Steadworthy

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

Maryland charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyMaryland Secretary of State — Charitable Organization Division
Initial fee$0–$300, tiered on contributions
Renewal fee$0–$300, tiered on contributions
Renewal / report due6 months after fiscal year end
Filing channelElectronic filing available

Who must register

Maryland generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Maryland Secretary of State — Charitable Organization Division before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Maryland residents as well as local ones.

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-401(a) · official source

How to register in Maryland

  1. 01Register with the Maryland Secretary of State's Charitable Organization Division and RECEIVE its registration letter before soliciting — Maryland is an approval-family state; the letter, not the filing, is the gate. File Form COR-92 via Maryland OneStop; a parent and each Maryland affiliate register separately. Fees tier on charitable contributions from the public ($0 under $25,000 up to $300 at $500,001+, and $50 even under $25,000 if a professional solicitor is used); government money and unsolicited gifts don't count toward the base.Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-401(a) (register and receive a registration letter before soliciting), § 6-401(c) (affiliates register separately), § 6-407 (fee tier…
  2. 02File the Annual Update each year: statutorily due 6 months after fiscal year end, but a currently registered organization is automatically extended to the 15th day of the 11th month — no IRS Form 8868 or request needed. Attach an independent CPA audit at $1,000,000+ in contributions or a CPA review from $400,000 (thresholds raised 2026-07-01 by Ch. 394, Acts of 2026; earlier years used $750k/$300k).Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-408(b) (6-month annual report); SOS Annual Update instructions (automatic extension to 15th day of 11th month); Ch. 394, Acts of 2026…

Form COR-92 (initial registration)

Registration Statement for Charitable Organizations (COR-92)

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-401(a) — initial registration with the Secretary of State is Form COR-92; filed via the Maryland OneStop portal (paper/email also acc… · official form

Form MD-ANNUAL-UPDATE (annual renewal)

Annual Update of Registration

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-408(b) — annual report within 6 months after fiscal year end; SOS Annual Update instructions grant currently registered organizations… · official form

Form MD-EXEMPT-NOTICE (registration)

Exempt Organization Fund-Raising Notice

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-102(c)(ii)1, (ii)4; SOS Exempt Organization Fund-Raising Notice instructions (8-month annual refiling is administrative, not statutor… · official form

Exemptions we check for

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

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

Every Maryland exemption in Bus. Reg. § 6-102(c) — religious, members-only, under-$25,000, named-individual, foundation-funded — is conditioned on NOT using a professional solicitor; hiring one means registering regardless. Even below $25,000, using a professional solicitor turns the $0 fee into $50.

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-102(c) (exemptions conditioned on no professional solicitor); § 6-407 ($50 fee under $25,000 when a professional solicitor is used).

If you haven't registered yet

Maryland's late fee is $25 for each month or part of one, assessed beginning 60 days after the 6-month annual-report date or the end of an extension. Soliciting before receiving the Secretary of State's registration letter is prohibited outright — registration isn't effective on filing.

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 6-407(c) ($25/month late fee, assessed 60 days after the due date or extension end); § 6-401(a) (no solicitation before the registratio… · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Maryland? Check free.

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Maryland registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Maryland Secretary of State — Charitable Organization Division before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Maryland residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Maryland?
The initial registration fee is $0–$300, tiered on contributions, and renewal is $0–$300, tiered on contributions. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Maryland charitable registration renewal due?
6 months 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 Maryland?
Maryland recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. At least one of them still requires a filing to claim it — an exemption is not always automatic. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.
Does Maryland require audited financial statements?
Maryland requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a review above $400,000 in contributions. 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 Maryland charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

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