We just got our 501(c)(3). What do we have to register for?

What your determination letter does and doesn't cover

It confirms you're a 501(c)(3) for federal tax purposes. It does not register you with any state to solicit donations — that's a separate, state-by-state thing. Treating the two as one is the most common early mistake, and it's an easy one to fix once you know.

Home state first, then where you solicit

Start at home: register (or confirm an exemption) in your own state before your first public ask. The first out-of-state obligation appears when you start soliciting another state's residents — often the moment an online campaign or a mailing reaches them. You add states as your fundraising reaches them, not all at once.

What small organizations are usually exempt from

Good news for a new org: several states exempt organizations below a revenue or contributions threshold, so early on you may not need to register in some of them at all — though a few require a filing to claim the exemption. Checking first can keep your list short and your costs near zero.

The annual rhythm

Year one is registrations. Every year after is renewals — each state on its own schedule, most tied to your fiscal year end. Nothing dramatic, but easy to forget, and a lapse means re-registering. This is the part worth putting on autopilot early.

Common questions

We just got our 501(c)(3). What do we have to register for?

Federal tax-exempt status is separate from state charitable-solicitation registration. Before your first public fundraising ask, register (or confirm an exemption) in your home state, then in any other state whose residents you solicit. Your determination letter proves you're a 501(c)(3); it doesn't register you to solicit anywhere.

Do brand-new nonprofits have to register everywhere right away?

No. Register where you actually solicit, starting with your home state. Many new organizations solicit locally at first, so the list is short — and small organizations are exempt in several states under revenue thresholds. It grows as your fundraising does, which is exactly when to add states.

What comes due every year that nobody warns us about?

Renewals. Each state you register in renews on its own schedule — most computed from your fiscal year end — and a missed renewal lapses the registration. The first year is registrations; every year after is remembering to renew, which is the quiet work Monitor exists to carry.