Steadworthy

As of 2026-07-23 · verified against primary sources

Maine charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyMaine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) — Charitable Solicitations Act program
Initial fee$20
Renewal fee$20
Renewal / report dueNovember 30, annually
Filing channelElectronic filing available

Who must register

Maine generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) — Charitable Solicitations Act program before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Maine residents as well as local ones.

9 M.R.S. § 5004(1) · official source

How to register in Maine

  1. 01Apply for a charitable-organization license with the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) — Maine licenses, it doesn't just register, and the license is approval-gated: an organization may not solicit before its license is issued. File at least 30 days before soliciting, via OPOR's online licensing portal, with federal tax-exempt documentation attached; the Unified Registration Statement is not accepted. Fees are $20 initial and $20 renewal (set by rule under a $200 statutory cap).9 M.R.S. § 5004(1) (file at least 30 days before soliciting; § 5004(1)(A)
  2. 02Every Maine charity license expires November 30 annually regardless of fiscal year — renew by then with the annual fund-raising activity report. A 90-day late-renewal window follows, with a $50 late fee; audits and 990s are provided on request only, not with the filing. Religious-purpose organizations are outside the chapter entirely — Maine's definition of 'charitable organization' excludes them, which is why the exemption list has no religious entry.9 M.R.S. § 5004(4) (November 30 expiry), § 5004(6) (90-day late-renewal window), § 5005-B (annual fund-raising activity report), § 5005-A (financials on requ…

Form ME-ONLINE-APP (initial registration)

Charitable Organization License Application (online)

9 M.R.S. s. 5004(3) (application content list (A)-(S), sworn/affirmed by the principal officer); 02-041 C.M.R. ch. 10 s. 5(10) ($20, 1 yr; filing 2025-212 am… · official form

Form ME-AFAR (annual renewal)

Annual Fundraising Activity Report for Charitable Organization

9 M.R.S. s. 5004(4)-(5) (renewal = AFAR + disciplinary/court disclosures + changes; expires Nov 30); s. 5005-B (AFAR contents; may not contract with an unlic… · official form

Exemptions we check for

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

If you use a paid fundraiser

Maine's small-organization exemption is unusually generous — under $35,000 in contributions OR 35 or fewer contributors per calendar year, disjunctive — but only without a professional solicitor; hiring one defeats it (and the membership-solicitation exemption too). Professional solicitors hold their own OPOR license; fund-raising counsel and commercial co-venturer licensing was repealed in 2013–14.

9 M.R.S. § 5006(1)(D) ($35,000/35-contributor disjunctive exemption, no professional solicitor), (1)(A) (membership exemption, no professional solicitor); § …

If you haven't registered yet

Maine backs its licensing scheme with criminal law: an intentional violation of the chapter is a Class D crime. The administrative side is mild — a $50 late fee after November 30 and a 90-day window to renew late before the license lapses outright.

9 M.R.S. § 5014 (intentional violation is a Class D crime); § 5004(6) (90-day late-renewal window; $50 late fee per OPOR's current schedule). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Maine? Check free.

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

Maine registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Maine?
Yes. Maine generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) — Charitable Solicitations Act program before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Maine residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Maine?
The initial registration fee is $20, and renewal is $20. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Maine charitable registration renewal due?
November 30, annually. 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 Maine?
Maine 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.

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

Nearby states

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

Citations

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