year.

Yes. A commercial fundraiser must file an annual financial report for each campaign conducted for each charity during a calendar year. The report must be signed both by the commercial fundraiser and charity officials.

There are three different anuual financial reporting forms for commercial fundraisers. Use the form that is appropriate for the type of solicitation you conducted:

• Form CT-2CF for Commercial Fundraisers
• Form CT-2TCF for Thrift Store Operations
• Form CT-2VCF for Vehicle Donation Programs

Annual financial reports must be filed by January 30th of each year.

Under Government Code section 12586.1, in addition to a registration fee, a commercial fundraiser may be assessed a late fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for each month or part of the month after the date on which the registration statement or financial report were due to be filed if:

• The commercial fundraiser exists and operates in California without being registered.
• The commercial fundraiser solicits contributions in California without being registered or, if applicable, bonded.
• The commercial fundraiser fails to correct the deficiencies in its registration or annual report within 30 days of receipt of written notice of those deficiencies.

The Attorney General has the option of imposing penalties instead of late fees under Government Code section 12591.1.

The written contract must contain or state:

• The legal name and address of the organizations as registered with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, unless the charitable organization is exempt from registration.
• The charitable purpose for which the solicitation campaign or event is being conducted.
• The obligations of both the commercial fundraiser and charitable organization.
• If the commercial fundraiser will be paid a fixed fee, the amount of the fee and a good faith estimate of what percentage of the total contributions the fee will comprise. The contract must clearly set forth the assumptions on which the good faith estimate is based.
• If the commercial fundraiser will be paid a percentage fee, the percentage of total contributions that will be given to the charitable organization. If the solicitation involves the sale of goods or services, or sale of admission to an event, the contract must state the percentage of the purchase price the charitable organization will retain. The percentage must be calculated by subtracting from total contributions and sales receipts not only the commercial fundraiser's fee, but also any additional fundraising costs the charitable organization must pay.
• The effective and termination dates of the contract, and the date the solicitation will start.
• A provision that states that all contributions received by the commercial fundraiser will, within five working days of receipt, either be deposited in a bank account solely controlled by the charitable organization or delivered in person to the charitable organization.
• A statement that the charitable organization will exercise control and approve the content and frequency of any solicitation.
• The maximum amount the commercial fundraiser plans to pay individuals or entities to secure any person’s attendance at, or approval, sponsorship or endorsement of, a fundraising event.
• Provisions specifying that the charitable organization has a right to cancel the contract without any liability or expense, 10 days after the date the contract is executed. After the initial 10-day cancellation period, the organization may cancel the contract with 30-days notice and payment for services provided by the commercial fundraiser for up to 30 days after the notice is served.
• Provisions specifying that after the initial 10-day period, the charitable organization has a right to cancel the contract for any reason without liability if the commercial fundraiser or its agents make material misrepresentations, harm the charitable organization’s reputation, or are found to have been convicted of a crime arising from charitable solicitations.
• The contract must be signed by the commercial fundraiser’s authorized contracting officer and an official of the charitable organization who is authorized to sign the contract by the governing board of directors.

For more detailed information about the mandatory contract requirements, see Government Code sections 12599, subdivision (i) and 12599.3.

No, a copy of the contract does not need to be submitted unless specifically requested by the Attorney General's Office.

Yes. Charitable organizations have the right to cancel a contract if any of the following applies:

• The commercial fundraiser is not registered with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
• Within 10 days of the execution (signing) of the contract. Charitable organizations in California have the right to cancel the contract without cost, penalty or liability for a period of 10 days following the date the contract is executed. A duplicate of the notice of cancellation should be sent to the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
• After the initial 10-day cancellation period, charitable organizations may cancel their contracts with commercial fundraisers provided they give a 30-day notice. This cancellation may be for any reason and the statutory right to cancel overrides any contradictory language in the contract, but the charitable organization may be responsible for services provided by the commercial fundraiser up to 30 days after the notice is served.
• After the initial 10-day period, a charitable organization has the right to cancel a contract with a commercial fundraiser without liability if the commercial fundraiser or its agent: makes material misrepresentations during a solicitation, harms the charitable organization’s reputation during a solicitation, or is found to have been convicted of a crime arising from fundraising activities.

[See Government Code sections 12599.3]

Under Government Code section 12599, commercial fundraisers for charitable purposes are required to file a notice of intent to solicit for charitable purposes, not less than 10 working days before the start of each solicitation campaign, event or service. For campaigns to aid victims of emergency hardship or disasters, the notice must be filed not later than at the start of solicitation.

See Form CT-10CF, Notice of Intent to Solicit for Charitable Purposes, available for download on this webpage.

No, it can only solicit on behalf of a charitable organization that is registered or exempt from registration with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. To verify if the charitable organization is registered or exempt, please use the Registry Search Tool.

The following acts are prohibited:

• Operating in violation of the Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act [Govt. Code sec. 12580 et seq.], regulations and orders issued by the Attorney General.
• Committing unfair or deceptive acts, or engaging in fraudulent conduct.
• Using any name, symbol, emblem or other information that falsely suggests or implies a contribution is for a particular charitable organization.
• Falsely telling donors that a contribution is for a charitable organization or will be used for a charitable purpose.
• Telling donors that a person sponsors, endorses or approves a charitable solicitation when that person has not agreed in writing to have their name used for such a purpose.
• Misrepresenting that goods or services have endorsements, sponsorships, approvals, characteristics or qualities they do not have.
• Misrepresenting that a person has endorsements, approvals, sponsorships, status or affiliations they do not have.
• Misrepresenting that registration with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers constitutes an endorsement or approval by the Attorney General.
• Representing that a charitable organization will receive an amount greater than the reasonably estimated net proceeds from a solicitation campaign or event.
• Issuing cards, stickers, emblems, plates or other items that can be used for display on a motor vehicle, and which suggest an affiliation with, or endorsement by, public safety personnel or a group of public safety personnel.
• Representing that any portion of contributions solicited by a charitable organization will be given to another charitable organization unless the second charitable organization provides prior written consent for such use of its name.
• Representing that tickets to events will be donated for use by another person or entity unless: the charitable organization or commercial fundraiser has obtained written commitments from charitable organizations that they will accept a specific number of donated tickets; and the donated tickets, when combined with other ticket donations, do exceed either the ticket donations received from charitable organizations or the total capacity of the event site.

[See Government Code sections 12599, 12599.6]

Commercial fundraisers must keep records for at least 10 years following each solicitation campaign, and the records must contain:

• The date and amount of each cash contribution.
• The date, amount, name and address of each non-cash contributor.
• The name and address of each employee or agent involved.
• Documentation of all revenue received and expenses incurred.
• For each account into which the fundraiser deposited revenue, the account number and name and location of the bank or other financial institution in which the account was maintained.

[See Government Code sections 12599.7]

The Online Filing Service allows charitable organizations and fundraisers to submit filings to the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. Commercial Fundraisers can use the Online Filing Service to submit annual registration filings with supporting documents and fees (e.g., Forms CT-1CF, CT-4CF, CT-8CF, and CT-9CF as applicable), to submit annual financial reports (Forms CT-2CF, CT-2TCF, CT-2VCF as applicable), and to submit notices of intent to solicit for charitable purposes (Form CT-10CF). 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.

If your organization has an existing registration with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, 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. Once linked (which may take hours), the organization will appear under My Registrations.

If you do not have the organization’s registration code, log in to the Online Filing Service, navigate to the My Registrations section, and select “Click here if you need help accessing your registration.” From there, submit a support request and provide information about the organization, including any identifying information you have available (such as the FEIN), along with your role with the organization. The Registry of Charities and Fundraisers will review your request and assist you with gaining access to the organization's registration record, if appropriate.

Note: For security purposes, registration codes are only provided to individuals who are authorized to access and manage the organization’s record.

For fundraising counsels registered in 2026, an Online Filing Service registration code letter is being mailed to the registrant’s address on record in August or September 2026 with the code.

If you cannot locate your registration code, you may request assistance through the Online Filing Service.

To request assistance, log in to the Online Filing Service and navigate to the My Registrations section. Select “Click here if you need help accessing your registration” and submit a support request. Be sure to provide the organization's name, any identifying information available (such as the FEIN), and your relationship to the organization.

The Registry of Charities and Fundraisers will review your request and, if appropriate, assist you with accessing the organization’s registration record or obtaining a new registration code.

Note: For security purposes, registration codes are only provided to individuals who are authorized to access and manage the organization’s record.

Once logged into the Online Filing Service, select the “Start a New Registration” button, and then select the Professional Fundraiser registration type.  Then the Online Filing Service asks, “Which type of professional fundraiser are you applying or renewing for?” Select Commercial Fundraiser.”

If you are renewing the registration of a commercial fundraiser, navigate to the Professional Fundraisers section, and select the “File an Annual Renewal” button.

If your organization’s registration does not show as a registration to renew, ensure your Online Filing Service user account is linked to your organization’s registration record. For instructions on linking a registration record, see Frequently Asked Question 2. If your Online Filing Service user account is linked to your organization’s registration record, please contact the Professional Fundraisers Program for further assistance.

The $500 initial and renewal registration fee must be paid at the time of filing. The Online Filing Service accepts secure online payments via credit card or Automated Clearing House (ACH), which is payment using the organization's checking account.

No. Registration fees are not refundable, as all Form CT-1CF filings are processed even if a filing is rejected or submitted in error. This includes duplicate filings, incomplete submissions, or filings submitted by organizations that are already registered. Please confirm your organization's registration status before submitting Form CT-1CF and paying the registration fee.

Filing a complete Form CT-1CF starts the registration process. Filings are reviewed to determine whether a registration should be granted. A registration number is assigned by the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers to each registered commercial fundraiser and registration is effective for the remainder of the calendar year. Registration renewal occurs on an annual basis thereafter through the filing of Form CT-1CF.  The commercial fundraiser will continue to use its registration number that was issued in the initial registration process for the renewal registration process.  See Government Code section 12598, subdivision (e)(1), and California Code of Regulations, title 11, sections 339 to 341 for when registration may be refused, suspended or revoked.

Filings are processed based on the date of receipt, provided the filing is complete. Once approved, the Registry emails a confirmation of registration with the organization’s registration number and registration code. If the filing is incomplete or there are additional questions, the Registry emails the organization a notice with the information or documents requested.

Applicants can review the status of a filing in the Online Filing Service. Once logged in, go to the My Submissions section. Under the Initial Applications for Registration heading, check both the Submitted and Action Required tabs.

The registration code can be used to link your registration as a commercial fundraiser with an Online Filing Service user account. Your registration code is not publicly available. Keep it secure, and do not share it with anyone, unless they are authorized to sign and submit filings in the Online Filing Service on your behalf (under penalty of perjury). Under no circumstances can a registration code be used to submit unauthorized filings, or to permit one registrant to submit filings for another registrant.

Once logged into the Online Filing Service, navigate to the Professional Fundraisers section and select the “File a Notice of Intent” button.  Then the Online Filing Service asks, “Which type of professional fundraiser are you filing for?” Select “Commercial Fundraiser.”

When completing Form CT-10CF, you are asked to provide information on the charitable organization you are reporting on. The state charity registration number can be obtained by looking up the charitable organization’s record in the Registry Search Tool. This is the registration number assigned by the Registry to the charitable organization, and typically begins with CT. It is not the Entity ID.  

Once logged into the Online Filing Service, navigate to the Professional Fundraisers section and select the “File an Annual Report” button. Annual financial report(s) that are available for filing are listed. All listed annual financial reports must be submitted.

If no annual financial report is listed, ensure your Online Filing Service user account is linked to your organization’s registration record. For instructions on linking a registration record, see Frequently Asked Question 2. 

If no annual financial report is listed and your Online Filing Service user account is linked to your organization’s registration record, please contact the Professional Fundraisers Program for further assistance.

Yes, an annual financial report may be amended. In the Online Filing Service, navigate to My Submissions, and then select the Annual Reports and Submitted Tabs. Select the listed annual financial report filing you would like to amend, and then the “Amend Submission” button.

Registrants can review the status of a filing in the Online Filing Service. Once logged in, navigate to the My Submissions section, and select the type of filing (e.g. Initial Applications, Renewals, Annual Reports, Notices of Intent). Then check both the Submitted and Action Required tabs.

To view a filing in the Online Filing Service, after logging in, navigate to the My Submissions section, and select the type of filing (e.g., Initial Applications, Renewals, Annual Reports, Notices of Intent). Under the Submitted tab, the submitted filing is listed, even if it is pending processing. An online version of the filing is viewable.

To view an accepted filing in the Registry Search Tool, look up your organization’s record, and in the Registrations section, select your organization’s registration number to view registration-specific filings. Then select the type of filing (e.g., Initial Applications, Renewals, Annual Reports, Notices of Intent) for an online version of the filing. Select the Correspondence tab for an official PDF copy of the filing and other notifications.

Yes. You can save your progress at any point using the Save as Draft option and return later to complete your filing. In the Online Filing Service, drafts are saved in the My Submissions section, under the Created tab for the type of filing (e.g. Initial Applications, Renewals, Annual Reports, Notices of Intent).

Submitting a duplicate filing may result in processing delays, rejected filings, and duplicate records. If your organization is already registered, has a registration in progress, or has previously submitted forms or fees, do not submit a new registration through the Online Filing Service.

An authorized agent can sign and file Forms CT-1CF and CT-10CF on behalf of the registrant.  An authorized officer of the registrant is required to sign and file Forms CT-2CF, CT-2TCF, or CT-2VCF. Each individual is required to sign through their own Online Filing User account.

Forms CT-2CF, CT-2TCF, or CT-2VCF require the signature of two directors or officers of the charitable organization for verification.  In the Online Filing Service, once an annual financial report is ready to be signed by the charitable organization’s directors or officers, the directors or officers should navigate to the My Submissions section, and then select the Annual Reports and Awaiting Signature tabs.