Steadworthy

As of 2026-07-22 · verified against primary sources

California charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyCalifornia Attorney General — Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Initial fee$50
Renewal fee$25–$1,200, tiered on revenue
Renewal / report due4 months and 15 days after fiscal year end

Who must register

California generally requires charitable organizations to register with the California Attorney General — Registry of Charities and Fundraisers before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting California residents as well as local ones.

Govt. Code § 12585(a) · official source

How to register in California

  1. 01File Form CT-1 with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers within 30 days of first receiving charitable assets, attaching your articles of incorporation, bylaws, and IRS determination letter. The initial registration fee is $50.Govt. Code § 12585(a) (30-day, asset-triggered); 11 CCR § 306(a)(1) ($50 initial fee).
  2. 02Renew every year with Form RRF-1, due four months and fifteen days after your fiscal year end (May 15 for calendar-year filers). The renewal fee is tiered on total revenue; organizations under the Form 990-EZ threshold also file Form CT-TR-1.11 CCR § 305 (RRF-1 due date); § 306(a)(2) (tiered renewal fee); § 301(c) (CT-TR-1 for small filers).

Form CT-1 (initial registration)

Initial Registration Form (CT-1)

Govt. Code § 12585(a); 11 CCR § 300 — initial registration is made on Form CT-1, filed with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers with articles, bylaws, … · official form

Form RRF-1 (annual renewal)

Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report (RRF-1)

11 CCR § 301, § 305 — annual renewal is made on Form RRF-1; organizations under the Form 990-EZ filing threshold also file Form CT-TR-1. · official form

Exemptions we check for

The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

California registers every charity regardless of whether it uses a paid fundraiser, but adds duties around one: a commercial fundraiser must itself register with the Attorney General, there must be a WRITTEN CONTRACT between the charity and the commercial fundraiser for each solicitation campaign (with statutorily required terms, signed by both, and available for Attorney General inspection — it is not filed with the Registry), and the commercial fundraiser must file a Notice of Intent (Form CT-10CF) with the Registry at least 10 working days before each campaign begins.

Govt. Code § 12599 (commercial fundraisers must register); § 12599(i) (written contract per campaign, required contents, available for AG inspection); § 1259…

If you haven't registered yet

California can require a delinquent organization to register and file its overdue reports and may assess a late fee; the Attorney General may also suspend or revoke registration. Late registration is remediable — an organization gets current by registering and filing what is due.

Govt. Code § 12586.1 (civil penalties for failure to file/register); 11 CCR § 312 (must be registered and in good standing to operate or solicit). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in California? Check free.

Free. No account. Built from public records. Informational, not legal advice.

California registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in California?
Yes. California generally requires charitable organizations to register with the California Attorney General — Registry of Charities and Fundraisers before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting California residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in California?
The initial registration fee is $50, and renewal is $25–$1,200, tiered on revenue. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the California charitable registration renewal due?
4 months and 15 days after fiscal year end. The date is computed from the organization's own fiscal year end under the rule this page cites, so it differs between charities.
Are any charities exempt from registering in California?
California recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.
Does California require audited financial statements?
California requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a audit above $2,000,000 in gross revenue. Every threshold and its citation are listed on this page.

Related: registration fees by state · renewal deadlines by state · exemptions · all state registration requirements

Nearby states

Fundraising rarely stops at a border — where California charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.