Florida Nonprofits: Are You Registered to Raise Funds?
Did you know your charity or a sponsoring agency must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) before your nonprofit organization engages in solicitation activity in Florida?
For-profits and professional fundraising consultants must register with FDACS as well. (If you’re considering using a consultant, verify he or she is registered before signing a contract.)
For connected organizations, both the sponsored and sponsoring group must register. It’s a simple application and registration remains valid for a year.
Types of revenue that trigger the registration requirement include:
- Public contributions;
- In-kind non-cash items;
- Related organization receipts, unless it’s already registered;
- Net from fundraising events;
- Net program service revenues, unless from a government contract;
- Royalties;
- Net gaming revenue;
- Net from sale of donated merchandise;
- Net from sale of inventory.
Registration isn’t required if the revenue types below are the only funds you collect:
- Funds from Sec. 501c3 organizations;
- Membership dues;
- Direct revenue from a governmental agency, whether a grant, sale or services;
- Investment income.
Registration fees vary from $10 to $400 based on revenue ranges from less than $25,000 to more than $10,000,000.
For more information and the registration form, go to www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services/Business-Services/Charitable-Organizations.
Let us know if we can help with the registration process or compliance issues. Connect with us at Lynn@OnlineStewardship.com or 904-398-4747.