Steadworthy

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

New Jersey charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyNew Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Charities Registration Section (Office of the Attorney General)
Initial fee$30–$250, tiered on contributions
Renewal fee$30–$250, tiered on contributions
Renewal / report due6 months after fiscal year end
Filing channelElectronic filing available

Who must register

New Jersey generally requires charitable organizations to register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Charities Registration Section (Office of the Attorney General) before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting New Jersey residents as well as local ones.

N.J.S.A. 45:17A-23(a) · official source

How to register in New Jersey

  1. 01Register with the Attorney General's Charities Registration Section via the NJ Charities Portal before soliciting — New Jersey gives the AG a 10-business-day review window; acceptance is by lapse of that window and doesn't foreclose later action. Over $25,000 in gross contributions or using a paid professional fundraiser means the long form (CRI-150I); at or under $25,000 all-volunteer, the short form (CRI-200) — note New Jersey requires even $10,000–$25,000 all-volunteer organizations to register.N.J.S.A. 45:17A-23(a)-(b) (registration; solicitation only after the AG has had opportunity to review), 45:17A-22 (10-business-day deficiency window), 45:17A…
  2. 02Renew annually within six months after fiscal year end (a December 31 year-end renews by June 30) — long form CRI-300R, short form CRI-200. Fees run $30 (short form) to $250 (over $500,000); extensions of up to 180 days exist for good cause but only via the Portal, and organizations under $10,000 in gross contributions cannot be granted one. Over $1,000,000 in monetary donations requires an independent CPA audit — in-kind contributions related to the mission don't count toward that trigger.N.J.S.A. 45:17A-23(b) (renewal within six months of FYE; 180-day good-cause extension); N.J.A.C. 13:48-2.1 (fee schedule, eff. 2011-02-22); N.J.S.A. 45:17A-2…

Form CRI-150I (initial registration)

Long Form Initial Registration Statement (CRI-150I)

N.J.S.A. 45:17A-24(a) — long-form registration for organizations over $25,000 in gross contributions or using a paid professional fundraiser; filed via the N… · official form

Form CRI-300R (annual renewal)

Long Form Renewal Registration Statement (CRI-300R)

N.J.S.A. 45:17A-23(b), -24 — annual long-form renewal within six months after fiscal year end; filed via the NJ Charities Portal. · official form

Form CRI-200 (registration)

Short Form Registration/Renewal Statement (CRI-200)

N.J.S.A. 45:17A-25(a)(1)-(4) — short-form registration classes, including all-volunteer organizations at $25,000 or less. · official form

Exemptions we check for

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

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

Using a paid professional fundraiser forces a New Jersey charity onto the long form (CRI-150I/CRI-300R) regardless of size — the short form and its lower fee are only for all-volunteer solicitation. Fund raising counsel and independent paid fund raisers register separately with the Division at $250 a year.

N.J.S.A. 45:17A-24(a) (long form required when a paid professional fundraiser is used); N.J.A.C. 13:48-2.1 (fund raising counsel / independent paid fund rais…

If you haven't registered yet

New Jersey adds a $25 late fee when a complete filing isn't received within 30 days of the renewal deadline, and soliciting before the Attorney General has had the opportunity to review the registration statement is unlawful under the Act. The Division administers extensions strictly through the Charities Portal.

N.J.A.C. 13:48-2.1 ($25 late fee after 30 days); N.J.S.A. 45:17A-23(b) (unlawful to solicit before AG review opportunity). · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in New Jersey? Check free.

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

New Jersey registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey generally requires charitable organizations to register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs — Charities Registration Section (Office of the Attorney General) before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting New Jersey residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in New Jersey?
The initial registration fee is $30–$250, tiered on contributions, and renewal is $30–$250, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey 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 New Jersey require audited financial statements?
New Jersey requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a audit above $1,000,000 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 New Jersey charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

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